7 Steps to Make Sure Amazon Products Are Sustainable

We often see the words “natural,” “organic,” or “green” plastered onto different sustainable baby products. For most moms, seeing these labels tends to reassure them that whatever they’re purchasing for their baby is a product that’s superior and safe. After all, sustainability has always been perceived as synonymous with high-quality, since many understand the term to mean chemical-free, or that the item has been manufactured using practices that promote a healthy environment.

This assurance can be especially crucial for baby products since infants tend to have sensitive skins or tummies that can be triggered by items with chemicals or toxic solutions in them. How can we, as moms, however, make sure that we’re shopping for truly sustainable products, especially in a huge online store such as Amazon?

Here are seven steps you can take to make sure you’re shopping for green items:

Step 1: Shop in the Climate Pledge Friendly Section

You might not be aware, but Amazon has an entire section of its store dedicated to sustainable Amazon products through the Climate Pledge Friendly program. When you buy from the Climate Pledge Friendly section, you can focus on items that carry at least one of 19 different certifications from third-party organizations that signify a product is committed to helping preserve the environment. Products certified by the Climate Pledge Friendly program are clearly labeled in shopping results and have additional information on sustainability on their product page.

A great example of this is Burt’s Bees Baby burp cloths, which carries a Climate Pledge Friendly label and a certification from Global Organic Textile Standards. Made with 95% to 100% organic content, this burp cloth is soft, breathable, and absorbent, making it the perfect cleanup companion when your baby has a sudden spit-up.

Step 2: Check the Climate Pledge Friendly Certification

Further to shopping in the Climate Pledge Friendly Section, also check the Climate Pledge Friendly certification that a product carries. Amazon has partnered with various certifications from external organizations, including non-profits, governmental agencies, and independent laboratories in distinguishing more sustainable Amazon products. The Compact by Design certification, on the other hand, is a certification created by Amazon itself, which highlights how a product has a more efficient design that removes excess water and air in its manufacturing process and requires less packaging. This Blue Lizard Baby mineral sunscreen carries a Compact by Design certification for its simple but streamlined bottle design.

Step 3: Review the Product Description

When shopping for sustainable Amazon products, it still pays to read the product description even if the item carries a Climate Pledge Friendly label. Reading the product description gives you more information about what the item is made of or its size, helping you make sure you’re getting the right one for your baby. This sets your expectations and allows you to see whether an item comes in singles or in sets. Don’t forget to click on “Show More” to view further details.

HonestBaby’s 5-pack organic cotton short sleeve bodysuits have a detailed product description that indicates what the material is made of, its special features, and style details.

Step 4: Check Overall Customer Ratings

Similar to any online shopping experience, checking customer ratings and reviews is crucial in choosing sustainable Amazon products for babies. Ratings and reviews can provide you with firsthand information about a specific customer’s experience with a certain product, which can help you decide whether a particular item is worth the purchase or if it is as sustainable as it claims. Keep in mind that it’s normal for a product to have both positive and negative reviews as it’s virtually impossible to please each and every customer. Check both positive and critical reviews of the item so you can weigh your options.

Of course, the more reviews an item has, the better you can gauge its quality. For instance, this Babyganics unscented baby wipes 800 count has over 6,500 global customer ratings, with an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Step 5: Check Which Specific Features Have High Ratings

Aside from the overall customer ratings themselves, also make it a point to check which specific features of sustainable Amazon products have high ratings. You can typically find this small section under the overall customer ratings. For example, the Attitude baby fabric softener is rated 4.6 stars for softness, 4.4 stars for scent, 4.3 stars for sensitive skin, and 3.8 stars for value for money. 

Step 6: Visit the Store

When shopping in the Climate Pledge Friendly section, you’ll notice that certain brands get recommended repeatedly, which can indicate that most of their products fit the sustainable category. Visit the store so you can check out how many items carry a Climate Pledge Friendly certification. Not only does this make shopping for sustainable Amazon products easier, but it also gives you a wide variety of items that you can choose from. The Burt’s Bees Baby store is a brand that you will often find recommended in the Climate Pledge Friendly section.

Step 7: Post a Question

If you’re still not convinced of a product’s sustainability claim after reviewing its certifications, description, and ratings, you can always post a question on the product’s page and wait for the seller to respond. Responsive sellers also indicate that a store is active and has at least decent customer support in place. This Earth Mama calming lavender baby lotion with organic calendula has 37 answered questions on its page.

Be a Sustainable Shopper

The seven steps discussed above can help new moms navigate Amazon’s sustainable product section without worrying that they’re getting an item that isn’t suited for their baby. More than just being a sustainable shopper, check out all the pertinent sections and post a question if you must.

Love,

Scooch and Steve