3 months ago, a European client asked us to source bagasse tableware for his catering business. It costs twice as much as single-use plastic. We learned that plastic is banned in his country, so he’s eager to find an alternative.
Many of our clients are also looking for eco-friendly products made from materials like coconut shells, cornstarch, and wheat straw. So today, we’re sharing 9 doable high profit eco-product ideas.
Coconut Bowls
You’ve probably seen this coconut shell bowl all over social media. Founder Jake McKeon got the idea from discarded coconut shells in Indonesia. Since 2016, he’s been turning them into eco-friendly tableware, helping reduce carbon emissions from burning waste. Jake posted a pic of a smoothie in the coconut bowl, and it quickly blew up. Now, Coconut Bowls has sold over 1 million bowls, bringing in over $5 million a year.
Since this brand made coconut bowls a hit, it inspired many other coconut shell products, like similar-shaped cups, candles, and jewelry inspired by the shell’s natural pattern and texture.
HoldOn Bag
HoldOn Bag is pulling in $10 million a year just from selling trash bags. Their bags are fully biodegradable, made from plant-based materials like cornstarch and biodegradable polymers. These trash bags break down in few weeks but are as tough as regular plastic. By 2023, HoldOn Bag hit $3.13 million in sales. They later rolled out bags for food storage, pet poop, and gardening, priced at $13–$20 for a 70-pack. Their eco-friendly style really clicks with customers.
Baggu
Baggu offers a unique, stylish, and more eco-friendly alternative to single-use shopping bags. They turn discarded plastic bottles into 100% recycled nylon and made them into lightweighted durable shopping bags. Their canvas bags are also made from textile waste and old clothes. After sorting, breaking down fibers, and re-spinning, they turn into trendy everyday bags.
Baggu’s design and management are based in San Francisco, US. For final production, they work with Chinese suppliers with mature recycling and manufacturing experience.
Rothy's
Imagine wearing “plastic bottles” on your feet. Rothy’s recycles discarded plastic bottles and uses 3D knitting technology to create seamless, uniquely designed shoes. Its eco-friendly concept and comfort quickly grabbed attention. By 2019, Rothy’s had saved over 33 million plastic bottles, and each pair of shoes can be recycled after use. All their production happens in Dongguan, China, where a top-notch textile and footwear supply chain and advanced automated tech.
Humble Brush
As a dentist, founder Noel quickly noticed the massive waste from over 20 billion plastic toothbrushes worldwide each year. This motivated him to replacing plastic handles with eco-friendly materials. He chose bamboo as the primary material—natural, biodegradable, and planet-friendly. So Noel found a toothbrush supplier in China to bring it to life. Besides bamboo, the brand also launched wheat starch handle brush. The bristles are crafted from BPA-free, bio-based nylon that breaks down faster than regular nylon.
Who Gives A Crap
One roll of toilet paper brought in $174 million a year. That’s the 2023 sales number of Who Gives A Crap, an Australian brand dedicated to eco toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues made from recycled paper or bamboo. All in plastic-free packaging. Back in 2012, three people with a small business dream turned to crowdfunding to raise cash and get things rolling. Since then, they’ve kept production in China to keep costs low while ensuring quality.
Pela Case
This eco-friendly phone case sells for $65 and became popular. One of its TikTok videos even hit a million views. Pela’s founder, Jeremy Lang, started solo with a simple goal: to make a phone case without plastic pollution. So he used flax and plant-based plastic, adding his own designs. Early on, Pela gained a big following through social media and crowdfunding. Later, they expanded to earbud cases, watch bands, and sunglasses. Pela Case’s market now spans the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia.
Molly Mutt
Founder Molly came up with the idea for an eco-friendly dog bed while washing the beds of her three dogs. What makes them unique is that users can fill them with old clothes, blankets, or pillows, helping to reduce waste. Plus, the covers are removable and washable for easy cleaning. With its creative design and eco-friendly concept, Molly Mutt quickly became a bestseller in the pet product market, earning great reviews and $3 million in sales on Etsy.
Earth breeze
Forget those heavy jugs of liquid detergent, a single strip does the job. Earth Breeze makes detergent lightweight, water-free, and biodegradable. With eco-friendly paper packaging, saving space and cutting down on carbon emissions during transport. There’re only two SKUs. But they get over 80,000 reviews on Amazon with a 4.4-star rating. Warm, family-oriented usage scenes on social media have helped them gain over 20,000 followers.
We checked the factory price in China for a 30-pack of laundry detergent sheets, which is around $1.20, while this product retails for $15. If you’re interested, check our previous article to see the details.
These eco-friendly product ideas are easy-to-make and highly profitable. We’ve sourced similar products for clients before, proving that going green is not just good for the planet but also a smart business move. Got any eco-product ideas? Let’s chat!
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Hi Jing Sourcing, I am from Germany and and also looking for the Eco friendly items since long but due to short budget and no one in China to help to search and source these type of items , I always keep searching, I am interested to start import with low quantity, please help me to source and start eco friendly items.
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