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Plastic Free Kitchen 101
As Plastic Free July continues you’ll be looking for new and innovative ways to go plastic free, and these kitchen swaps will definitely help! The kitchen is a room that often looks clean and tidy from the outset, but is haunting you behind closed pantry and fridge doors. All of these kitchen alternatives have been tried, tested and approved by us. They not only work effectively and keep plastics away, they also look chic and minimalist in your space.
As always, keep in mind that throwing out a full functioning old item to replace with one of these is not the ideal alternative. Use up old products, recycle, upcycle, donate or sell before adding these plastic free kitchen supplies. The purpose of going zero waste is to prevent as much from heading to landfill as possible!
Bamboo Cutlery
The waste problem: Plastic eating utensils.
Why? They tend to only be used once before being disposed of, and the plastic matter could melt and leach synthetic chemicals into your food.
The alternative: Cutlery that is made from bamboo and finished with food grade vegetable oil. These are naturally antibacterial, absorb little moisture and regenerate fast. Make sure you keep a set on hand in your car or handbag so you won’t have to opt for plastic cutlery when grabbing and eating on-the-go.
Bread Bag
The waste problem: Almost all the bread you can purchase from supermarket shelves comes wrapped in plastic packaging. While this is an easy option, it means you are bringing unnecessary plastic into your kitchen, and as above, some of the plastic toxins may leach into your bread unknowingly.
The alternative: A bread bag not only helps keep bread fresh by absorbing moisture and preventing mould, it is also made from sustainably produced, certified organic, unbleached Indian cotton that can be reused over and over again. Take a bread bag along to your local bakery or the bakery section of the supermarket to fill with your bread of choice. When your bread bag has done its dash, it’s 100% biodegradable!
Wooden Dish Brush
The waste problem: Sponges and plastic dish brushes that are neither recyclable nor compostable.
The alternative: A reusable and compostable wooden dish brush looks great in the minimalist kitchen. Pop it inside a glass jar beside your sink to complete the look. Once the brush head is at the end of its life, simply remove it and replace with a Dish Brush Head Replacement. The handle will last forever!
Wooden Spatula
The waste problem: Plastic and silicone spatulas.
The alternative: A wooden spatula is a great addition to the minimalist kitchen, looks great alongside your wooden dish brush in a glass or ceramic jar, and has great functionality too.
Reusable Food Wraps
The waste problem: Glad wrap and tin foil.
The alternative: Honeywraps are a great alternative to single-use food films for maintaining freshness of food without the need for plastic. Food will last longer and taste better because the beeswax coating allows the food to breathe while being covered. They are made with GOTS-certified organic cotton, beeswax, tree resin and jojoba oil so will biodegrade at the end of their lifespan (approx. 1 year).
Plastic Free Tea
The waste problem: Tea bags often contain polypropylene, a sealing plastic, to keep the tea bags from falling apart.
The alternative: Loose leaf tea that you can brew at home in a glass teapot.
Shop for Loose Leaf Tea Here & Glass Teapots Here
Nut Mylk Bag
The waste problem: Plastic milk cartons.
The alternative: Rather than buying a new carton of milk each time you need to top up, make your own nut mylks at home! Nut mylk bags are made from certified organic cotton that is biodegradable, and are used to strain the liquid away from the ground nuts when making fresh nut mylk.
