Eco Upgrades – 6 Ways to Be More Environmentally Conscious in the Kitchen | Today’s eco-conscious person is always looking for ways to decrease their carbon footprint. Have you ever considered what that entails in your own household? There are lots of opportunities to be environmentally friendly, but we’re going to start in the kitchen as there are countless ways to be more environmentally conscious in the ways you buy, cook, and store your food.
- Buy Eco-Friendly Cookware
Traditional non-stick cookware is covered in Teflon. Although Teflon is very good at making pans non-stick, it has a reputation for releasing toxins into your food and the environment. Plus, Teflon surfaces damage easily if the wrong utensils are used on them.
Enter eco-friendly cookware. If you are truly looking to create a greener kitchen, you need to choose pots and pans with naturally non-stick surfaces like ceramic or cast iron.
- Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Clean out the cabinet under your kitchen sink, and get rid of all the harsh cleaning products you can find. These products are not only bad for the planet, but they are harmful to your health too.
Replace them with green cleaning products found in most grocery stores, or better yet, use natural cleaning products you probably already have in your pantry. White vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap are all great cleaners that work well on kitchen counters, appliances, and even laundry.
- Cut Food on Cutting Boards Made of Sustainable Materials
Chopping blocks and cutting boards are staples in most kitchens. A wooden cutting board looks beautiful and is made from a sustainable source, unlike its plastic counterpart. Furthermore, some wood types like bamboo naturally reduce the growth of bacteria.
- Stop Using Disposable Plates and Utensils
Styrofoam plates and plastic utensils are all very convenient. After all, who actually likes washing dishes, right? The reality is these “disposable” dishes aren’t all that friendly to the environment. They don’t deteriorate over time, and they leach harmful chemicals into the ground. Do the planet a favor, and opt instead for reusable glass or metal dishes and utensils. This way, you can rejoice in the fact that you’re doing your part to save the planet every time you wash the dishes.
- Start a Compost Heap
Once you’ve adopted eco-friendly ways in your kitchen, you’ll discover you have less waste to throw out. You can reduce that waste even further by starting a compost heap for food scraps.
Purchase or build a compost bin and throw your organic waste into it. Be sure to turn the bin periodically to help it break down. Eventually, you’ll end up with nutrient-rich soil you can use to help your plants thrive.
- Pack an Eco-Friendly Lunch
If you carry lunch to work every day, stop using paper sacks and disposable sandwich bags to pack it. Instead, pack your lunch in containers with lids that can be washed and reused day after day.
Another alternative to plastic sandwich bags is reusable beeswax wraps. Similar to plastic wrap, these wraps can be folded into individual baggies and sealed to keep food fresh and separated.
The Earth is our home, and it’s the only one we have, so everyone must do what they can to ensure its safety for future generations. Living green begins in the home, with the kitchen being a great place to start. Follow the tips mentioned above to be more environmentally conscious in the kitchen.
Photo by Sarah Chai from Pexels
