Plastic Free Living - 8 Tips for a Sustainable Kitchen

We produce a lot of waste in our kitchen, so to help curb our waste I have decided to use up all of our old items until they can’t be repaired or reused. I am lucky to have the privilege of being able to buy new sustainable items. However, some people cannot be choosey with what they bring into their kitchen/house and that's okay! Living sustainably is about using what we have until we can't anymore! So if you have old items in your kitchen that are plastic, keep using them until they wear out and wear down. Once they have been used up you can dispose of them properly and move onto more new sustainable ways to live! That's the beauty of this movement! It's not about being your very best, it's about doing your best for the environment with what you have.

Here are a few tips I’ve implemented into my kitchen to add to my sustainability process:

Invest in a good sustainable cutting board - wood, stone, etc. I love thrifting and have found some gently used cutting boards in wonderful shape! It doesn't have to break the bank to buy sustainably. In a world that is fast paced, we often forget that we can be creative with our solutions to our small issues and being savvy with what you've got or can find makes a difference! A good sanding and oiling can make a cutting board come back to life. They come in all shapes and sizes too, for every size kitchen! So if money is an issue head over to your local thrift store and start looking. You'll be surprised at what you'll find.

Glass bottles and jars make for good sustainable storage ideas! Thank goodness for glass in the kitchen. Keep that pasta sauce jar, that salsa jar, and of course that pickle jar! There is truly no need to replace all your storage items, but for my kitchen I have become a bottle collecting queen. Asking friends and family to drop off their used glass bottles that were headed for recycling. Simply soak them to get the labels off and let them dry out completely. I use them for all kinds of nuts, dried ingredients, and even for leftovers. Make them yours and feel good about reducing your plastic use in the kitchen!

Go wooden in the kitchen - utensils for cooking

Wooden and metal utensils are a helpful sustainable choice. I have always found the plastic flippers and spatulas to wear down in our house. And honestly that stuff is ending up in our food. So I've been making the subtle shift to use wooden and metal in my kitchen. Be careful using metal on cast iron and nonstick pans because they scratch them, however, wooden utensils are gentle on pots and pans!

I love to use pot scrubbers that are biodegradable with wooden handles, and with proper care they can really last a while! To clean them up it’s as simple as boiling water and soaking them to remove any gunk. Don't be shy to try alternative ways to clean, which leads perfectly into why you should…

Wash with a Biodegradable Soap - bar or bottle (preferably a bar for less waste). Brands like Dr. Bronners soap which is biodegradable but come in a bottle, as well as the No Tox Life Zero Waste Dish Washing Bar are nice alternatives to our conventional soaps. They are soft on hands and dishes. At a higher price point, they may make you pause, but they tend to last longer due to quality and quantity. I am currently using Saje Dish Wish Soap they offer refillable bottles. But I am still going to try other options that offer an affordable price and are sustainable. Unfortunately Saje still uses plastic however by doing some research I have found all kinds of options to steer away from single use options.

If those are too costly for you, think about trying a local refill station. Many can fill your reusable bottles for under $10.

Cotton is your friend! - Take away those paper towels and produce less waste with cotton rags and hand towels. No more single use towelettes means tossing less into the garbage! If the rags are ripped or have a hole from use, I will cut and sew them up to make smaller rags. Utilizing every piece we can is important to reduce our paper use in the house, especially in the kitchen.

Learn how to compost - I have been reading up on composting and it is really not too difficult! If the word composting stresses you out there are tons of resources online and in book form to help you get to know how/what to compost! It's a wonderful way to reuse your scraps for the garden or plants in your house! Stay tuned for my next blog post where I show what I have learned and how to compost effectively!

Create a kitchen garden - Kitchen gardens are a wonderful addition if you love throwing in herbs and spices while you're cooking. For me, I pretend I’m a chef like Jamie Oliver who has plants in his kitchen! Place them on your counter near a window, water when dry and clip off when you need something for your dish! Plant rosemary, thyme, basil, and sage to start and you'll see how easy it is to keep them going! Stay tuned for my next blog post where I show you how to create a small garden kitchen.

Be mindful about what you bring into your kitchen! This is a tip I need to constantly remind myself of. Sometimes it's better to use up what you have before buying new. It's not about clutter, it's about using the pieces intentionally. So if I already have a cutting board, I don't need three more…as much as my mind thinks I do. Make note of what you have, reduce and reuse the items you have. It goes a long way and you can work toward a more sustainable life with little choices you make throughout your day and within your space.

Lastly, don't get overwhelmed. Do your research and make good choices for your kitchen! That's what sustainable living is all about: Making a better choice for tomorrow! Enjoy!

Visit my previous blogs on how to start your journey with me!

Plastic Free July - Small Steps to an Eco Kitchen

How to Store Produce

How to store Root Vegetables

-Wellness Wonder Woman