There are small steps you can take to live a more eco-friendly life. You may have made your kitchen more energy efficient, but another method is to pay close attention to how you shop for, prepare, cook, and store your food and beverages. There are numerous eco-friendly kitchen products available that can make a significant difference. We’ve compiled a list of our favourite eco-friendly swaps to help you on your path to a more sustainable lifestyle.
Compostable bin liners
An ideal biodegradable bag is one that decomposes into the Earth once it’s used. The nutrients will be used to improve soils without causing any harm to the environment. Plant-based vegetable ingredients like potato and maize starch are commonly used to make biodegradable bags. This makes them a more environmentally friendly method of disposing food waste and reducing our use of plastic. These will come in handy when you’re spring cleaning or when you’re throwing away food waste.
Reusable wash cloths
One eco-friendly benefit of reusable cloths or rags is that they may be used over and over, decreasing paper waste by tonnes per year. Since you can create them from just about any old scrap of fabric sitting around your house, or buy one made from recycled materials like Birdseye cotton or old towels, they will last you a long time and can be very cost-effective. If you’re not keen on using old fabric, buying microfibre clothes is better than using kitchen roll every time you need to wipe up a spill.
A Dualit toaster
Dualit’s unique heating elements provide perfectly toasted bread in a matter of minutes – plus they’re protected against crumb shards and piercing knives, so they’re built to last. This means you won’t be replacing them every couple of years. There’s something satisfyingly heavy and sturdy about the manual lift lever and mechanical timer. Everything about these beautifully designed classics is still made in West Sussex, even stamped with the name of the builder. Thanks to their durable components, they’re well-made and easily repairable – you can even do repairs at home!
Reusable straws
For a variety of reasons, including dental health and accessibility, many people still choose to drink from straws. Luckily, there are loads of environmentally friendly alternatives to single-use plastic straws if you’re one of those people who can’t live without them. Whether you choose paper, bamboo, metal, or reusable plastic straws, it’s much better for the environment than those single use plastic straws that clog our oceans and landfills.
Eco-friendly food containers
Plastic containers used for freezing food or storing various goods are commonplace in most households. There are a few that were purchased, and a few that were left over from a long-forgotten takeaway and they’re quite useful to have. Unfortunately, the fact that they’re made of plastic means that they’ll eventually wind up in a landfill or maybe the ocean. So, when they’ve served their purpose, make sure you replace them with more eco-friendly alternatives made from steel, glass, or even bamboo.
Compostable sponges
Making sustainable switches shouldn’t stop once the cooking’s done. In fact, when it comes to washing up, we could all afford to be a bit greener. Compostable sponges are a good first step, especially when combined with eco-friendly washing-up liquid.
Silicone cake cases
When baking, paper cases for loaf tins, cupcakes and cake tins can have a significant impact on the environment. Try using silicone cases and liners to make your bakes more sustainable. They are dishwasher proof, stain-resistant, and leave no paper pieces stuck to your lovely treats! If you clean them properly, there’s no residual flavour from the old batches, and it stops any paper waste.
Wooden chopping boards
In the short term, plastic cutting boards appear to be handier than wooden cutting boards because they can be washed in the dishwasher, but there are disadvantages. Wooden cutting boards are long-lasting, more visually appealing, better at preserving the edge of blades, and less likely to house bacteria. Wooden chopping boards shouldn’t be exposed to lots of water as they might warp or crack, and if you’re a real geek you should treat them with oil to keep them shipshape. For more eco board inspiration, have a look here.
A Magimix food processor
In terms of all-purpose kitchen appliances, there’s nothing better than a Magimix. You can use it as a powerful blender, but it comes with a wide range of attachments that allow you to do anything from whisking, mincing, chopping, kneading, and even slicing. It takes only a few moments to knead bread, shred coleslaw, and blend hummus.
They are known for their durability and power, and the commercial-grade motor is the key piece. With a 30-year warranty, it’s built to last, and it automatically adjusts power according on how dense the contents of the bowl are. It’s a breeze to use as it only has three buttons; stop, go, or pulse.
Want to know more about how you can make your home more eco-friendly? Get in touch and we’ll help!