Embrace Sustainability: Budget-Friendly Tips for a Plastic-Free Kitchen

RefreshFeatured

Mar 10

We are literally swimming in plastic. It’s everywhere and in everything. We are in consistent contact with plastic from our mattress and cookware to our clothes.

The mass production of plastic has continued to multiply over seven decades and counting. According to Our World In Data, in the 1950s, the world produced 2 million tons of plastic per year. By 2015, plastics’ annual production increased nearly 200-fold to 381 million tons.

We use plastic so much we often forget it still lives on even when we’re done with it.

Most people know about the usual and obvious plastics; however, many don’t realize plastics are hidden in everyday products like disposable wet wipes, tea bags, menstrual products, and chewing gum.

What’s more surprising, 91% of plastic isn’t recycled according to National Geographic.

“This is why we have seen leakage from global waste systems into the oceans,” says Jenna Jambeck, a University of Georgia environmental engineer who specializes in studying plastic waste. Not to mention, it takes more than 400 years to degrade, so most of it still exists in some form. Only 12 percent has been incinerated.

More plastic facts below!

Not only do humans ingest microplastics they also get into our waterways and choke marine wildlife. Even recyclable utensils take decades to break down, and at the rate of production, we will continue to drown in plastic.

The harmful effects of plastics.

Not only does plastic have earth in a choke-hold, it can be directly harmful to humans. In addition to creating safety problems during production, many chemical additives that give plastic products desirable performance properties also have negative environmental and human health effects, according to the Ecology Center in Berkley, California.

These effects include:

Direct toxicity, as in the cases of lead, cadmium, and mercury
Carcinogens, as in the case of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)
Endocrine disruption, which can lead to cancers, congenital disabilities, immune system suppression, and developmental problems in children.

Even BPA-free plastic isn’t completely safe! A 2011 study printed in Environmental Health Perspectives stated that when tested, commercially available plastic products labeled as BPA-free, almost all of them leached chemicals known to have estrogenic activity.

As we become more educated about plastics and their effects on us and the earth, we’re taking more consideration of plastics used in the kitchen. Getting a handle on plastic waste is an enormous task. It’s going to take all of us doing our part in whatever way possible.

Luckily, if you’re new to the zero waste life, the kitchen is an easy place to start. Besides, it’s time to trade-in convenience for the health and safety of the earth and all its inhabitants.

Here’s how to reduce plastic use in your kitchen:

Take a hard pass on plastic bags and other single-use plastics. Including but not limited to bottled water, packaged vegetables, and carry-out containers. Trade single-use sandwich bags for silicone sandwich bags. If you receive delivery in a plastic bag or box, find a way to reuse it. Plastic bags make good dog-waste storage.
Switch to glass food containers. Reuse old jars as food storage, or check out the 18 piece set below.
Use non-toxic cooking tools and reusable utensils for the car or travel. Metal Chopsticks are easy to store and clean for on-the-go multi-use. Otherwise, opt for wood chopsticks.
Swap plastic wrap for beeswax wrap or cloth covers for dry food.
Replace kid’s plastic utensils and dishes with wood or metal.
Support your local farmer’s markets.
Exchange sponges with bamboo and natural bristle brushes.
Make DIY Cleaners with items that come in a glass bottle. Vinegar and essential oils are a good start. Do you research on which combinations of natural ingredients clean and kill germs the best. Don’t trust DIY Cleaners? Try refillable packaged cleaners like Blueland Cleaning Kit with Acrylic Bottles and Tablets, $29 (refills start at $6), qvc.com.
Compost and ditch plastic trash bags. Trade them for cloth bags to be emptied into the city trash cans. Don’t worry if nothing moisture gets in them, they won’t get too smelly.
Precycle! To make recycling easier or, better yet, completely unnecessary, choose cookware that will be easily recycled or safe and durable enough to use time and time again.

Our Favorite Essential Tools for a Plastic-Free Kitchen:

As always, start small and purchase only what you really need. Here are our must-have plastic-free kitchen essentials.

Glass Containers: Check out this 18-piece glassware food storage set. This set is oven, dishwasher, and freezer-safe! The locking lids are easy to close and seal proof and air-tight.
Teakwood Utensil Set: Made of natural teakwood, the utensils are lightweight, eco-friendly, anti-rust, and durable to use.
The Our Place Always Pan: Now yes, we did include “on a budget” in the title of this article, but when you realize all this pan can do, and the time it saves in cooking and cleaning, you won’t think twice. The ALWAYS PAN replaces your frying pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, non-stick pan, spatula, and spoon rest. Ok! Talk about one-pan meals. Plus, its so cute you can serve AND store your favorite eats! Our favorite part, its non-toxic, nonstick ceramic coating made without potentially toxic materials like PFOAs, PTFEs, other PFAs, lead, cadmium, toxic metals, and nanoparticles.

How to donate your plastic and non-stick cookware:

If your neighborhood recycling program excepts plastic and scrap metal, make sure to put them in the right bin. Otherwise, call your local recycler. Ask if they take ferrous or non-ferrous metal. If your pans attract magnets, they are ferrous. Here is a Recycling Directory by Earth911 to get you started. Non-stick pans will take a little more work in that the coating needs to be removed first.

Also, if you have extra single-use utensils you have lying around, don’t throw them away! Many local shelters and food banks welcome these types of donations. So give them a call and do your good deed for the day.

CONCLUSION

Living a plastic-free lifestyle is a gradual process, but it lends itself well to keeping your space decluttered and healthy. Take it one step at a time and prioritize your plastic-free kitchen purchases by starting with items that you use most. Or wait until it breaks to purchase its plastic-free replacement intentionally. Plastic-free living will hopefully soon become the norm.

WorkPlayRefresh editors only endorse products we genuinely love. If you select an item to purchase through our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. Learn more, here.