Want to help save the planet? Who doesn’t? The trouble often lies in knowing how to live more sustainably.
Choosing ethically-made and sustainably-sourced home goods is a great way to contribute to conscious living. Check out these great tips for going green in the kitchen!
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1. Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk for certain items is a fabulous way to both save money and cut down on waste. Packaging is perhaps the biggest offender when it comes to producing plastic waste in the kitchen.
With bulk bags made from organic cotton, you can eliminate even the plastic bags to buy in bulk!
2. Say No to Excess Plastic
The easiest way to wrap up a sandwhich for lunch or store a bit of leftovers is with plastic wrap or a plastic baggy. Unfortunately, those single-use plastics are heavily contributing to unneeded pollution in the environment.
Try using handmade beeswax wraps instead. Food stays fresh and you can wash and reuse for more sustainable living!
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3. Compost Your Waste
How much of your kitchen waste could be composted? The truth is, probably a large percentage of it. Start composting your waste to use as a rich, natural fertilizer in your garden.
Don’t have a garden? Drop it off at your nearest collection center to help local farmer’s naturally fertilze their crops.
4. Use Natural Cleaners
If you’ve never stopped to read the ingredients of your favorite commercial cleaners, you might be horrified when you do. Clean with purpose by choosing all-natural, non-toxic cleaners.
Go even more sustainable with 100% natural cleaning refills to cut down on chemicals and excess plastic.
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5. Grow Your Own Herbs
Start a little herb garden to give your recipes a splash of fresh herbs without buying them wrapped in plastic from the store. Toss a little of your compost in with them and watch them flourish.
6. Say Goodbye to Paper Towels
How many paper towels do you use? It might be embarrasing to admit the number. Help save the planet by replacing up to 17 rolls of paper towels with sponge cloths. The designs are so cute, they even add a nice touch to your decor!
7. Filter Your Water
Reduce your plastic use even more by not buying water bottles. Simply filter your water and use a reusable water bottle. You can either install a filtration system in front of the kitchen sink or opt for a water filter pitcher.
8. Use LED Light Bulbs
You need to see when you’re cooking, but old, inefficient lighting drains energy and isn’t very useful. Help craft a cleaner future by choosing LED light bulbs instead. Though the bulbs can be more expensive, they need to be replaced less often and use less energy, making them cheaper in the long run.
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9. Long-Lasting Cookware
Durable cookware is green cookware. Instead of cooking with flimsy, Teflon-lined pans that emit toxic chemicals with age, opt for sustainably sourced metal pans, such as recycled copper pans handcrafted by skilled artisans.
10. Only Run the Dishwasher Full
Did you know that dishwashers actually use less water and energy than we do when washing dishes by hand?
What better excuse to pass off that chore! Just make sure you’re running it only when it’s full to take full advantage of the water being used.
Enjoy Your Greener Kitchen
There are so many little habits we can cultivate to create more consciousness about the environment. While our individual contribution seems small, all of us together can make a huge impact for a greener future.
Try a few of these tips today!
