Here are three essential tips to help you implement sustainable swaps in your kitchen...
The kitchen is the heart of the home. We spend most of our time in our kitchens and they are the activity hub of our house. Due to its significance in the home, our core daily kitchen habits can have a significant negative impact on the environment. Therefore, it is a great place to start finding greener alternatives which will benefit you and the planet.
You do not need to be a hard core eco warrior or completely re-evaluate your culinary practices to create a greener kitchen, however, here are some sustainable swaps that can be easily implemented.
1. Swap single use cling film for wax wraps and reusable food savers
It is estimated that more than 1.2 billion metres of cling film is used in the UK every year, and despite its ability to make leftovers last longer, it has many flaws. It contributes to the plastic pollution crisis, it’s difficult to recycle, and if burnt or left to degrade it releases toxic chemicals into the atmosphere.
So, why not swap cling film for wax wraps? They can be washed and reused, they are plastic free and can be re-waxed in order to last longer. Despite a higher initial cost, typically ranging from £8 for one wrap to multipacks for £30, the environmental savings are huge.
Check out The Beeswax Wrap Co. They have a range of fab designs including Emma Bridgewater patterns. Etsy also offer a great selection of prints and sizes, with the added bonus of supporting local businesses.
For any foods that can’t be wrapped, look for reusable covers or food savers that can keep your food fresher for longer without the need for cling film. Kitchenware stores such as Lakeland and ProCook offer a variety of different food preservers and savers.
By opting for better quality and reusable options, not only are you able to fight the war on plastic waste, but by keeping food fresher for longer, you are also helping to fight the war on food waste too!
2. Swap single use baking paper and foil for reusable baking sheets
Even though foil is recyclable (as long as its clean and you have enough foil to make a ball the size of a tennis ball), it is still waste. Similarly, with baking paper, although it might look environmentally friendly being made from paper, it is treated with chemicals to make it heatproof, and coated with plastic to make it non-stick, meaning it can’t be recycled and when it does breakdown naturally it releases toxic chemicals (Pure Green Magazine).
A great sustainable swap would be reusable baking mats and liners. From £13 at Peace and Wild, you can get a sturdy, non-stick tray liner that is dishwasher safe, and can last for up to 5 years, so definitely worth the initial investment!
3. Swap plastic cleaning for eco alternatives
Sadly, a lot of our cleaning products are harmful to the environment. Not only are they packaged in plastic, they also contain harmful chemicals that pollute our water supplies and damage our aquatic eco systems. However, all is not lost as there are sustainable swaps out there to make your kitchen cleaning processes eco-friendly.
Swap plastics for naturally made cleaning products such as compostable sponges, bamboo scourers, reusable glass bottles, coconut scrubbing brushes and plant based washing loofahs.
Ecovibe has a great range of natural alternatives to choose from. Look for biodegradable and compostable labels because unlike their plastic counterparts, these will break down naturally without harming the environment.
Furthermore, you can swap harsh cleaning chemicals for natural alternatives. Smol offer a great subscription service where you can get eco cleaning products, such as dish washing tablets, sent straight to your door. They are plastic and cruelty free, and work out cheaper than some high street brands at 19p per tablet!
You can also get cleaning tabs that only require water to activate them, and means you can reuse your cleaning bottle, either plastic or glass, without having to buy new bottles each time.
And if you are feeling really green, why not go back to basics and opt for 100% natural cleaning products. Make surface cleaners out of vinegar and lemon juice, natural scrubs from lemons and bicarbonate of soda and oven cleaner with baking soda, salt and water (Good Housekeeping and Household Wonders).
Due to our constant use of our kitchens, they are a great place to start reassessing our environmental impact. These swaps provide eco alternatives in order to ditch damaging single use kitchen products.
These are just some of the ways you can create a greener kitchen. There are loads of other amazing tips and tricks available which you can look to implement in order to reduce your environmental impact in your kitchen.
By Ella Messenger ©
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