The planet needs your support more than ever, and waste control can significantly contribute. Choosing sustainable living is easy once you truly invest yourself in this. The good thing is you can begin this journey right from your kitchen with simple tweaks. Initially, it may take some conscious efforts from your end, but it will be effortless as sustainability becomes your way of life. Companies are also taking steps in this matter by introducing eco-friendly household appliances. For example, think of your kitchen garbage disposals – a device that churns all food scraps for smooth drainage.
Anyway, zero waste ideology is more than this. A powerful kitchen garbage disposal unit can tackle most items, reducing your dependency on plastic garbage bags that don’t break down easily and release toxins in the environment when they eventually decompose. Change your habits little by little to deal with organic and inorganic items. Let’s get a sense of a few of them.
Do bulk grocery shopping!
A local cooperative society usually keeps dry goods in large quantities. Rice, flour, tea leaves, spices, coffee beans, nuts, seeds, and many other things can go in large containers. It will help you save some dollars as well. When you buy veggies and fruits from local farmers, you take one more concrete step towards sustainability. And this decision rewards you with tasty, healthy, and cost-effective choices compared to what you get at a local grocer. While the buying style is one thing, some people have started indulging in vegan and vegetarian foods over agricultural animal items to the benefit of climate change. Even if you need meat, seek farmers who use ethical farming techniques and feed grass to their animals.
Cook mindfully!
Avoid using cheap non-stick pans and pots that contain toxic coatings. Repeated use will make them chip faster, requiring you to look for a replacement. However, cast iron and stainless steel vessels work longer and are much more efficient than them. You can replace tea bags with stainless steel ball brewers or move to reusable k-cups for your cup of hot coffee. As hinted earlier, buy a bulk of leaves and beans for a plastic-free shopping experience. Some cooks love baking a lot of stuff. For them, aluminum baking papers and glass casseroles can be dependable items. If you are a baker, try to make these last as long as possible. Don’t worry about minor wear and tear.
Another standard baking tool is parchment paper, which tends to be disposable. To reduce waste and oil use, swap it with a silicone baking mat. One mat can be as good as hundreds of parchment papers and not let the food stick to the bottom. This careful choice benefits you in two ways – a reduced carbon footprint and more savings. Hence, it makes sense to indulge in this win-win feeling.
When discussing cooking tools and utensils, there are so many reusable and sustainable choices that you cannot miss them. For example, imagine using bamboo or wood kitchen tools for mixing, stirring, and flipping items in the pans and pots.
Choose refurbished or long-lasting appliances and dinnerware!
Buying used items like an oven, fridge, dishwasher, and others can be another way of saving a few dollars and the environment too. When these items get dumped in landfills, they create toxic waste. Of course, it means something other than random picking. Check their efficiency and performance. Something that will use more water or other resources down the road doesn’t add value. For safe purchase, you can review their energy star rating. Coming to smaller items, avoid single-use tools like avocado pitters when you already have other means to remove pits from your fruit. Likewise, you can stay clear of fancy mixers that will serve your purpose only once or twice annually. For such rare occasions, a whisk and a mixing bowl are enough.
And what do you do with dinnerware? Cheaper dishes can help increase your collection, but they will only last for a while. Instead, get an expensive set that will have use even after many years, and you will be equally proud of your classy choice. If you have budget constraints, check with thrift stores. They sell a fantastic range of bowls, plates, and others. For unique options, trying local artisans can be a good idea.
More ways to embrace sustainable living through a kitchen
There are still more things you can do in this direction, and those practices, as mentioned earlier, are just a hint. Your reusable glass containers and silicone bags keep your fruits and vegetables healthy for a long time. As a result, you don’t have to discard them. If you cooked an extra portion by mistake, store the leftover in the freezer and combine them with another dish next time. Some experts suggest upcycling the waste food is better than composting it. You can use food scraps in veggie stock or crushed coffee beans in your garden. Think of all the possibilities; your choices will be clear and easy to implement.
If upcycling is not an option, install a composting system at your house or hire a service. Meanwhile, use a compost can or keep the food waste in your freezer. Storing your compost well is crucial to avoid odor and fly problems. Then, cleaning can also be an area to practice sustainability. Use a natural material broom and homemade cleaners for mopping the floor. When cleaning garbage disposal, you can use a combination of vinegar and baking soda to eliminate all the mess, including the stink. Microwaves can have food buildups in the interiors. Steam a cup of water for a few minutes to dislodge them.
When you make this approach a way of your life, you can start inventing or discovering new techniques to do better than your earlier practices. So don’t worry about what’s happening right now. Look at it as a process and journey. You can quickly figure out options that help you live more reasonably. As you grow comfortable with your new-found choices, everything will become easy.