18 Ways to Make Your Kitchen (and Your Life!) More Eco-Friendly
FROM ECO-FRIENDLY KITCHEN CABINETS TO PLANT-BASED RECIPES, WE HAVE THE TIPS YOU NEED TO CREATE A SUSTAINABLE SPACE!
By Mia Bencivenga
June 30, 2021
For many people, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where we cook, gather, and for many of us, it’s the room that we spend the most time in. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your kitchen is a place you feel good about. One of the best ways to do that is by adopting eco-friendly practices!
Here’s are some easy ways to make your kitchen more sustainable:
1 ] When shopping for food and supplies, use your own bags and containers
From reusable canvas bags to glass containers and beeswax wrap, using your own bags and containers will help you cut down on your waste big time!
2 ] Support local farmers
Need fresh produce? Time to hit up a nearby farmers market! Finding locally grown foods that are in season will help you reduce your carbon footprint.
3 ] Buy organic where you can
Being pesticide-free is the way to be — but it can be expensive. If you’re in a pinch, check out the dirty dozen for which produce is best to buy organic.
4 ] Need disposable plates and cutlery? Think bamboo!
If you’re planning on having a big party over and are running short on plates, consider durable and compostable plates, forks, knives and cups made from bamboo.
5 ] Invest in eco-friendly appliances
Whether you’re in the market for a new coffee maker or toaster, many appliances are now designed to be more efficient and sustainable.
6 ] Use sustainable cookware
If you need new pots and pans, stick with pure ceramics, stainless steel, and cast iron. That way, the pans are easily recyclable / restorable. Learn more about how you can restore the pans you already have here.
7 ] When remodeling, consider eco-friendly options
If you’re redoing your kitchen, shop with sustainability in mind. You can deck your space with attractive and eco-friendly bamboo butcher blocks, cabinets made from recycled wood, and countertops made from recycled glass.
8 ] Cook plant-based as much as possible
A plant-based diet isn’t just good for you, it’s good for the environment, too. Why? When people adopt a less meat-heavy diet, they are able to curb carbon emissions and water usage.
9 ] Meal prep for the Week
If you want to save as much time and energy and possible, meal prep is your best friend. You can cook big batches of food to last you the whole week. Check out this beginner’s guide to meal prepping!
10 ] Cook once for two nights
If meal prep isn’t your thing, just make double portions when you do cook. That way you have lunch or dinner ready to go, and you won’t have to expend any extra energy cooking twice in a row.
11 ] Throw everything in the oven
Have you ever heard of sheet pan dinners? It’s when you cook your protein, vegetables, and carbs all together in the oven. It saves time, energy, not to mention pots and pans!
12 ] One-pot meals are your friend
Make clean-up a breeze with one-pot meals! Soups, stews, pastas, are all delicious, easy and economical ways to feed a crowd (or just yourself!) with minimal effort and energy.
13 ] Try some no-cook recipes
Meals and snacks where you don’t have to cook at all aren’t just easy — they’ll also cut down on your energy consumption. Good examples of this are overnight oats, cold sesame noodles, nourishing salads, and of course smoothies!
14 ] Turn off the sink
When cleaning or washing your hands, don’t forget to turn off the sink when you’re not actively using it. Your water bill will thank you!
15 ] Use that dishwasher
It may seem counter-intuitive, but hand-washing your dishes uses up more time and energy than even a small load of dishes. Make life easy on yourself and run that dishwasher as often as you need to.
16 ] Try eco-friendly cleaners
Lemon, vinegar, and baking soda are the eco-friendly clean-up dream team. Lemon and vinegar naturally disinfect, while baking soda is great for cleaning up baked-on messes. Learn how to best use them in your kitchenhere.
17 ] Stock up on natural sponges and scrubbers
You can find real, natural, and biodegradable kitchen sponges and scrubbers that will help you get your kitchen clean without contributing to the landfill.
18 ] Make recycling and composting easy
If composting and recycling are possible in your area, take advantage of them by having compost and recycling bins easily accessible in your kitchen. You’ll be amazed at how much less you’ll throw away at the end of the week! Learn more about how to compost here, and how to recycle here.
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