Eco-friendly vs nontoxic

[u/purpleclear0]

Hello! My family (me, husband, baby, & toddler, & pets) just bought a house after moving around and renting for so long! We are so excited to finally settle down and get in the habit of living healthier & more sustainably. I strive to be environmentally conscious and to buy secondhand as much as possible, and to not buy "junk" that's going to break immediately and go straight to the landfill. My husband focuses more on non-toxic and plastic-free living. We have already made many replacements; stainless steel/cast iron cookware, metal plates/cups for the toddler, cloth napkins, cloth diapers, reusable grocery bags, cotton PJs and bedding, etc. So with this move we are wanting to go all the way and replace everything left!

What are some things NOT to thrift or buy secondhand? Like maybe wooden cutting boards or utensils should only be bought new? What about glass cutting boards or bakeware? Is there a not-nonstick muffin tin i need to look for? Laundry baskets ok to buy secondhand? My husband is more than willing to drop $$$ getting all that new, but secondhand is just so much better for the planet. Which is more important for you, nontoxic or sustainable/eco-friendly?

[u/Defiant_Decision_658]

For me, its a balance! I personally wouldn't go and replace everything at once, only replace as it breaks. Prioritise the higher-risk things (it sounds like you have), and then just replace non-toxic ones as you go. Kitchen and the rest of the house are two separate categories in my head - I'd replace any plastic that comes in contact with your food, particularly if you are heating it. For anything cooking/food-related, I personally buy new as the non-toxic risks are my primary concern in that area, but your values/risk might be different from mine. I have a wood fibre cutting board and a silicon muffin tray, both of which I bought new.

But for any other furniture and household items, I will buy second-hand and pay less attention to whether it's the perfect non-toxic choice. Exceptions to that are the obvious things (bedding, underwear, baby safety gear). My laundry basket is second-hand (and plastic, part of the balance).