Eco-friendly products for the kitchen are important for two reasons. First, because we want to keep our house “green” as possible and the kitchen is a good place to start. Second, an earth-friendly kitchen is also a healthy place to be.
Read next: Our guidelines for choosing eco-friendly products
I made a list of eco-friendly kitchen products and tips that have a real positive impact on the environment and can truly make a difference.
In This Article:
Storing dry food in glass jars
Store dry food like lentils, legumes, grains, seeds and spices in glass jars instead of plastic bags.
A messy pantry isn’t efficient. It makes us uncertain about what raw materials we have in store. We forget to use ingredients, so they go bad.
If you keep your Dry food / Spices in bags or plastic containers, and your food tends to spoil – this tip is for you. Jars. They exist.
Why jars are the ideal eco-friendly kitchen product?
- Jars are well sealed, dry food lasts longer inside
- Your dry food will stay fresh, even after a long time
- Jars make it easy to see exactly what you have in stock
Eco-friendly cloths (instead of paper)
Consider using reusable Nano towels instead of disposable paper towels.
Paper towels might be convenient, but they have a negative environmental impact. They are a use-and-throw-away item that isn’t suitable as an eco-friendly kitchen product. Moreover, they have a major role in global deforestation.
If you use a lot of them, consider switching to an eco-friendly alternative for paper towels or 100% recycled paper towels.
Click here to read our full Who Gives A Crap paper towels review.
For more reusable paper towels check our full list of sustainable Swedish dishcloths for the kitchen.
Why use eco-friendly cloths?
- Cleaning with Nano towels don’t require chemical cleaners
- Nano towels are durable
- Paper towels are disposable
- Too many trees are chopped down for Paper towels
- Using Nano Towels is cheaper than using paper towels (per year)
Use reusable/compostable dishes
Consider using biodegradable disposable dishes instead of plastic.
Don’t get me started on plastic plates/cups/spoons/forks and whatnot. They’re ugly, they are uncomfortable to eat with and they are hideously not Eco-friendly. Please, reconsider using them in your kitchen if you ever do so.
Why use reusable dishes?
- It takes Plastic disposables at least 400 years to dissolve
- When Plastics do start dissolving they transform into micro-particles that pollute our oceans
- Glass or China are the healthiest to eat from because they don’t release Microparticles, plus can be reused and recycled
If you insist on disposable plates – choose biodegradable ones made from Banana leaf, bamboo or paper.
Pre-separate garbage
Consider owning a few different trash cans for each garbage type. One for Plastic wrapping, one for glass, one for paper and one for organic material (food).
I know some people throw all their garbage into one can and then they either separate it or throw it all together. If your local authority has a recycling program, you should separate your garbage.
Why pre-separate garbage?
- It makes recycling easy, quick and more organized
- The separated organic matter can be re-used as compost
- The glass and plastic packages stay clean from food leftovers, so they can easily be reused.
- Saves the time and mess made using only one garbage can
Use eco-friendly dish soaps
Consider using a natural dish soap instead of a chemical one.
Switching to eco-friendly kitchen products should start with getting a natural dish soap. Conventional dish-soaps are made of petrochemicals that aren’t easily biodegraded. In fact, they cause real harm to the environment when they get from our plates into the sewage system.
Why use eco-friendly dish soap?
- Natural Dish Soaps are healthier for your skin
- Green dish soaps don’t pollute our water and soils (Regular dish-soaps do)
- Eco-friendly dish soaps clean just as well
- There is no danger if natural soap leftovers end up in your food
- You don’t want chemical dish soap to end up in your food
- Natural Dish Soaps cost about the same anyway
Install a water-saving aerator
Consider installing a faucet aerator on your kitchen sink tap.
They’re small, save money on water bills, and you’ll forget they’re even there.
Why install a water-saving aerator?
- The aerator can save up to 30% of the tap’s water consumption
- Faucet aerator will immediately reduce the household water bill
- Saving water also means saving the energy needed to deliver the water to our pipes
- Preserving water helps prevent environmental issues and water shortages.
Reuse cooking water
Consider reusing water that was used during cooking to water your houseplants.
Don’t just drain clean cooking water into the sink, it has other uses.
Why reuse cooking water?
- Cooking water contains organic matter that enriches the soil in houseplants
- Reusing water is good for both saving water and money
- Watering the plants while cooking also saves time
Chop on wooden cutting boards
Consider replacing a plastic cutting board with a wooden one.
Avoid plastic wherever you can, especially in your private kitchen. Don’t let it touch your food! If you chop your veggies on a plastic board, consider other options.
Why chop on wooden cutting boards?
- Wood is a recyclable and renewable material = Eco-friendly
- When cutting boards wear out, they start breaking up into micro-particles.
- Our bodies can handle the wood micro-particles with no problem, but plastic particles are harmful.
Avoid aluminum foil and parchment paper
When oven cooking, consider using nonstick silicone baking mat or a regular baking dish with no Aluminum foil or Parchment.
Both aluminum and paper parchments are not recyclable or reusable after cooking. Good news is, you don’t have to use either.
Why avoid aluminum foil and parchment paper?
- In high heat, aluminum foil layers may dissolve into the food.
- Especially when cooking acidic foods like tomatoes or lemons.
- Parchment Paper is not recyclable since it’s usually silicone covered and because of the oil absorbed during cooking.
- Nonstick silicone baking mats are durable and reusable, plus they don’t dissolve in high temperatures.
Store fridge food in sealed containers
Consider storing leftover food in the fridge inside sealed containers.
If you tend to keep leftovers in anything other than sealed glass containers, consider the following:
Why store fridge food in sealed containers?
- Food lasts longer and remains fresher when properly sealed
- This way you throw away less food in general
- Unpacked food in the fridge releases moisture that makes the fridge work harder and consumes more energy
- Manufacturing of Glass boxes is better for the environment than plastic boxes
Stop using non-stick pans
Although they are very easy to clean, consider avoiding ‘non-stick’ Teflon pans and pots. Use regular steel instead.
The Teflon covering may reduce oil usage but it’s not an environmentally friendly material at all.
Why stop using non-stick pans?
- The manufacturing of Non-stick materials releases “Perfluorooctanoic acid” to the atmosphere. This acid never goes away. Not good for the plants!
- Teflon pans and pots are very easily scratched. you don’t want poisonous Molecules to end up on your dinner plate.
- Steel pans are more durable and easier to maintain.
Read Next:
- Counter Compost Bins: For organic food scraps
- Zero Waste Cling Wrap: 6 Substitute for plastic wrap
- Paperstone Counter-Tops: Pros and cons
- Tea Bags Without Plastic: Plastic free and zero waste
- Coffee Makers Without Paper Filters: Zero waste coffee machines
- Disposable Water Bottles: Eco friendly bottles without plastic
- Recycled Paper Towels: Zero waste kitchen rolls
- Espresso Machines Without Pods: Plastic free (No capsules)
- Eco Friendly Coffee Cups: 22 Durable & Reusable Travel Mugs
