Being mindful of climate change and our own carbon footprint does not mean you have to be ultra-strict and militant about things. It is often in the small changes that we can make the biggest differences, as these small changes are easier to sustain and more people are willing to do them. A great place to start is with your kitchen, focusing on the utensils you use, the products you shop for, and the appliances you use.
Here are 7 simple ways to make your kitchen more eco-friendly.
1. Use Energy Efficient Appliances
The first thing you should be checking is how energy efficient your appliances and sources are. If you are doing some remodeling in your home and are looking to buy new appliances such as a stove, dishwasher, or fridge then you need to check their energy efficiency ratings.
New appliances are rated by measuring the kilowatts per hour used by the appliance. The fewer units of energy that are used, the higher the efficiency rating. So if you want an eco kitchen, then make sure you know the rating before purchasing anything, as more energy-efficient appliances will save you water, energy, and money! Another way you can adjust your energy usage in the kitchen is to use energy-saving light bulbs.
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2. Reduce Water Waste
It does not take much to reduce the water that you may waste in the kitchen. For example, next time you are about to run your dishwasher make sure it is at its full capacity, so you do one big wash as opposed to frequent small ones. If you do your washing up in the sink, avoid letting the tap run endlessly. Let dishes soak in the water and turn off the tap when you are not using it. If you are guilty of doing this you should consider installing motion sensor taps, as once these see that your hands are not in the sink, they automatically turn off.
3. Properly Dispose of Food Waste
Ideally, you will have a food waste collection service that collects your food caddy and disposes of it properly. However, we know that not all local authorities are implementing this so there are ways around it. Some people opt to have a waste disposal system fitted under their sink. Any food waste gets ground up into tiny pieces that get washed away down the drain. This is an eco-friendly alternative as it prevents food from being thrown away into the landfill.
4. Grow Your Own Herbs
Instead of buying pre-packaged herbs at the shops, try growing your own selection of herbs. This will reduce your plastic usage and save you money. Another perk is that you can choose the herbs you want to grow so you will never have to worry about herbs being out of stock at the supermarket again. Having herbs growing around the kitchen will give the space character. Growing and nurturing your own herbs can be a fulfilling experience that benefits not only your cooking but your mental health too.
image © Annie Spratt
5. Use Refillable Products
More and more supermarkets are offering refillable products to reduce plastic waste. Currently, this is being used for dry foods, such as pasta, rice, nuts, and so on. You bring your current containers with you to the supermarket and pay per kilo. The more people who opt for refillable products the better as this will make a huge impact on plastic reduction.
6. Use Long-Lasting Kitchenware
When you buy cookware, Tupperware, cutlery, and general kitchen utensils avoid going for cheap options. As you will end up having to buy again in a few years and then those materials are wasted and head straight to the landfill. Consider it an investment and purchase items that are going to last in the long run.
7. Clean Your Kitchen With Eco-Friendly Products
Believe it or not, how you clean your kitchen has an impact on the environment. Instead of stocking up on chemical-laden cleaners, purchase eco-friendly products instead. There are also home remedies that you can use to clean your kitchen, that work just as well as any other conventional cleaning product. For example, a combination of vinegar and baking soda will leave your kitchen sparkling clean without any of the harmful and harsh chemicals.
Living a more eco-friendly life through simple changes in your kitchen is easy to achieve the goal. Changing a few of your habits here and there can make significant changes, and so these 7 simple ways to make your kitchen eco-friendly will make the world a more sustainable place.
