The 21st-century kitchen is full of all kinds of great stuff for making incredible meals, but all that great stuff is a lot of…stuff, and it’s important to consider the impact certain kitchen items have on the earth. There are lots of ways to make a kitchen eco-friendly, whether that’s by designing a reusable version of a disposable item, getting rid of hazardous materials, or apply a more efficient manufacturing method. We have compiled seven strategic hacks that we could make use of to create a more sustainable and eco-friendly kitchen. Or should we call them strategic switches, what do you think?
1. SWITCH FROM PAPER TOWELS TO REUSABLE KITCHEN CLOTHS
By switching out single-use paper towels with reusable cloths, you can start an eco-friendly kitchen makeover in one of the most straightforward and cheap ways possible. One of the best products of this kind if you ever decided to find one are those that are created from bleached or unbleached cotton, which is soft and absorbent.
Another type of similar kind is the Swedish dishcloths, which is created by a Swedish engineer in 1949 and are "superabsorbent." They are constructed of "100% naturally biodegradable cellulose or a combination of wood pulp and renewable cotton," dry rapidly, and can be washed. Users treat them exactly the same way as paper towel and say they reduced the amount of paper towels by at least 80%.
2. SWITCH FROM PAPER COFFEE FILTERS TO STAINLESS STELL COFFEE MESH
You might want to consider strategies to reduce your use of paper coffee filters in addition to reducing the number of single-use to-go coffee cups. Some coffee machines are made as alternative to conventional methods of brewing. The outcome is akin to paper filters, but without the waste, adding that the stainless steel mesh is quite fine (keeping the grinds out).
Or you might want to purchase a plunging type coffee brewing device called coffee presser or French press. Anything goes as long as your purpose is to eliminate paper filters. Simple things like these are great ways coffee lovers can show their courage as an invincible earth hero.
You want to have the best tools for the task whether you're cooking for just yourself or the entire family. It's possible that you are unaware of the distinction between environmentally friendly kitchenware and whatever is currently on sale, but it's still worthwhile to learn more. Modern plastics may not only be inferior to bamboo in terms of performance but also impose harm to our internal health. Additionally, by making the transition, you're picking a better alternative for your family as well as the environment. And because we all call this place home, we may as well look after it to ensure the highest quality of life.
The following are the top advantages of bamboo as an eco-friendly material:
A. By using bamboo as a material, uncertified timber that may cause deforestation can be avoided;
B. Bamboo is simple to grow, and there are vast sources available;
C. These utensils may be made from a single mature bamboo piece to a thousand times; and
D. From being biodegradable, ethically sourced, tree-free, plastic-free, and reusable, this product's sustainability is quite commendable.
I personally use bamboo kitchen spatula when cooking. The picture above shows my spatula on a bamboo cutting board with our business name engraved in one corner. I received it as a gift. Cutting boards made of bamboos, when properly cared for, not only appear elegant when displayed on a kitchen counter than plastic ones, but they also last a lot longer. You could make this transition as simple as possible for you. You could do it one by one which does not hurt your budget. After you have completed a set of bamboo utensils, we are certain that your family and the environment will thank you.
4. SWITCH FROM ALUMINUM NON-STICK COOKWARE TO NON-TOXIC CERAMIC POTS
Globally, the aluminum sector releases millions of tons of greenhouse gases each year, according to experts, which is, to put it simply, a massive no-no for Mother Nature. Choose the multipurpose ceramic-coated cookware the next time you need to replace your pots and pans since they are devoid of harmful chemicals, poisonous metals, and nanoparticles. Ceramic clay pots are also great alternatives, if you may choose so.
5. SWITCH FROM PLASTIC TO GLASS FOOD CONTAINERS
Glass food storage containers not only offer safer food storage, but also a great view of what is within. Glass Ball jars can keep anything from seeds, flours, and nuts to soups, stews, and fresh berries, and they are affordable (can be bought by the dozen). They are also simple to clean. When using glass containers for frozen storage, make sure to choose freezer-safe models with wide mouths that are simple to remove for warming and to provide enough space at the top for any liquids to expand.
6. SWITCH FROM SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS TO ECO BAGS FOR YOUR PRODUCE
There's a fair probability that a large portion of the plastic you believe you could be using comes from your monthly trip to the grocery store. Purchasing large quantities of fruits, vegetables, and other food typically requires ripping off several plastic bags on each trip, which can be harmful to the environment. Reusable produce bags, however, provide a simple and practical replacement for plastic ones if you're searching for a more environmentally friendly, long-lasting option. As far as we can, we can only use environmentally friendly bags and try to lessen environmental damage. In other words, eco-friendly bags are those made from a range of ecologically friendly materials including cotton, hemp, non-woven, RPET, biodegradable bioplastics, and recyclable paper. They are also generally more earth-friendly and emit less pollutants.
7. SWITCH FROM TRASH CAN TO COMPOST BIN (FOR FOOD SCRAPS ONLY)
Food scraps and other waste should be disposed of in a kitchen-top compost bin rather than the trash can, where they will decompose and leave your kitchen smelling bad. When the bin is full, dump it in your backyard compost pile (or, if permitted where you live, in your yard waste receptacle) and use it to supplement your vegetable garden!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Using eco-friendly kitchen supplies and utensils is unquestionably preferable to using single-use plastic ones. They have less waste, are more environmentally friendly, and are more sustainable. And we really hope that this post gives you more than enough options for a greener kitchen. All have already done so much harm to our world, therefore we need to start taking action as soon as we can if we want to save it for future generations. You are already making a difference in little ways by picking eco-friendly products over the standard plastic ones when you go shopping. And if we can start with ourselves, we'll be able to motivate other people to do the same.
