So you want to reduce plastic, but well, you go grocery shopping and everything in the store seems to be packaged in plastic. Especially the produce! I always think it's odd to sell us loose apples and oranges, but the broccoli and cauliflower have to be hermetically sealed in plastic. Can't trust those rowdy vegetables. Shrink wrap the zucchini, they might escape and start rading the candy aisle!
From grocery shopping to storing food to pantry organization, the kitchen is one place where it's really tough to avoid plastic. So I put together a list for you, my eco-conscious friends. Below are 8 ways to reduce plastic in the kitchen. And, I included my Amazon picks for plastic-free cleaning supplies, eco-friendly food storage and sustainable kitchen organizing products.
Storing leftovers sustainably
First rule of sustainability is use what you got. So if you have plastic containers, use them. If you're looking for more, try repurposing glass jars like tomato sauce, salsa and pickle jars.
Plastic-free Pantry & Fridge Storage
Glass jars are also great for storing dry goods including pasta, grains and cereals. In the refrigerator, make use of bags, baskets and boxes to divide up drawer and shelf space. Reuse cardboard produce boxes in crisper drawers.
Plastic-free Cleaning Products
Shop for powder dishwasher detergent sold in sustainable packaging. Check out liquid soap tablets that you mix with water. Search online for homemade dish and hand soap recipes. Try a bamboo scrubbing brush instead of disposable plastic sponges.
Shopping for Produce without Plastic
To avoid the hermetically sealed grocery store produce, consider shopping your local farmers market. It's also a great way to spend time outdoors and meet your neighbors, and support local farmers and your local small business community. Some grocery stores sell loose produce. If you can find one in your area, share the good, plastic-free news with your neighbors. By word of mouth and social media, we can shift consumer demand and force companies to change to more eco-friendly packaging. And don't forget to bring your reusable produce bags and shopping bags when you go to the store! (I keep mine in my trunk so I never forget.)
Plant a vegetable garden and fruit trees
Plant a vegetable garden and fruit trees in your yard and you'll never have to worry about plastic-wrapped produce again. It's a family fun, educational experience that's great for kids. And it's incredibly good for our mental health to be outdoors working in the garden. Share excess vegetables and fruit with neighbors, friends and coworkers to avoid food waste.
Shopping for Dry Goods & Snacks Not Sold in Plastic
At the grocery store, choose box and glass packaging over plastic. Also, check out local refill stores. I shop at re_grocery here in Los Angeles. They have just about all the baking dry goods you might need, snacks, pastas, rices, beauty products, a kombucha fountain and many sustainable products like reusable paper towels. Also, many grocery chains have bulk sections. I have shopped the bulk section at Sprouts here in LA. Remember to BYOC (bring your own containers)! If you do choose to actually buy in bulk quantities, be sure you only get what you know you can consume before it spoils so there's no wasted food.
Visit the Deli
Visit the local deli and ask them to wrap your meat and cheese in butcher paper. Bring your own containers for cottage cheese, pasta salad, potato salad, etc.
Packing Lunches Plastic-free
When packing lunches for school or work, look for plastic-free lunchbox options or go old school with a brown paper bag. Wrap sandwiches in parchment paper, beeswax wraps or reusable silicone bags. You can even pack soup in silicone bags. Wrap snacks in brown paper bags. Use your regular utensils instead of buying plastic ones.
MY AMAZON PICKS FOR THE KITCHEN
Click the links to learn more about the products and get yours today. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Say goodbye to disposable plastic sandwich bags. You can pack sandwiches, snacks, even soup, in these super cute, silicone reusable bags from Stasher. They're even microwave and dishwasher safe!
I use these 16 ounce Ball mason jars for everything from baking soda, baking powder, vanilla and chocolate chips to dog treats to rice, quinoa and couscous to storing my homemade peanut sauce. When I bought the 12-pack, I thought maybe it might be too many for me but oh no, I use them all, all the time!
I organized my spices and my mom's with this spice jar kit from DIMBRAH. The kit comes with two types of labels and a funnel. You can buy kits with either 15 or 36 four-ounce glass jars with bamboo lids.
Once your spices are all in matching jars and looking pretty, you can organize them on this bamboo spice shelf from mDesign. It has three levels and is expandable!
Ditch the disposable plastic kitchen sponges. This bamboo cleaning brush from mDesign tackles tough messes on dishes, pots and pans. It's long-lasting and features an ergonomic design.
Bid adieu to plastic dishwasher pods and say hello to eco-friendly powder. Dirty Labs dishwasher powder is non-toxic, environmentally friendly and comes packaged in recyclable cardboard.
If you have a small pantry like I do, creative space-saving storage is essential. These stackable wire baskets with bamboo lids from AOZITA are handy and stylish. You can even label the baskets!
This bamboo lazy susan organizer spinner from mDesign is a space saver and makes everything easy to reach. Lazy susans are a favorite among home organizers!
People are obsessed with rolling can organizers. This bamboo rolling can organizer from Yumkfoi stores 24 cans. Watch the video, it's so cool!
If your kitchen drawers are a mess, try this expandable bamboo drawer organizer from Royal Craft Wood. It's designed to keep your silverware and utensils neat and tidy!
These are the KerKoor reusable produce bags I use. They're made from organic cotton. They come in a pack with 3 sizes and have easy to close pull strings!
About Kendall: My mission as a home organizer is to help families and communities take SMALL STEPS to organize and declutter at home in an eco-friendly way that starts to build BIG CHANGE in the world. Consider becoming an Official Declutter Buddy by joining my Email List. Click HERE to get in touch or fill out the Subscribe form below.
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