There’s never been a greater focus on doing your bit for your environment than right now, and you can start in your own home. It doesn’t even need to cost a lot, with small kitchen accessories that are free from plastic available at reasonable prices.
Whether it’s to store your groceries in your cupboard or if it’s to clean your surfaces after an intense baking session, there’s an eco-friendly, plastic-free kitchen accessory for the job.
Related: The best meal planners
So, to make it extra easy to do your bit, we've found some of the best plastic-free accessories for your kitchen.
The best plastic-free kitchen accessories
Fewer plastic items have received as much attention as straws, so if you regularly use them at home, you can go plastic-free with 100% organic bamboo straws from Jungle Straws. They're washable and dishwasher safe, come with a special brush to clean them with and jute packaging for when you're on the go.
If you'd rather have a sturdy straw than a bamboo one, invest in these metal straws that will last you a lifetime. They even come with a brush to make cleaning them out extra easy. You'll never have to grab those pesky plastic straws again…
Developed as an alternative to cling film and aluminium foil, beeswax wraps may cost a little more than your typical roll, but you won't need to replace it for a year. Wrap your sandwiches, snacks or anything else day after day; all you need to do is wash it with warm water and dish soap after use.
Get rid of those pesky Tupperware for some glass container storage. They'll make your cupboards and shelves look way sleeker whilst doing more for the environment. We've picked out these cereal storage containers but you can grab them in loads of shapes and sizes to suit you.
In a similar fashion to the above cereal boxes, investing in glass spice jars means you can buy your herbs in bulk, removing the amount of plastic you go through. Simply top up with what you use and need when you need it.
We're not forgetting about our cleaning tools, either. An easy way to go plastic-free is to invest in some glass spray bottles, like this one. You can just grab a larger size of your preferred cleaning supplies and refill when you need, saving on all those unnecessary spray plastic bottles.
ecobravo.co.uk
These cloths are 100% organic and made from bamboo fibres, but you can use them just as you would with any other dishcloth whether it's wiping dishes or cleaning the surfaces. Bamboo is known for its anti-bacterial qualities, too.
ecovibe.co.uk
Yes, you can even get eco-friendly sponges and scourers now. At under £4, these are definitely a green investment. These EcoVibe sponges and scourers are 100% plastic-free as well as being compostable, meaning they can just be popped in the compost if you need to dispose of them.
Tips for being more sustainable in the kitchen:
Make the most of local produce - Your local butchers and greengrocers are great places to buy quality ingredients, which is better for your bodies, and for the environment. We can lower the whole UK’s carbon footprint if we all buy local, which is pretty cool.
Grow your own - Growing your own fruit and veg is relatively easy, and even if you're a newbie to the experience, you can even get kits to help you out. If you have a smaller outdoor space, you could grow your own herbs or have a balcony vegetable patch. Green fingers, green planet.
Plan ahead - If you plan your meals ahead of time, then shopping becomes a lot easier and you’ll only buy what you need. This will reduce your food waste in no time. You could also try food subscription boxes, which deliver the exact ingredients you need as per your portion sizes.
Recycle and compost - Luckily, these are already a given in most kitchens these days, but taking advantage of them within your daily routine will benefit the environment.
Stop impulse buying - This one is a tough one, we’ll admit. All the latest kitchen gadgets are always so tempting, but they use up a lot of energy. If you aren’t going to use it, then don’t buy it. Your stuffed cupboards will thank us.
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