Are you interested in becoming zero waste? That’s a good thing! This initiative is very beneficial for you, as well as for the planet. We say bring it on! But sometimes, we don’t know where to start when it comes to reducing our waste. Our advice? Start room by room. Today, let’s look at the kitchen!
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Why reduce waste in the kitchen?
Our environment needs us to reduce the amount of waste we produce. In fact, more than 640,000 kilos of waste is thrown into the oceans every second. That equates to more than 20 billion kilos per year. Quite a worrying figure! Some beaches and natural sites now look like actual dumping grounds. Our ecosystem and biodiversity are threatened. A worthy enough reason, don’t you think?
What’s more, reducing how much waste you produce will also save you money. How is that possible? When you buy products, you pay for the brand and the packaging that holds the product. By buying loose products in bulk, you will save money.
To take this initiative even further, you can stop buying certain products because they contain plastic and buy products that contain no packaging instead. This is one way to say no to a surplus of plastic.
Necessary materials
To implement this zero-waste initiative in your kitchen, it is important to do so gradually. You will start to notice yourself making a few changes over time. However, you will need to invest in a few different materials and utensils. Let’s explain!
Jars
To store the loose food that you’ve bought in bulk, you need to buy some air-tight containers and jars. You can find them in all shapes and sizes on Amazon. In these containers, you can store the loose food you have bought in bulk, but also your homemade concoctions such as jams, soups, salads etc.
Fabric bags
To buy your loose, fresh fruit and veg, invest in some fabric bags. You can find them online, but also make them yourself with pieces of scrap material. The time of plastic bags is over!
Sponges
To do your washing up, use dusters or Tawashi sponges made from old clothes. When your sponge is dirty, simply put it in the washing machine.
Reusable packaging
Made from beeswax or fabric covers, these ecological wrappings and packaging can be used to replace cling film and tin foil.
A compost bin
Finally, whether you live in a house or an apartment, you can invest in a compost bin for your food peels, eggshells and paper. Enquire at your town hall, some towns and cities already have them available for their inhabitants. If you don’t feel ready to handle a compost bin, you can throw your food waste in a compost collective.
Household products
Lastly, to really optimise your kitchen, you can make your own washing up liquid and dishwasher tablets. So, ready to take on the challenge?
