Your guide to an eco-friendly kitchen

Low waste and health conscious

Looking to become more eco-friendly? The kitchen is a fantastic place to start! After all, we spend so much time choosing, preparing, and eating meals. Consider taking a bit of time to do a quick inventory (spring cleaning, anyone?) and create a sustainable plan going forward. Here’s how to go eco-friendly and low waste in the kitchen.

Food storage

How you store your food matters. Keeping food as fresh as you can helps in the fight against food waste, which is good news for the planet (and your wallet).

Food wraps

Step aside, single-use plastic wrap. There are so many amazing alternatives that can be washed and reused over and over again. Opt for wax wraps (such as those made from beeswax or vegan wax) or cloth bowl covers. Feeling crafty? Look into making your own. Or, the simplest option: cover your dish with a bowl or a plate turned upside down.

Food storage containers

What’s the most eco-friendly product? The one you already have, of course. To ensure that your products are bisphenol A (BPA) free, make sure they don’t say “polycarbonate” or “#7 plastic” on them, or choose glass or stainless steel containers.

Although many companies have stopped using BPA in their plastic products, it’s possible that newer products might contain BPA alternatives such as bisphenol S (BPS). More research needs to be done, but recent studies suggest that BPS causes hormonal effects just like BPA does, and there is a possibility that BPS might be even worse than BPA.

Baby and kid products

Options abound when it comes to products for our little ones, including kids’ utensils and baby bottles. Glass or stainless steel remain popular and timeless choices for those wanting to avoid bisphenols.

Silicone products are also popping up everywhere. Kids love that silicone is colourful and parents love that it’s durable and easy to clean. This synthetic rubberlike material is thought to be safe, as long as you choose high quality food-grade silicone and follow the item’s instructions. Although silicone is wonderfully reusable, it does not biodegrade and cannot easily be recycled.

Food packaging

Before you head out on your next grocery trip, keep these tips and suggestions in mind as you shop.

Cans

The good news: cans are commonly recyclable. The bad news: canned goods may have a lining that includes BPA (or its substitutes). To find products that are free from bisphenols, read the product’s packaging, look up the company online, or contact the company directly.

Glass

Although glass is nontoxic and technically recyclable, it is sometimes not accepted by curbside recycling programs. Check out your municipality’s rules to find out how glass is disposed of in your community. You may also be able to find some great companies that offer a takeback program for their glass packaging, wherein they sterilize and reuse the glass over again.

Plastic

Packaging made from plastic differs widely, so it’s important to check your community’s recycling rules to see what is accepted. As a general rule #1, #2, and #5 plastic is more recyclable, whereas #3, #4, #6, and #7 plastic is less commonly recycled. Of course, reducing is even better than recycling!

No packaging at all?

Even better! Shopping at refill stores or in bulk sections with your own containers can help reduce packaging waste. Many shoppers use lightweight bags at the store and then transfer the food to their own containers at home.