Your Kitchen: Striving For Sustainability

Utensils often last decades. Of course, don’t go donating all of your pots, pans, serving spoons, and spatulas tomorrow...

But as handles break and plastics crack over time, you have the opportunity to upgrade with the environment in mind.

We have choices before A) buying something new, or B) throwing something old away. Following the 5 Rs is a great resource.

Let’s start with the kitchen!

Here are 11 ways to make sustainable swaps. Jump to a specific category, or scroll through the full set!

COOKING

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1. Retire your old non-stick pots and pans.

Invest in stainless steel or ceramic-coated alternatives, which are free from the non-stick chemical, perfluorooctonoic acid (PFOA).

We don’t yet know if PFOA is harmful to humans, but is a known toxin to birds when inhaled. It is also highly persistent, meaning it enters the environment and stays there. Teflon has committed to using safer, PTFE-based coatings, which are not derived from PFOAs.

2. Choose wooden, stainless steel, or silicone utensils.

Plastic is prized for being lightweight, but it becomes brittle over time and can chip away or melt into your food. Yuck.

Silicone is not biodegradable, but it’s non-toxic on land or in the ocean and can be recycled after a lifetime of use. Stainless steel can be melted down and reused with no degradation. Certain woods, like bamboo, are particularly sustainable, requiring less land and water to grow.

3. Prep with wood, glass, silicone, and steel.

Simply put, plastic does not need to be part of your preparatory repertoire.

Choose wooden cutting boards. If you’re worried about meats/oils, you can opt for thin, silicone alternatives. Migrate towards stainless steel measuring cups and spoons. Use glass mixing and prep bowls for your seasonings and other ingredients. Invest in a knife sharpener and maintain your knives so they last a lifetime.

4. Bake in ceramic and glass (with silicone).

With a bit of olive, avocado, or grapeseed oil, you will rarely (if ever) need aluminum foil or parchment paper to line your baking sheets.

Better yet, invest in a reusable, silicone baking sheet liner. An easy overnight soak reduces the elbow grease needed to clean your glass- or ceramic-based baking dishes. Neither material will leach anything into your food, either.

 

CLEANING

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5. DIY with vinegar, baking soda, citrus and herbs.

You might think this is too hippie-dippie, but how does a price tag of $0.00 sound? Well, pretty close. Store them in old spray bottles or reuse glass jars

All-purpose cleaner? Mix one part white vinegar, one part water, some lemon rind, and rosemary sprigs. Let it infuse for a week, then use on anything but granite (to avoid etching). Deodorizer and stain remover? Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 quart of water, and use to clean stainless steel sinks and appliances.

6. Choose your sponges wisely.

Of course, you want something with some oomph! It’s important to have something that effectively scrubs without damaging our cookware.

Thankfully, there are heavy duty sponges made from plants. (That’s right!) For example, Scotch-Brite makes a brown-colored, non-scratch “Greener Clean” sponge made from agave plant fibers. And if you want to get even closer to the earth, you can find natural loofahs, sea sponges, and wooden scrubbers with natural fiber bristles.

7. Reduce paper towel consumption with cloth alternatives.

This is a tough one for most people. We’ve grown so accustomed and attached to paper towels for wiping up spills, dusting, and everyday regular cleaning.

If we pause to consider how many trees are cut down to feed our habit... Wow. Let your dishes air dry in a rack instead of wiping down with paper towels. And if you prefer to have some paper towels on-hand, choose recycled or bamboo options. (Yes, bamboo!)

8. Use compostable trash bags.

Most grocery stores now carry these so you can leave plastic behind. Look for options made from renewable plant materials, like sugarcane, corn, and cellulose.

You may find these bags to be a bit more prone to tearing. Usually, that’s due to moisture at the bottom of your waste bin. Place an old rag at the bottom of the can plus a paper towel at the bottom of the bag, and your problem is solved.

 

STORAGE

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9. Store leftovers in glass, bamboo, and silicone.

If you have #4 and #5 recyclable Tupperware, Gladware, Rubbermaid, or other storage containers, keep them. Use each piece as long as you can.

Don’t reheat food inside to avoid plastic leaching into your food. When their time comes, recycle! Then invest in glass, bamboo, and silicone container options, like Nummyware, for example.

10. Ditch those zipped plastic baggies.

Reusable silicone or paper bag replacements work amazingly well. Search for “reusable food storage bags” for options in your price range. Then cross plastic baggies off your grocery list forever!

They can store liquids, survive repeat dishwasher loads and withstand many trips to the freezer. Silicone is heat-resistant and does not easily break down, so it’s safe for the microwave, too, unlike (any) plastic. Options like Responsible Products® or Lunchskins® are backyard compostable.

11. Embrace glass storage containers.

You likely buy pasta sauce, salsa, jams and jellies, pickles or pickled things, and condiments pretty regularly. Most come in durable glass jars, perfect for reuse.

Simply soak empty jars in hot soapy water, scrub away the label, thoroughly rinse, and dry. No you have free containers for leftovers, to-go salads, overnight oats, and bulk foods, like pastas and grains.

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Our hope is to inspire people to perform their own small-scale beach cleanups whenever they visit our beautiful oceans. Every bit helps, so we hope you join the community and share your stories.

Thanks, and we’ll see you on the next wave!

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