How to be More Sustainable in the Kitchen

Every person produces waste, with most people producing the bulk of their waste in the kitchen. Food is one of the biggest contributors to climate change, but that’s not the only thing in the kitchen that is unsustainable. Whether you have a big or small kitchen, there are a number of ways you can do your part to ensure the heart of your home is kind to the environment. Here are five easy methods you can implement to start being more sustainable in your kitchen.

1. Use a compost bucket

As mentioned, food waste is one of the biggest culprits of climate change, and there’s a good chance you produce a fair bit of it. Whether it’s leftovers you haven’t got round to eating or the peel from preparing your fruit and vegetables, everyone produces food waste. You might not be able to eat the peel of an orange, but that doesn’t mean it’s of no use – especially if you have a garden.

Rather than putting food in the bin to clog up a landfill site, buy a compost bucket and put it in there. You can also add things like paper, cardboard, and leaves to the compost bucket. When it’s all broken down, it will make an excellent addition to your flowerbeds or vegetable patch, and it keeps it out of landfills, too.

2. Buy ‘wonky’ produce

At some point over the years, supermarkets decided to stop selling vegetables and produce that didn’t fit their aesthetic. For example, despite cucumbers naturally growing in a curved fashion, it’s become customary to buy straight cucumbers, meaning the curved ones often get thrown out. This is despite them tasting exactly the same and being perfectly good to use. The same goes for all manner of fruit and vegetables, but recently, some supermarkets have started to turn the tide and sell a ‘wonky range’.

To prevent these foods from being wasted, try and buy from the ‘wonky’ range.

3. Use eco-friendly cleaning products

Chemicals can be hazardous, both to people and the environment, but the good news is that they’re not the only way to get your kitchen clean. There are lots of eco-friendly disinfectants available that have no harsh chemicals or scents, making them better for both you and the planet.

Alternatively, you can use natural cleaners that you mix up yourself, such as white vinegar and water, or bicarbonate of soda and water. Lemon juice is another good option if you want to leave your kitchen smelling fresh.

4. Shop with reusable bags

Food shopping is something we all do, and despite some countries introducing tax levies on plastic bags, many people still use them to carry their groceries from the store to the kitchen. Rather than using a plastic bag that takes hundreds of years to break down, buy larger reusable bags. Not only can you fit more in them and not have to worry about them breaking, but they’re far more sustainable, too.

5. Buy more energy-efficient appliances

Our final sustainability tip is to buy energy-efficient appliances. Appliances like toasters and kettles tend to have an alphabetical rating, with A being the best. Unfortunately, a lot of older appliances have energy ratings of D, E, F, or even G. If you’re able to, think about recycling your old appliances (they have lots of different components that are useful for making new objects), and swap them with ones with better energy ratings. Not only will you have less of an impact by using less energy, but you should see your bills go down in price, too.

Summary These are just five of the ways you can be more energy-efficient and sustainable in the kitchen. Do you have any tips or tricks that you use?