Sustainability is something we all want to get on board with. Eco-friendly living to the best of our abilities is the simplest way of combatting environmental issues from home. It can sometimes seem more difficult than it actually is, and it’s hard to know where to start. Doing better takes time and we think every step you take towards bringing sustainable products into your home is a positive one.
The kitchen is the hub of most homes. The foodies and amateur chefs among you will take pride in your kitchen and enjoy using it daily. Unfortunately, the kitchen is also a space that uses up a lot of energy, generates non-recyclables and waste.
Sustainable kitchenware is the way forward when it comes to making our kitchens more eco-friendly. Sustainable products for the kitchen are (thankfully) no longer hard to find, and you can even get sustainable kitchen cleaning products and utensils.
Recommended: The best eco swaps for your home
We’re here to help you find the best sustainable kitchen products and give you some easy tips to help keep your kitchen environmentally friendly. After all, a green kitchen is a happy kitchen for everyone involved.
The best sustainable kitchen products:
Caso Kitchen Scales
A baking essential, these digital scales will have you creating Mary Berry-style creations in no time. They use kinetic energy instead of batteries, so you'll be getting maximum efficiency with minimal impact on the environment.
Homiu Counter Edge Bamboo Chopping Board
Those knives will need to be used on something, and we just love this chopping board. This was made sustainably and is 100% organic.
Addis Eco Made from 100% Plastic Family Kitchen Sink Set
If you are after a kitchen which looks great but performs even better, Addis has a sensational eco-friendly sink set. The three items include a cutlery utensil caddy, a plate draining rack and a washing up bowl (an ideal size for hand washing clothes with ease).
Reusable Metal Straws
Plastic straws are terrible for the environment, and we all know it. These stainless-steel alternatives come in bent or straight and are a must-have in your kitchen, or to keep with you while you're out and about. The kit also comes with a cleaner, so reusing them will be a doddle.
LIGA Cork + Pottery Mug
This stylish mug from 'love eco living' brand LIGA is made from pottery and cork, and isn't just sustainable and eco-friendly, but also lovely to hold. It's a small mug, but is the right size for a double espresso or a short latte - and the design and aesthetics make it really comfortable in your hands. The two parts separate for easy cleaning.
Mepal Bento Lunch Box
Bento box lunches are all over TikTok and Instagram, and for good reason. You can have a little bit of everything in one lunch box. Using a lunchbox is great for saving money, and the planet, as you won't be tempted to buy food when you're out. This container comes in two gorgeous colours, includes a useful fork and is BPA-free. It's microwave and dishwasher safe too, so it's really versatile.
Stainless Steel Low Recycling Bin
We all know recycling is a good thing to do, but sometimes separating your recycling can be so tedious. This bin is great because it comes with three separate sections with their own easy-to-use pedals. The baskets inside are simple to remove and the silver finish will match most kitchens. You could even label each section to make it clear which one is which.
Addis Set of 3 Reusable Produce Bags
If your fridge veg section is anything like mine (all wedged in an unorganised), perhaps you should give these reusable product bags a go. Eco-friendly and colour-coded, you'll never have to use another plastic bag in your life.
Joseph Joseph Food Waste Caddy
Coming in three colours to suit any kitchen's aesthetic, this food waste bin is easy to use and clean. It has an odour filter so there will be no nasty smells wherever you put it.
LSA International Canopy Glass Tumblers
This set of four glasses are really high quality but are also made from recycled glass, which we love. They're super useful to have in your cupboards and are a sustainable option.
Natural Mango Wood Tea Tray
This handmade and fairtrade tray will have you fantasising about breakfast in bed just looking at it. It's beautifully crafted and handy to have in your kitchen.
Bodum Pour Over Coffee Maker
Your coffee addiction can be sustainable, too. Adding a touch of practical elegance to your kitchen counter, this coffee maker can generate up to a litre of quality coffee. The cork creates functional thermal insulation and is sustainably sourced in Portugal. The easy to clean filter is an eco-friendly choice compared to disposable paper filters.
Typhoon Living Sage Bread Bin
Bread bins are a great way to keep your loaf fresh, and this one is made sustainably. It's made from hard-wearing carbon steel and has a bamboo lid. It has a really trendy design too, so will look great in your kitchen.
Vegan Milker
Vegan alternatives to milk are environmentally friendly, good for your health and tasty. Making your own is cost-effective and, with this product, can be stress-free. It's plastic and BPA-free, so it's also eco-friendly itself. It grinds, filters and emulsifies any nut of your choice, making really smooth milk. We love that it comes with a free E-Book so anyone can learn how to use it.
‘Leave no trace’ Reusable Kitchen Roll
Kitchen roll is essential, but it also creates a lot of waste. Handmade in the UK, these rolls come in four colours and are machine washable. They're highly absorbent and made from organic terry cotton. You can even purchase an eco-friendly roll holder to go with it.
Addis 50 Litre Recycling Sensor Tower Bin
This isn't your average recycling bin. Trust us when we say, it's a piece of art if your kitchen is blessed to see it. With a hands-free wave sensor opening (eight seconds don't worry), it's the most hygienic system you'll ever get. There are also four separate multi-purpose waste compartments (2x15 litre sections at the top with a 20-litre base drawer), making clean-up time super-fast and efficient. There's more. The recycling bin also has a built-in high tech intelligent ozone sanitising anti-bacteria self-cleaning system and carbon cotton deodorization filter, ensuring it looks and smells fresh.
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.
Recommended: The best meal planners
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 gadget 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.
Recommended: The best sustainable bathroom products
Need some more environmentally friendly ideas for your home?
Eve Miller is a Storytelling Executive for WhatsTheBest with a love for writing, film, her dog and beauty. She also writes for Yours.co.uk.