How to Reduce Single-Use Plastic in the Kitchen

How to Reduce Single-Use Plastic in the Kitchen

If you have been thinking "how can I be more sustainable during this Plastic Free July?", the kitchen is one of those fun places to get rid of plastics that will not only help you be more sustainable but may also help you eat better!

If you have decided to join the challenge, more on this on the blog Plastic Free July - Join the Challenge!,  and make changes in your lifestyle that help take care of the planet and the people, here you will find some sustainable alternatives to transform your kitchen into a sustainable and zero waste workshop for earthy tasty food!

Plastic and Food Waste in the Kitchen

Plastics are everywhere, but if there is one place where we have gone too far in their use, is in the kitchen. Not only we wrap food in plastic, carry liquids in plastic, drink water that came in plastic bottles or freeze food inside plastic bags but on top of all that the food itself has micro plastics! As was found from this study  from researchers from Heriot-Watt University, more on this in this blog.

But plastics are just part of the waste problem that generates in the kitchen. In Spain for example, on average each person wastes 176kg of food per year. That is equal to 18% of all food we buy. "Aquí no se tira nada" an initiative from the Government tries to tackle food waste at home and the issues that come with it.

Just to put things in context, all this food we waste all around the world requires the 28% of all farming land available. So almost one third of all agriculture is eventually wasted at home. 

Tips to reduce Food Waste at Home

As always, the most impactful changes are often the easiest and most fundamental. To get started let's identify the problem and implement a few changes that will save money and food waste in your kitchen. These are a few tips:

  • Check often the best before dates, so you can plan your meals based on what food may go to waste first.
  • "Fail to plan, plan to fail" you heard that before right? It applies here too. when you have time, maybe on a Sunday, dedicate some time to plan your coming week, the food you would like to eat and what food you will need. Often you will find that you already have many of ingredients already in your kitchen. Also you will start eating better and being healthier.
  • Shopping Lists. Grandma did them for a reason. If you know what you are going to the shop for the chances are that you will not be over buying things that you don't need. 
  • Find fun and creative recipes that help you make meals that are tasty using those random ingredients you still have in the fridge.
  • If you go to the restaurant, don't bee shy and ask for your leftovers to be wrapped so you can take them home to eat later.
  • Reduce your meat and fish consumption. Meat and fish can go off very quickly if not stored properly. Vegetables, grains and fruits can be left for much longer without going off. Your body and the planet will thank you!
  • For that food that goes off, try to compost it so that it can be put back in the cycle and be used to generate more food. Circular economies are the way to go for the future.
  • Take advantage of cool and effective reusable storage solutions that will make reducing your waste much easier.

Solutions to have a Zero Waste Kitchen

We have put together a list of products that help reduce food waste and plastic use in the kitchen. They are from purpose driven brands that work towards a more ethical and sustainable world. 

 

Now you have the knowledge, the solutions and the power to go to the outside world confident that you don't need single-use plastics. Make sure to teach and share what you learn along the way, because together we are the solution!

Join us at @weterrazero and @terrazerostore to share the good vibes!