When we begin a transition towards zero waste (or almost), there is inevitably a moment when we will have to look our kitchen in the face (well, rather our trash 😱). Plastic packaging, food scraps, stretch films, cans and other rubbish of all kinds... We are often far from the beautiful "zero waste" ideal that smells of lemon 😅 🍋.
To remedy this, I decided to share with you some little tips that I have been applying for months, even years! This list is obviously not exhaustive! Also, I invite you to share all your good advice with me in the comments 🍃.
So, how do you put your kitchen trash can on a diet? Let's go !
WE ELIMINATE PLASTIC :
1. WE GO BULK
Eh yes ! It's not the scoop of the century, but to reduce waste in the kitchen, the best thing is not to bring any back. Also, whenever possible, we try to favor bulk products (by going to small specialized grocery stores, traditional stores or even markets). And above all, don't forget to bring your purchases back in pretty fabric bulk bags, or we reuse the craft bags that you can find in stores!
*Little tip: for airheads (like me) who often forget their shopping bags/bulk bags/their keys (but that's not the subject 😅). I advise you to hang them in your kitchen or entryway so as not to miss them, or to find a small place for them in your car if you use it to go shopping.*
👉 And to keep all that? I advise you to opt for glass jars . Once cleaned, they are perfect for storing rice, pasta, lentils, seeds... And protecting these foodstuffs from all the little unwanted visitors 🐭.
2. WE STOP BUYING BOTTLED WATER
So here, we tackle the subject that we certainly hear the most about when it comes to reducing waste: plastic bottles !
❓ Did you know? Sales of bottled water in France are around 175 bottles of water per second, or 5.5 billion bottles of water per year, including 4.5 billion of still water! These figures are totally astonishing when we know that in France the water from the network is drinkable.
👉 So, how do we do it? If you are not comfortable with the idea of consuming mains water, there are many solutions available to you. You can opt for small sticks of activated charcoal or ceramic beads to soak in water. But, you can also turn to a more durable solution (although more expensive) like a stainless steel gravity filter like those from the Berkey brand. And of course, for short daily trips, we don't forget our best friend... I named: the stainless steel water bottle!
🍃 Find the water bottles and their pretty carrying pouches on my e-shop!
3. WE MOVE FROM DISPOSABLE TO SUSTAINABLE
Disposable paper towels, cling film, baking paper... our kitchen is FILLED with disposable products which pollute enormously, in addition to being quite expensive having to buy them again and again.
👉 So, what do we use? Well when you think about it it's quite simple, you can find a reusable alternative for almost everything in the kitchen. Exit disposable, make way for sustainable!
- Disposable paper towels: to replace it, you can opt for reusable paper towels in super absorbent cotton (we offer cute liberty cotton ones in the store). All you have to do is put them in the machine as soon as they are dirty, then reuse them almost endlessly!
- Stretch film / aluminum: here we are fans of flat coated cotton charlottes (at the same time it's a bit of our Best Seller 😜). Ideal for covering your small and large bowls as well as your plates and other pie dishes. And after: Hop in the fridge! You can also turn to Be Wrap, made from fabric and beeswax.
- Baking paper: to cook your food in the oven, I advise you to look at reusable baking mats . You can find great ones made from siliconized fiberglass cloth.
- Plastic straws: normally we no longer find them (and fortunately)! But for those latecomers who have just finished their stock, you can now opt for glass, stainless steel or wooden straws . You are spoiled for choice! Besides, I hear in my ear that we still have a few models of straws on our online store... And what's more, they're on sale! 💸
🍃 Find all my creations for ethical and chic cuisine on my e-shop!
DO THE DISHES IN ZERO WASTE MODE :
4. WE’RE LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE TO DISPOSABLE SPONGES
To reduce waste in the kitchen, the question of washing up is essential ! So, how can we try to do without bifacial sponges derived from petroleum? I have explored a few avenues... but I must admit that I have not yet found the solution that suits me 100%! So, if you have any tips, I’m all ears! 🤗
- The dish brush: a wooden handle, agave fiber bristles and a replaceable head (depending on the model) when it is too damaged! Use like a classic sponge to wash glasses, plates and pots. One of my favorite solutions! However, food residue tends to lodge in the fibers, so it requires frequent and diligent cleaning...
- The Luffa: a very soft vegetable sponge which can also be used for bathing, it is great for cleaning without scratching your dishes. On the other hand, it has no absorbent action... not at all practical for cleaning surfaces/cooking plates.
❓ My washable sponges: some time ago I made reusable sponges made from cotton and kapok (plant fiber from a squash). You really liked them, but I'm not entirely satisfied with them yet. I find that we cannot yet get close enough to the absorbent capacity of a classic sponge and that the "scratching" side based on jute is not yet effective enough...
As I want to offer you a top-notch product, I am still thinking about new options and new materials! If you have any ideas/desires, don't hesitate to send me messages, I will read them carefully 🥰.
5. WE TURN TOWARDS NATURAL CARE PRODUCTS
To clean your dishes and your kitchen, choose natural or homemade products! Many brands offer nice alternatives for those who don't want to worry too much (Les Petits Bidons, Danika...). But, you can perfectly use real Marseille soap as dishwashing liquid , it will be just as effective!
❓ Some ideas: use white vinegar to clean the kitchen every day and descale your coffee maker/kettle, make your own dishwashing liquid or even dishwasher tablets (based on percarbonate of soda, citric acid and crystals of welded).
👉 If the theme of “zero waste cleaning” interests you, an article on the subject is coming soon!
ANTI-WASTE COOK :
6. WE REDUCE WASTE: COOK AT HOME AND PLAN YOUR MENUS
Every year, we throw away too much food! To reduce your impact and prevent your products from going moldy at the bottom of the fridge 🤢, there are a few very simple steps to take!
👉 This may seem silly, but just remember to make a shopping list , checking what you really need and based on the dishes you have decided to make during the week... Also remember to check the expiration dates for Prioritize cooking products that are reaching their use-by date.
In cooking, favor homemade ! It's already better 🥰 and then it will help you limit your packaging consumption. For example, you can invest in molds to make your pastries, make your own preserved vegetables and jams in glass jars…
7. LET’S THINK ABOUT THE COMPOSTER!
Eh yes ! With or without a garden, you can definitely start composting!
❓ How do we do it? The idea is to reduce the volume of your trash even further by composting any waste that can be composted (peeings, coffee grounds, tea, etc.). If you have a garden, after a few weeks you will have a superb natural fertilizer . On the other hand, if you don't have a small piece of land, you can opt for an apartment composter or a bokashi .
You can also find a map of the collective composters closest to you on the Zero Waste France website.
There you go, I hope this article was able to give you some ideas. 🍋 And you, what are your tips for reducing your waste in the kitchen?
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