As one of the most frequently used places in a household, kitchens often become home to unnecessary single-use plastic, plastic containers, utensils, bags and the list goes on. It can also be one of the most wasteful areas in the home too with so many households not reusing, up-cycling or recycling in the kitchen. Continuing with our #plasticfreejuly theme, this week we’re highlighting five ways to become less wasteful in the kitchen!
1) Try to integrate wooden or bamboo cooking utensils
Most kitchen utensils are made from plastic, and if they’re not 100% plastic they usually have some form of plastic. Wooden and bamboo utensils are an investment as they last longer and are more durable.
2) Less plastic packaging and more glass or steel packaging
When it comes to buying food and condiments single-use plastic packaging is the norm. However, with the rise in awareness of the environmental impact of single-use plastic, there are more plastic free options available. Opting for glass, steel or wooden packaging is the more sustainable option here. We also know that oftentimes it’s the more expensive option too, so we highly recommend slowly integrating these over a period of time, according to your lifestyle and budget.
3) Make use of leftover food
Leftover food should never go to waste. Whether it’s still good enough to eat another day, and if it’s not it can be composted, but it should never just be thrown away! A great tip before deciding to go ahead and compost food waste is to check if there are other uses for it before going straight to composting. For example, vegetable scraps can be made into a vegetable broth. For more ideas on what to do with food leftovers click here.
4) DIY cleaning products
As mentioned in last week’s blog post on zero-waste bathrooms, creating your own cleaning products can save a significant amount of money and unnecessary waste. Plus, they’re not made from toxic chemicals which can harm you and the environment. Here’s a link to an all-natural surface cleaner that actually works!
5) Replace plastic bags and wrap with a natural alternative
Single-use plastic wrap has to be one of THE most wasteful things that can be found in a kitchen. However, more responsible and sustainable options are available like beeswax or cotton wrap. Plastic bags can be replaced with reusable cotton, hemp or bamboo bags too!
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