Sustainable Swaps for Your Kitchen

As millions of Americans join the effort to purchase sustainable products, you can make small changes to your purchasing habits that lead to large environmental impacts. One of the best places to start your sustainable journey is in the kitchen. Whether you use your kitchen every day or hardly at all, many simple swaps, such as using eco-friendly pots and pans, can help you create a more sustainable kitchen space.

How to Be More Sustainable in the Kitchen

Before you jump right in and start replacing everything in your kitchen, you'll want to understand what kinds of waste you create there. To determine what household waste you make in your kitchen, perform a week-long trash audit of anything you throw away that isn't food. This audit involves keeping everything you buy for a week and making one pile for garbage and one for recycling. After the week ends, you can look at the two piles to determine which swaps work best in your household.

For example, if you have a lot of plastic bags, consider using reusable bags to reduce your plastic waste. Or, if you have a lot of plastic jars and bottles, you could look for reusable glass options.

10 Sustainable Options for Your Kitchen

Creating a more sustainable kitchen can be fun and easy, especially now that you know what items you use most. These items can guide your swapping process. Explore some of the best sustainable kitchen products below.

1. Silicone Storage Bags

Most people have a stash of plastic bags for everything from packed lunches to holding random items. A great alternative is a set of silicone storage bags, as you can wash them after each use, and they will last for years. Depending on the specific storage bags you purchase, you can use them for cooking tasks like popping popcorn in the microwave.

2. Swedish Dishcloths

Paper towels are another everyday kitchen staple that creates a lot of waste. The towels themselves get thrown out, and the manufacturing process can use a lot of water and natural resources. A simple swap is to use Swedish dishcloths instead. One Swedish dishcloth can replace over a dozen rolls of paper towels, and you can wash it in the dishwasher. Plus, Swedish dishcloths may also be biodegradable.

3. Silicone Baking Mats

Although it's made of an infinitely recyclable material, aluminum foil can be hard to recycle due to food contamination. A good alternative is a silicone baking sheet, as you can use it multiple times. Silicone baking mats are simple to clean, making them an easy swap with a positive environmental impact.

4. Bamboo Dish Brush

Many dishwashing tools are plastic, which means you throw them out once they reach the end of their life. Instead, try bamboo dish brushes, as they will break down after you dispose of them. Some options also allow you to replace the brush head so you can continue to use the brush handle and create less waste over time.

5. Cloth Napkins

While cloth napkins may seem fancy for a Wednesday night dinner, they're more sustainable than traditional paper napkins. Once you finish dinner, throw the napkin in the wash and reuse it without needing to buy new napkins every few months.

6. Refillable Cleaning Supplies

Keeping your kitchen clean doesn't mean you need to buy cleaners that come in plastic bottles. Many brands now offer refillable cleaning products, like all-purpose cleaners and disinfectants, that allow you to buy refills in more sustainable containers. For example, some use compressed tablets that dissolve in water, while other refills come in fully recyclable aluminum containers.

7. Cloth Produce Bags

Instead of using single-use plastic produce bags at the grocery store, purchase and store your produce with cloth produce bags. Using cloth produce bags also allows your fruit and vegetables to breathe and safely release ethylene gas, which helps your produce stay fresh longer.

8. Reusable Beeswax Wrap

While plastic wrap is convenient, you can get the same effect with reusable beeswax wrap. Beeswax wrap usually contains cotton and beeswax, and you can wash and reuse it as often as you need to for a great alternative to tinfoil or cling wrap. Make sure you buy a brand that sustainably harvests its beeswax.

9. Compost Bin

Instead of throwing out your food scraps, turn them into fresh dirt through composting. The type of compost bin you need will depend on your plans with the dirt. If you have the space to create a compost pile outside, you can buy a bucket to hold your food scraps until you can bring it outside. If you don't have the space, consider purchasing a composter that automatically turns the scraps into fresh dirt for your household plants or garden.

10. Biodegradable Cleaning Sponges

Most sponges last about a month before you need to replace them, creating a lot of waste over time. By investing in a biodegradable option, you can get some great scrubbing action while making an excellent choice that benefits the environment.

Find Sustainable Cookware at Xtrema