Series 3 – How to Reduce Plastic Waste in Your Kitchen: Eco-Friendly Ideas

I started my quest for an eco-friendly sustainable life around 10 years ago and every single day I am learning new things and trying my best to reduce plastic waste. The kitchen is one such area where we generate a lot of waste, so in this post I will give you practical tips and tricks all used by me to reduce plastic waste in your kitchen.

During this journey I identified that someone doesn’t need much money or spend hundreds of dollars to live sustainably actually the reverse is true. We end up saving money by living a more sustainable life.

This is the 3rd post in the ongoing series on reducing plastic waste. It focuses on actionable steps to reduce plastic waste in your kitchen. Making small changes can have a big impact on the environment!

Reduce Plastic Waste in your kitchen– Practical Tips

Anything I suggest in my posts is always tried and tested by me, so you can be sure that it’s doable and not very difficult to do. You might find it difficult to do it in the beginning but with just a bit of consistency, you can make a big difference not only in your life, and health but also in the environment.

My entire family is kind of used to living a sustainable lifestyle, though still there are times when we all slip individually or as a family too. But these occurrences are reducing gradually. I am so proud of my partner and kids for supporting my journey wholeheartedly though it was inconvenient for them in the beginning they slowly adapted and now have started liking it.

The kitchen is one of the areas in everyone’s home where we spend a lot of time and produce the maximum amount of waste, so this was one of my key focus areas when I decided to reduce my plastic waste.

In this post, I will give you practical tips to reduce plastic waste in your kitchen, just bear with me and be consistent. You can start measuring your waste and you will start seeing the reduction in no time. So instead of wasting time, let’s start with actual action items.

Reduce Plastic Waste in Your Kitchen- Use Reusable Bags

No kitchen can survive without bags and most of us have been using disposable plastic bags for a very long time. The majority of the bags are being used for grocery shopping or waste disposal.

Instead of plastic grocery bags, invest in reusable shopping bags. Keep them in your car or near your front door, so you always remember to take them with you. I have been using the BeeGreen Reusable-Grocery-Bags for past several years. Because these bags are foldable, so they fit nicely even in my handbag too.

I have stronger Canvas bags that fit nicely in my car for heavy shopping which is generally every weekend.

Almost every other day we need a garbage bag to throw out the rubbish. I started using these bio-degradable, compostable garbage bags a few years ago and found them quite satisfactory. Try these and you might fall in love with them too.

Together these bags have saved at least a few thousand disposable cheap plastic bags going to the trash.

Reduce Plastic Waste in Your Kitchen-Avoid Single-Use Items

The kitchen is one place where a lot of single-use plastic items are being used, let it be straws, food boxes, cutlery, etc. From the time I started saying No to Single-use plastic items, I have seen a huge amount of reduction in my plastic waste.

I am not saying it’s going to be easy to do it, it took me a few years of consistent effort to refuse the single-use plastic item. I am a foodie so it was really difficult for me to say no to several yummy treats available outside when I didn’t have my reusable cutlery with me. It took me hard effort but now it has become a second nature for me to carry reusable cutlery with me. I have small pouches of cutlery (spoon, fork, knife, and even a small bowl which is the latest addition) in all my bags. I don’t even have to mention water bottles, which I think are the default in almost everyone’s bags.

When I have parties, I try my best to manage with my home reusable cutlery but at times when the crowd is large and I have to use disposable cutlery, I ensure to use compostable cutlery which straight goes into my home composter depending on the amount.

You can check out 5 Brilliant Reasons to Switch to Biodegradable Cutlery – Your Eco-Friendly Party Hero! to know more details.

I prefer to use disposable Square Palm Leaf cutlery as this is very easy to compost and doesn’t need an industry setup.

Reduce Plastic Waste in Your Kitchen- Compost Food Scraps

When food waste gets mixed with other trash and ends up in landfills, it releases harmful chemicals. These chemicals pollute the air and seep into the ground and water, harming the environment. But you can turn this food waste into “brown gold” i.e. organic chemical-free compost.

A lot of people think composting isn’t possible if you live in a small space, and they worry about bad smells or bugs. I had the same feeling when I was just thinking about starting composting. But one fine day, I just started composting on my balcony, and I was nervous my neighbors would complain or that flies would come around. But none of that happened! When I used my first batch of compost in my plants, I was so happy.

All it takes is a little patience and the right techniques, and you can start composting too. When I lived in an apartment, I used a few 5-liter plastic containers that I had. I found a way to reuse them while also saving food scraps from going to the landfill.

Just a quick tip: avoid adding meat to your compost at home, as it can smell bad and takes much longer to break down than fruit and veggies.

Reduce Plastic Waste in Your Kitchen- Opt for Fresh Local Foods

We all like to get our fruits and vegetables from supermarkets where they look and feel fresh. But has anyone noticed the amount of plastic being used to wrap these vegetables and fruits which makes them look fresher than they are.

The first time I visited my local farmer’s market, that’s when I realized how the actual fresh vegetables and fruits taste much better and you can cut down your grocery shopping bills by almost half. It also helps in building community relationships as when I go to the farmer’s market, I see people who grow these vegetables and fruits. I speak to them and get to know their journey, which is an eye-opener at times. I get to buy all my fresh supplies without any plastic and I can vouch for their freshness too.

I have also started growing small vegetables at home now that I have moved into an independent house with a garden. My boundary wall is full of tall fruit and vegetable trees and the inside section is dedicated to small plants and creepers etc.

Maintaining a garden requires some additional effort and my entire family does help out but it has kind of become a family tradition that we all spend Sunday morning taking care of our garden and twice a week both my kids have to water all the plants and pick out the weed if there is anything.

Growing my vegetables and fruits though in small quantities is very satisfying to my soul too. It’s a great stress-buster tool too.

Reduce Plastic Waste in Your Kitchen- Buy Stainless-steel or Glass Products

We would love to have a plastic-free kitchen but unfortunately, we do have plenty of plastic stuff in our kitchen. No one in their right senses will throw away all the existing stuff and buy new products just for the sake of sustainability. This is not sustainable but this action alone will generate a huge amount of plastic waste. Instead, I would suggest that avoid buying stuff altogether and if you need to buy something and you just can’t live without that item, look for products made of eco-friendly sustainable materials like stainless steel, glass, or wood.

We all know that lesser we buy, the less we will waste.

I will give you an example from my own life, I was using a juicer for the past 15+ years, and at last it gave away, I tried to get it repaired but the mechanic also gave up. My entire family can’t start functioning properly without the orange juice. We all need orange juice first thing in the morning and I don’t like market-bought orange juice, I prefer to make my juice at home.

When I started looking around to buy a new juicer, the market was full of several good-looking, lovely review products but almost everything was made of plastic. I spent some time looking around and found “Zulay Orange Squeezer”, its entirely made of stainless steel. I have been using it for the past 3+ years and I haven’t found anything better than this in the market yet. You can check out “7 Powerful Benefits of the Cast Iron Zulay Orange Squeezer for Your Home“.

The same principle applies to all my items ranging from the smallest item like the garlic peeler to all the big items. Buy only when it’s necessary and buy products made from eco-friendly materials.

Reduce Plastic Waste in Your Kitchen- Conclusion

This post only touches on the surface of the plastic waste we create, but even making small changes can lead to a big impact on the amount of plastic generated in your kitchen.

Just a few hours ago, I attended an event where they were handing out pre-packaged food and water bottles. My younger one surprised me by refusing both food and a water bottle. She outright refused to take the prepacked food and water bottle and pulled out her stainless-steel water bottle and a sandwich packed in reusable wrap from her bag. I also noticed her encouraging her friends to avoid taking plastic. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in that moment. I wanted to hug her right then and there (though I knew that would probably make her cringe!).

Seeing her make that choice reminded me that I am on the right path. It also gave me hope that she will carry on this important message of reducing waste for future generations. It’s moments like these that show how our efforts to live more sustainably can inspire our kids to do the same.

The objective “Reduce plastic waste in your kitchen” doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start with one or two of these ideas, and gradually incorporate more into your routine. Every single step counts toward a cleaner planet!

Again I am going to insist that just be consistent in doing whatever item you pick up. I started just by saying no to any kind of bottled drink. There have been times when I was extremely thirsty and didn’t have any option other than to buy a bottled drink. I delayed buying that bottled drink as long as I could and several times, I did manage to find an alternative like some friends or colleagues carrying their water bottle and they helped me with little water and there were times when I did but the drink. It all depends on the situation.

It might feel a bit awkward in the beginning but you have to be firm and try your best.

Be responsible but always remember health is the most important thing in life, so If you need water, just go ahead and buy that waster bottle. You can always find creative ways to reuse it or responsibly recycle it.

Let’s work together to make our kitchens eco-friendlier! What changes will you make this week? I am looking forward to hear from all of you. Please feel free to write in comments section.

Stay tuned for the next posts in our series, where we’ll explore more ways to live sustainably and reduce our environmental footprint!

FAQ

I always feel more comfortable reading any post if I get answers to the most frequently asked questions also on the same page. That’s the reason I try my best to answer as many questions as possible in my posts. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions I found on Google, pls read on.

• How to get plastic out of your kitchen?
  • Replace melamine plastic bowls and plates with ones made from glass, aluminum, or ceramic. Stop using parchment paper, which is coated in silicone. Stop buying sponges made from plastic. Try versions made from coconut fibers, sheep’s wool, and walnut shells (really!).
• How to reduce plastic in food?
  • Do: Drink tap water. Don’t: Rely on bottled water. …
  • Do: Heat food in or on the stove, or by microwaving in glass. Don’t: Microwave in plastic. …
  • Do: Buy and store food in glass, silicone, or foil. …
  • Do: Eat fresh food as much as possible. …
  • Do: Vacuum regularly. …
  • Do: Work with your community.
• How to avoid plastic in the kitchen?
  • Step 1: Replace plastic cooking utensils. …
  • Step 2: Swap out plastic storage containers. …
  • Step 3: Know what your pots and pans are made of. …
  • Step 4: Ditch other plastic cooking accessories for safer options. …
  • Step 5: Rethink all those single-use plastic bags and food covers.
• How to make your kitchen plastic-free?
  • Many kitchen essentials now come in eco-friendly versions. Glass or stainless steel containers can replace plastic storage boxes. Silicone baking mats can take the place of plastic wrap. Bamboo utensils are a great substitute for plastic ones.
• Why is plastic bad for kitchen?
  • Plastics are widely used in the kitchen, from containers for leftovers to dishware, cutlery, baby bottles, even the coating inside canned foods. But recent research has shown that the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates commonly found in many plastics, can leach into food and pose potential health risks.
• How do you clean plastic kitchen?
  • Remove any leftover food and rinse in hot water.
  • Wipe extra grease with a sponge or paper towel.
  • Wash in the sink with dish soap and warm water, or put it in your dishwasher’s top rack.
  • You may want to add a plastic booster (put it where you would add a rinse aid.
• What is a healthy alternative to plastic spatulas?
  • Wood spoons and spatulas make great alternatives to plastic utensils.
• How do you reduce plastic waste when dining out?
  • Swap single-use condiments for large bottles that can be refilled (eg soy sauce, tomato sauce, mayonnaise, butter, jam, vinegar, salt, and pepper).
  • Swap plastic cutlery for reusable metal ones or consider renewable or compostable cutlery for take-away dining.
  • Swap plastic plates for ceramic.
• How to eliminate plastic from your food?
  • Use cloth or canvas bags for shopping. Let food cool to room temperature before putting it into plastic storage containers. Whenever possible, use glass or ceramic containers. Buy prepared soups, sauces and condiments in glass jars.
• How do I organize my plastic containers in my kitchen?
  • As a general rule, it’s best to keep lids with their corresponding containers. “Arrange containers to fit your space, putting in the largest ones first, and fitting the smaller ones around them. Nest and stack related containers as much as possible.
• How can we avoid plastic kitchenware and utensils?
  • Here are some tips. Choose safer alternatives: Opt for glass, stainless steel, or silicone containers for storing food. These materials are safer than plastic and can be reused multiple times. Avoid heating plastic: When possible, avoid heating food in plastic containers or using plastic utensils for cooking.
• How to replace plastic in the kitchen?
  • Cookware & Utensils: Switch to glass, ceramic, stainless steel, wood, or bamboo
  • Food Storage: Use glass containers, stainless steel, or beeswax wraps
  • Drinking Containers: Choose glass, stainless steel, or silicone
  • Cleaning Supplies: Use natural fiber sponges, microfiber cloths, and bar soaps

You can take a look at our other posts here.