There are plenty of small changes we can start implementing in our household to reduce the waste we create. It’s not realistic to expect everyone to have a zero-waste lifestyle but going green, especially in your kitchen, can help us live a more sustainable life. From eliminating single-use plastics to saving water, here are our top 8 hacks to achieve a more sustainable kitchen in your home.
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1. Reusable Grocery Bags
Fortunately, a lot of people are already doing this, and supermarkets are selling reusable grocery bags. But did you know you can also use reusable produce bags instead of using plastic bags? This is an easy way to cut down on waste and use disposable plastic less. However, even if you end up with some plastic grocery bags, make sure to save them and reuse them. You can use used for garbage, food storage, some household maintenance needs, and cleaning mess, options are endless.
2. Compost Food Scraps
One of the best ways to deal with food scraps is to compost them. Almost half of the household garbage is food and garden waste, so you can compost and use it to create a sustainable garden. If your city or local government offers a green bin, you can take your food scraps there. Greenhouse gases produced by landfill is significantly reduced by composting food scraps. So, the effort of composting is worth it.
3. Use a Dishwasher
Believe it or not, dishwater uses less water than washing dishes by hand. The dishwasher is saving water because everything is washed at once, rather than running the sink every so often. Even if you don’t have room for a dishwasher in your kitchen, nowadays you can easily find small dishwashing machines that can fit in any place. Not only will you save water and help the planet, but you don’t have to wash dishes by hand anymore, which is not always a fun chore.
4. Replace Cling Wrap with A Wax Food Wrap
Almost every household has and uses cling wraps to cover leftovers and put them in the fridge. However, they’re single-use plastic that’s thrown away after just a few hours and can’t be reused anymore. To achieve a more sustainable kitchen, start using wax wraps that are made of beeswax and oil. They cling to surfaces just like cling wraps and keep your food protected. Wax wraps can be easily rinsed and used again and again.
5. Reusable Towels Instead of Paper Ones
It turns out we don’t really need to use single-use paper towels. The same mess can be cleaned with cotton dishcloths or towels made of cellulose or flannel. These types of towels can be washed and reused. It’s just a matter of habit, so next time when you go into a supermarket, find reusable unpaper towels or dishcloths instead of paper ones.
6. Glass Food Storage
Using glass rather than plastic for food storage reduces waste, and plastic consumption and it makes your kitchen look more put together. Glass storage jars can be easily found in stores, and you can label them to keep them well organized. Also, it’s better and healthier if the food comes in contact with glass than with plastic.
7. Use Leftovers
Don’t throw away leftover food that can be used in smoothies, soup, baked goods, or other meals the next day. Bones and veggies can be used to make a soup stock. In order to reduce waste, plan a leftover night and use anything leftover in the fridge and cook new meals.
8. Create a Weekly Meal Plan
With a weekly meal plan, you will shop only what you need and use for the week ahead, without throwing food away. A lot of food is thrown away because of inadequate planning and compulsive shopping. So, make sure to have a weekly meal plan, buy from local markets and buy only what you need.
Take your time, go step by step and you will achieve a more sustainable kitchen with these 8 simple hacks.