Have you ever wanted to make your kitchen more eco-friendly?
Having a sustainable kitchen as your way of saving the environment is a noble pursuit. And as overwhelming as it seems, all it needs is a couple of swaps and the intention to produce less waste.
Here are ten things you should incorporate in an eco-friendly kitchen:
Glass Food Containers
Glass food containers are a must-have for an eco-friendly kitchen.
Not only is a glass food container attractive to look at simply and elegantly, but it’s also reusable, so you don’t have to get rid of it all the time. You merely have to put in new items or food pieces in your reusable food containers.
What’s great about glass food containers is that it’s very recyclable. In addition, glass food containers are non-porous which means that it’s less likely to absorb any unwanted food stains or even germs.
It also helps to look stylish in your kitchen pantry, especially when you get matching ones.
Wooden Cutlery
Another way you can have an eco-friendly kitchen is to invest in wooden cutlery instead of plastic or even stainless steel ones.
When you’re cooking, plastic materials can react to the heat to melt or leach out weird chemicals. With stainless steel cutleries they react to heat as well and can scratch up your cookware.
Meanwhile, wooden cutlery won’t react immediately upon coming into contact with scalding temperatures. That’s why it’s good to use for stirring a dish. It also won’t scratch up your cookware, unlike stainless steel.
The process to make wooden cutlery is also more sustainable and less damaging to the environment.
Compost Bin
No self-respecting eco-kitchen can call itself that if they don’t turn their food waste into compost. Hence, you might want to consider getting your kitchen a compost bin.
Food scraps are often thrown away, even though many can turn into something more useful like compost. At Maid Sailors Cleaning Services, we advise our clients to turn their food scraps that aren’t meat or dairy into compost.
Depending on your location, a local community garden can also help you turn your food scraps into compost. Contact your local community garden and ask them if they have any composting programs at hand, and you can send your food waste there.
If you have a garden in your home, you’ll want to have that compost as these tend to be quite nutrient-rich, which your plants will love.
Reusable Food Covers and Food Wraps
If you’re packing lunch for your kids, you may find yourself throwing away too many Ziploc bags. That said, consider replacing them with reusable food covers or food wraps instead.
They’re also quite affordable, and given that you’re able to use them repeatedly, it’s much cheaper than having to buy a pack of Ziploc bags all the time.
There are plenty of available reusable food covers and wraps commercially available nowadays. Some people are even opting to make it themselves by using beeswax and cotton fabrics.
Reusable Food Storage Bags
Aside from temporary lids or covers for your food, you can also use reusable food storage bags.
You can always reuse your food storage bags, and you don’t have to worry about contributing to the use of plastics in grocery stores. At the same time, they function like any other bag out there.
Bring one with you wherever you go, so you’re prepared for spontaneous shopping.
Reusable Straw Set
Unless some health concerns are stopping you from doing so, consider using a reusable straw set. They’re light and therefore easy to bring with you at all times. Plus, they come in all colors and designs so that you can personalize them.
If you don’t need the straw for drinking whatever it is, then you can not use one.
Reusable Mesh Kitchen Hanging Bags
Reusable mesh kitchen hanging bags help you store and hold fruits and vegetables and hang them up in your kitchen. It gives them space to breathe, so to speak, so that you don’t end up shortening their lifespan unexpectedly.
They also look pretty cool hanging in your kitchen and carrying them along with you if you’re headed to the market.
Bamboo Cutting Board
Instead of using a plastic cutting board that can flake off over time and when you cut deeply into it, use a bamboo cutting board instead. You certainly don’t want plastic particles mixed with your food, so you don’t have to worry about that happening with a bamboo cutting board.
Also, depending on the style of your cutting board, you can even use it as a stylish serving platter.
Biodegradable Cleaning Sponges
You probably notice that you often have to replace your cleaning sponges. That can’t be good, so it might be best to invest in biodegradable cleaning sponges.
These biodegradable sponges are usually made from coconut or plant fibers. That way, they can still degrade and break down when included in your compost bin.
Reusable or Compostable Coffee Filters
If you often brew coffee using a method that uses coffee filters, consider getting yourself a set of compostable coffee filters. Better yet, get yourself a reusable coffee filter.
Throwing away coffee filters all the time is undoubtedly wasteful. Luckily, plenty of those in the coffee industry know it, so they’ve made reusable coffee filters.
Reusable Water Bottles
Plastic water bottles are a frequent item that you’ll find polluting various places around the world. If you find yourself drinking bottled water often, it’s time to change things up.
Instead of constantly throwing out a plastic bottle and getting a new one, get a reusable water bottle.
A reusable water bottle is much more convenient and allows you to reduce the costs you incur whenever you drink. Aside from that, many reusable water bottles can maintain the temperature of the drink that they store. Therefore, you can have cool or hot beverages in it for a long time.
With these eco-friendly kitchen tools, you’re one step closer to living a more sustainable lifestyle. It shows that existing comfortably doesn’t have to bring harm to others or the environment.
Photos:
Maria Orlova from Pexels
ready made from Pexels
Vie Studio from Pexels
Kei Scampa from Pexels
