9 Ways to Reduce Plastic in the Kitchen

As the word ‘single-use’ was named 2018 word of the year by Collins Dictionary, it seems that our attention is changing at last to how we can reduce the amount we throw away.

Here are my top tips for how to reduce plastic in the kitchen. If you have more suggestions I’d love to hear them.

1. Packaging

There is so much unnecessary food packaging that goes straight into landfill, and supermarkets are the worst culprits. We don’t need apples on a tray, covered in plastic film, or grapes wrapped in plastic boxes. It’s all too much.

If you want a different option, you could join the protesters unwrapping their groceries at the till, allowing supermarkets to deal with all that plastic.

Another way is to go to independent shops that keep packaging to a minimum. My local greengrocer has loose produce and paper bags, which is perfect, and buy supporting these small shops we continue to have a choice about how we buy our food outside of supermarkets and big chains. If you still have an independent greengrocer near you, help them to survive and buy local!!

2. Refills

There are plenty of ways to refill without buying more containers. Ecover have refilling stations all over the uk, and you can find your nearest here. Method and other brands sell refill packs for soap and washing up liquid which is an improvement on buying more bottles.

You can also buy food loose in a number of places such as Planet Organic, so you can take along your own containers. There are now more and more zero waste stores where you can leave without a scrap of packaging – a guide to 13 of the best is here.

3. Plastic alternatives

Sandwiches are tricky to transport, hence the popularity of sandwich bags. Bento boxes or a lunch box can be good but cumbersome to carry around once the sandwiches are gone. A recent find of ours has been reusable sandwich wraps and these silicone portable boxes look good too.

Clingfilm is kitchen staple and a tricky one to replace. Working in a professional kitchen, we used to use reams of it.

There are an increasing number of beeswax wraps available that can be reused, and also some clever reusable shower cap–like contraptions like these to cover dishes. I love these beeswax wraps as an alternative to clingfilm. 

4. Drinks

It’s true, bottled water is convenient, and it is this that has led us to consume 13 billion per year in the UK alone. I now don’t leave the house without my water bottle, either KleanKanteen or Yeti, and the Chilly bottles are beautiful and seem to come in every pattern possible.

5. Straws

Straws have had a lot of publicity, as a prime example of single-use plastic items. There are both silicone and stainless steel versions out there, and even special cleaning brushes because who wants gunk in their straw? I’m not convinced by the reusable kind and am going straw-free. But it’s your call!

6. Disposables

For parties or big picnics, wooden cutlery and compostable plates are as good as it gets. Sometimes you need to go disposable and this seems like the best way.

7. Children

The tendency seems to be plastic everything for babies and small children, but there are some really great options of bamboo and cornstarch plates, bowls and cups as well as cutlery. Stainless steel beakers are good for on the move, and there are stainless steel food pots too for taking lunches out. I’m a culprit of this, but the Ikea plastic in the kid’s drawer is on the way out!

8. Milk

Find a milkman. Yes, those glass bottles were the best way to get your milk. You leave them outside your front door and they are taken away to be used again. How retro, and amazing, too.

9. Cleaning products

How we clean is important too. You can find bamboo washing up brushes and wooden pot brushes that won’t sit in landfill and plenty of other more eco-friendly alternatives.

There are new products to help plastic reduction popping up all the time. I’m always open to ideas too, and I’d love to hear your suggestions. Together we can make a real difference!