The kitchen is the place where our friends and family gather to share stories, emotions, litres of coffee and home-cooked meals. It truly is the heart of our home. But it’s also the room in our home that generates the most waste. So one of my New Years practices is to do all I can to ensure this special place remains one of joy and sustainability. I deliberately use the word practices instead of resolutions, because every year by February I feel like a failure for not keeping to my resolutions. Calling them a ‘New Years Practice’ means I have the whole year to practice and get better at whatever I want to change. So this year I will be practicing to continue making better and more sustainable choices for and in my kitchen. And here’s what I plan to do to ensure that my kitchen is as sustainable as possible.
Choose less and better packaging
A sustainable kitchen starts with our shopping. Be very deliberate when it comes to shopping. Look for products with as little packaging as possible, and if you have to buy something in packaging opt for packaging that can be reused or recycled, for example a glass bottle instead of a plastic one. And, remember those reusable shopping totes made from cotton, hemp, or other natural fabric when you head off to the shops.
My new favourite: Buying ‘naked’ bread, fruit and vegetables. I have a whole collections of small fabric or mesh reusable bags in which they can be weighed and transported in. A small pillow-case also does the trick, but in my experience they don’t always go down well with the shop assistant behind the scale.
Clean your kitchen with eco-friendly products
Replace those chemical-laden cleaners with eco-friendlier alternatives. Chances are you have everything you need to make eco-friendly cleaning products in your pantry. Baking soda absorbs and neutralizes smells, while vinegar kills bacteria, mould, and mildew and can be used to clean sinks, cooking surfaces, and appliances. Lemons are also great for cleaning your kitchen.
My new favourite: Homemade surface cleaner. Click here for the recipe.
Replace your synthetic sponges and clothes
Did you know that it takes roughly 58 years for a synthetic sponge to decompose, harming the environment while doing so. Luckily there are some great alternatives out there.
Natural cleaning brushes are a great alternative to kitchen sponges. The handles are generally made from sustainably sourced wood, while bristles are made from natural fibres like coconut and sisal. I bought a bamboo pot scrubber more than three years ago and it is showing no signs of having to be replaced yet. And it’s great to know that when the time comes to replace my pot scrubber, I can pop it into our compost heap or in the fireplace.
For more alternatives to synthetic sponges and dishcloths click here.
My new favourite: I love Eco-Roller Towels from Msulwa Life. These washable and reusable towels are the perfect eco-friendly alternative to those single-use paper towels, which most moms of little ones can’t do without.
Get yourself a compost heap or worm farm
Reduce the amount of organic waste you throw away by starting a compost heap in the corner of your garden. If space is a problem consider a worm farm or compost bin. There are amazing ideas, products and tutorials on the web.
My new favourite: A countertop compost bin saves you having to visit your compost heap a few times a day. Yuppiechef have some beautiful options available.
Ditch the cling wrap
Beeswax wraps are an excellent alternative to single-use plastic cling wrap, as they can be washed and reused up to 100 times. Not only can you shape them around almost any size and shape container or plate with the heat of your hands, they are also great for packing sandwiches. Another great alternative to cling wrap is fabric lids. They are great for covering salads or leftovers.
My new favourite: I love Simply Bee‘s Beeswax wraps. They are handmade from 100% organic cotton, beeswax, jojoba oil and pine resin, and have a lifespan of 12 months.
Zero-waste and energy-saving cooking
Get creative with your cooking and challenge yourself to try and use every part of an ingredient. For example, use vegetable peels for stocks, use overripe fruit for baking or making jams, and repurpose leftovers into new dishes. Also consider more energy-efficient cooking methods such as steaming, microwaving, or pressure cooking, which use less energy and retain more nutrients than boiling or frying.
My new favourite: Tossing my potato skins in a drop of olive oil and salt, and air-frying them for a sustainable and tasty snack.
Here’s to a more sustainable kitchen in 2024.
xxx
Photos by Madison&West Lifestyle
