Plastic Free Kitchen

Food packaging generally accounts for most of the plastic waste generated in most households, so the kitchen seems like a good place to begin.

Reduce Plastic Packaging

• Reduce packaged food consumption by growing at least some of your own food.
• Buy unpackaged, local, organic produce wherever possible. Farm shops, wholesalers, local veg. box schemes. 
• Take your own shopping bags to the shops and don’t use plastic bags. 

(Though doing away with single use plastic bags is a step in the right direction, reusable plastic bags do still often end up in landfill or as litter. Take a natural bag or receptacle shopping instead – e.g. organic cotton, hemp, wicker basket….)

• Buy any household staples that are required wholesale to reduce packaging.
• Choose and cook with whole foods as much as possible, avoid ‘ready meals’ and other heavily packaged items.
• Think quality, not quantity – analyse and consider reducing your consumption, of food and any other items. Do you really need to buy as much food as you do? (Food waste also an issue. Composting is crucial.)
• Clean your kitchen with a few simple, natural ingredients – don’t but cleaning supplies in lots of plastic bottles, or use plastic cleaning cloths or synthetic sponges.

Reduce Other Plastic in the Kitchen

• Avoid teabags that contain plastic – switch to an eco brand or loose leaf tea.
• Simplify your cooking and food preparation and don’t buy unnecessary plastic gadgets and other plastic items – e.g. plastic draining board, washing up bowl.
• Choose ceramic, wood and other such natural materials for crockery and utensils. Choose knives that can be sharpened and invest in a whetstone – learn how to sharpen your own knives.
• Consider avoiding Teflon and coatings on pots and pans.
• Use organic cotton beeswax wraps to store leftovers and lunches, instead of plastic film.
• Use silicon or metal containers to freeze food, rather than plastic tubs or freezer bags.

These are just a few tips that could help you move in the right direction. Remember, make small changes and take things one step at a time. Need more help to establish a sustainable kitchen? Please do get in touch.