You spend a lot of time in your kitchen, so you must do everything possible to make it as green as possible. Although cooking can sometimes be a carbon-intensive ordeal, there are plenty of ways you can reduce or even eliminate your toxic load. Here are ways you can make your kitchen more Eco friendly.
1. Replace Your Refrigerator
Do you know what happens to old refrigerators? They end up as toxic waste, poisoning our groundwater and leeching toxins into the earth. If your refrigerator is at least ten years old, it’s time to upgrade. Consider a new energy-efficient model that comes with a green power option. By choosing this option, you will be able to cut down on your electricity use.
2. Stop Using Plastic Wrap
Plastic wrap is one of the most ubiquitous plastic products ever created, but it can’t get ignored. It’s extremely harmful to our health, animals, and the environment when accidentally left in landfills. Fortunately, many alternative methods for covering food don’t include cling wrap.
3. Use Re-Usable Cotton Pads Instead Of Paper Towels
If you want to reduce paper towel use, you can easily find a reusable option that costs less. Reusable cotton pads are a great alternative because they can get used repeatedly. Don’t want to purchase cotton pads? Instead, use old T-shirts or towels.
4. Use Reusable Dinnerware And Cutlery
If you look at the back of your dinner plates, you might see something hard to miss. A lot of disposable dinnerware has a small amount of plastic on it. It protects the plate from breaking but also takes up space that could get used better.
It might take a little longer to eat with reusable cutlery, but it will save you money and feel great. If you use disposable plastic utensils, you are contributing to the landfills. Instead, invest in a set of metal forks, spoons, and knives that will last decades.
5. Ditch The Plastic Bottles
If you’re looking for ways to reduce the number of plastic bottles in your home, try using alternative containers. Instead of keeping an eye on your water bottle, try using a glass or mason jar. You’ll drink more water and think about it less.
6. Purchase Compostable Utensils And Bowls
The amount of waste we bring into landfills grows yearly. Many products biodegrade, but they are often hard to find. Instead of throwing away plastic utensils and bowls, consider purchasing compostable models.
7. Embrace The Power of Bins
To make life easier in your kitchen, everything you put in your bin or container must get sorted properly. You can reduce your paper waste significantly by separating recyclables. For example, make sure any cardboard goes in one bin and plastic in another.
Instead of using plastic bins, biodegradable garbage bags can be used. They are made from corn starch and can quickly break down into organic matter. These bins can be found in grocery stores and break down in weeks, not decades. You can easily find these bins online or at your local store.
8. Give Up Teflon Pans
Teflon pans are great but aren’t so great if you want to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. It is difficult to dispose of Teflon properly, so when it ends up in landfills, it is heavily toxic and tough to remove. Instead, use cast iron or ceramic pots and pans that don’t contain harmful chemicals. You’ll never know what cooking with Teflon has done to you.
9. Avoid The Plastic Bag
There is no doubt that plastic bags are useful, but they aren’t completely eco-friendly. Even if you think you can use them a few hundred times, the tiny plastic particles can still end up in our waterways. You can easily find other eco-friendly options like paper bags and reusable produce bags.
10. Purchase Glass Containers
If you’re tired of opening plastic food containers, looking for other options is a good idea. You can find glass storage containers that are easy to clean and last a lifetime. You can also find compostable options for food storage.
11. Upcycle Your Old Towels
Instead of throwing away your old towels, you can upcycle them into reusable clothes. It’s even easier than you think: just cut the material into squares or use an existing square shape as a pattern. Use your new cloth instead of paper towels for everyday cleaning.
12. Use Cloth Napkins in Place of Paper Ones
Paper is one of the most polluting materials, but that doesn’t mean you should throw away your napkin forever. Instead, use old napkins as a compostable material or compost them with other paper products.
There are many ways to steward the earth better. You don’t have to do everything, but by making a few changes in your home, you can greatly reduce your footprint on the earth.
