Sustainable Crafting Supplies: What to Use Instead of Plastic and Synthetic Materials

Craft stores are full of products that work beautifully in the short term and cause problems in the long term. Synthetic glitter that microplasticizes waterways. Foam sheets that never biodegrade. Plastic-handled tools wrapped in more plastic packaging.

The good news: for almost every conventional craft supply, there's a more sustainable alternative that performs just as well — and in many cases, better.

Here's a practical breakdown of the most common swaps, organized by supply category.