16 Product Swaps to Reduce Waste in the Kitchen
Take small steps to reduce waste
By implementing a few easy changes in your everyday life, you can reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills. A single swap in the kitchen may seem like a small step but it has a giant impact when many other people are taking the same small step.
When it comes to being conscious of our environmental impact, you might think you can just turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or take shorter showers, or recycle your cardboard and consider that quite the contribution. While those things are pretty good for the planet, there’s a lot more that can be done.
Reducing waste, paper and plastic, doesn’t have to be difficult. Think about what you are buying and what alternatives you have available. For instance:
- beeswax wraps or silicone bags instead of plastic sandwich or snack bags
- take your own shopping bags and mesh produce bags to the grocery store
- glass or pottery for storing leftovers and packing lunch
- reusable stainless steel water bottles instead of single-use bottles
- paper or stainless straws instead of plastic straws
These substitutes are easy to find and not very expensive considering the extended use you will get from most of these items.
In this post, I’ll share some examples of easy swaps that you can make in your kitchen to eliminate or significantly reduce waste. Let’s get started!
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Reusable shopping bags
Reusable shopping bags are an inexpensive solution to the problem of hauling groceries or other goods without using paper or plastic.
Keep an assortment of shopping bags in your car and remember to take them into the store with you.
For use beyond the grocery store, assign shopping bags to family members to pack their stuff for a camping trip. Or fill them with snacks and games to take with you on road trips!
Choose reusable bags that are made from strong, durable fabrics. Find bags with a 40 lb. weight capacity and reinforced handles that will be able to withstand all the challenges you can throw at them.
Opt for mesh bags for produce purchases. They are strong and washable, giving you years of use and eliminating those flimsy plastic bags that are provided in the produce area.
- Reusable Foldable, Durable Heavy Duty Shopping Totes for all shopping trips.
- Naturally Sensible Reusable Produce Bags | Sturdy Mesh Grocery Tote (5 Bag Set) to replace the plastic produce bags.
Non-plastic food storage
Repurposing glass jars for food storage is a win/win. Store the products you buy in bulk, such as grains, nuts, and spices in the glass jars that once contained spaghetti sauce, pimientos, or jelly. Use a label maker to spit out labels, or get fancy with decorative labels and you can create a custom storage system on the cheap!
Beeswax wraps are a great eco-friendly alternative to all the plastic wrap in your kitchen. When you’re ready to switch, purchase a package or two of beeswax wraps and use them over and over again for months! Beeswax wraps are eco-friendly because they can be used multiple times, reducing waste. Also, they are washable and biodegradable.
I’m excited to use Stasher silicone bags whenever I need to pack lunches or snacks. I use the gallon bags to freeze fruits and veggies that I buy in season.
These bags eliminate single-use plastic waste, are free from BPA, PVC, and latex, are durable and long-lasting.
Stashers are my favorites, but there are less expensive options that work quite well. Another small step towards reducing plastic waste in your kitchen.
3. Repurpose glass jars for use in the pantry for dry foods.
4. Food-grade Silicone bags for storing foods in the fridge or freezer.
5. Beeswax wraps to use as you would plastic wrap. Cover a bowl, or half an avocado, or wrap a sandwich.
Reduce plastic in food prep
Glass food containers are a great way to go green and not worry about harmful chemicals leaching into the food you’re storing. Opt for glass dishes that will go from the freezer or fridge to the oven or microwave.
For weekly meal prep or packing leftovers, glass doesn’t absorb odors, it is chemical- and plastic-free, and extremely durable.
Pyrex products have been in my kitchen for as long as I can remember. My collection grew recently when they partnered with Disney for a Mickey & Friends set of glass bowls.
6. Pyrex meal prep set -for meal prep, packing lunches, and storing leftovers.
7. Stainless steel utensils – are easy to clean, are safe at high temperatures, and are chemical-free.
8. Silicone utensils – are gentle on non-stick surfaces, are dishwasher-safe, and have handles that stay cool to the touch.
Eating and drinking without plastics
Plastic utensils and styrofoam plates are at the top of the list of most harmful products. Plastics do not break down, they do not decompose.
Styrofoam breaks apart into small pieces and poses a threat to wildlife when foraging. In addition to choking hazards, it causes digestive problems that can be deadly for animals.
My compromise for casual, outdoor meals or picnics is uncoated paper plates and bamboo paper plate holders. This was a staple for summer meals when I was growing up. It’s more responsible than using styrofoam and it cuts down on dishwashing.
9. Bamboo paper plate holders – can be used over and over, rinse them off when necessary.
10. Uncoated paper plates – can be recycled.
11. Water bottles and sippy cups – Eliminate single-use water bottles. Replace plastic sippy cups with stainless steel/silicone versions.
12. Paper straws or Stainless steel straws – Plastic straws are so harmful-just make the swap!
Pack your lunch without plastics
Packing lunch from home is one of the top 10 ways to save money. Choose containers that eliminate the plastic and you’ll be taking steps to save the environment, as well.
Swap baggies, and plastic containers for glass, beeswax wraps, and silicone sandwich bags. Not only are they better for the planet, but they are better for your health.
13. Glass meal containers – there are so many options, some with silicone sleeves to prevent breakage. Glass is easy to clean, doesn’t absorb odors, and doesn’t leach chemicals into your food.
14. Spider-Man lunchbox – Retro metal lunchboxes are a fun, eco-friendly way to “brown bag” it.
Cleaning the Kitchen
Reduce plastic waste by swapping out sponges, scouring pads, and garbage bags that are largely plastic with reusable and/or biodegradable products.
15. Plant-Based Natural Scrub Sponge – All-natural, hard-working cellulose sponges for a greener clean.
16. Swedish dishcloths – are made from 70% Cellulose/30% Cotton and are biodegradable.
One single cloth replaces up to 15 rolls of paper towels.
I use these every day for drying dishes and I love them. They are so absorbent and quick drying, plus they are washable giving you months of use with each cloth.
The science is clear and scary on what single-use plastics are doing to our entire planet. There are some easy, cheap, and painless ways to reduce plastic waste that will have a tremendous positive impact in the long run.
Pick one thing at a time to swap, get used to the new product, and then pick another. You will soon have eliminated the most damaging products from your home and replaced them with sustainable alternatives. Set a goal to reduce single-use and disposable products in your home.
See my post on 5 Common Household Items you can Repurpose for the Garden.
