5 zero-waste kitchen swaps for beginners | Sustainability Newbie
If you’re looking for simple ways to start making your home more sustainable and reduce waste, here are 5 easy zero-waste kitchen swaps you can implement today!
5 zero-waste kitchen swaps for beginners
Here are 5 reusable kitchen staples you can replace disposable items with:
Silicone baking tray liner
Cloth napkins
Reusable ziplock bags
Plastic-free sponges
Refillable washing up liquid
Swap tin foil for a silicone baking tray liner
If you’re using your oven nearly every day, you’re probably going through a lot of tin foil and parchment paper. An easy swap to reduce waste and save money in the long run is to buy a reusable silicone baking tray liner.
Simply clean it after each use and it will last a solid few years! Just make sure your silicone sheets are labelled “food-grade”.
Here are a few options:
Swap paper napkins for washable cloth napkins
This is one of the easiest zero-waste swaps you can make. All you need is to get yourself a few cloth napkins and pop them in the laundry pile once they’re dirty. You can find all sorts of washable napkins, from plain colours to funky prints.
How about some of these?
Swap plastic zip bags and cling film for reusable food storage options
Instead of covering a bowl of leftovers with cling film or storing foods in disposable zip bags, you can find reusable bowl covers and silicone ziplock bags.
They are pretty affordable and will help you cut down on plastic waste.
Check these out:
Swap plastic sponges for plastic-free, low-waste options
The problem with regular supermarket sponges is that every time we use them, we release micro-plastic in the water. These sponges also have a very short life and as they can’t be recycled, they end in landfill.
What’s the solution then? There are several options, from using a bamboo brush or getting your hands on plastic-free, compostable sponges.
Replace your plastic sponges with:
Swap plastic-packaged washing up liquid for a refillable option
This might seem like a rather big expense, but it will be more cost-effective in the long run and cut down on plastic waste. Many brands offer the option to buy a glass bottle with the first purchase when to only buy refills.
For example
Bonus tip: buying staples at zero-waste stores
Depending on where you live, it’s not always an option as zero-waste stores are mainly located in big towns. But if there is one near you, take advantage of the opportunity to reduce your food packaging waste!
Zero-waste stores are a great place to buy all the staples in bulk, from oats to pasta, beans but also fresh produce. All you need to do is bring your own reusable jars and bags.
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