Your Shopping Bag is Empty
Living
KITCHEN RESTART
These eco-friendly kitchen products are an easy swap, making a big difference to your carbon footprint and your home.
In a world that is more aware than ever before of the need to reverse the damage that has been done to the environment, it’s important that we grab every little chance we get to make a difference. Whether it’s small lifestyle tweaks like switching to a reusable water bottle, bringing our own coffee mug to cafés, shopping with ethical fashion brands and recycling our beauty cabinet, these small changes ultimately have a big impact on the environment. While committing to such small alternatives may seem like an inconsequential drop in the pond, ultimately the environment will be under a lot less pressure as a result of us all reexamining our everyday habits and behaviours.
And although changing the way we shop is really important, it’s the everyday household tasks that you could argue cause the most impact and we should make efforts to change. For example, the products we use in our kitchens on a daily basis can be easily swapped for more eco-friendly alternatives. Whether you see your kitchen as a haven for culinary creativity or as somewhere simply for storing last night’s leftover takeaway, there are more conscious ways to approach your kitchen rituals that produce less waste while keeping hazardous ingredients and microplastics out of our waterways and our bodies.
While some swaps may seem obvious (we all know plastic cups are a no go), others may come as a bit of a surprise — from sustainable kitchen roll to selecting home-cleaning brands that use strategic renewable resources and overhauling your food-storage lineup. Ahead, we've rounded up 5 easy product swaps you can make right now for a greener kitchen and a healthier planet.
Swap single-use cleaning products for more sustainable solutions…
Made in the Netherlands, Kinfill is modern homecare for those who care. They offer a collection of eco-friendly home cleaning products, designed to reduce single-use plastic waste in your daily cleaning routine. What’s more, Kinfill’s products are refillable which can vastly reduce the amount of packaging waste - or even recycling - that you generate each year. Not to mention being kinder on your wallet, too.
SCROLL TO SHOP
Swap plastic wrap for reusable beeswax paper…
When it comes to storing food, many of our everyday options involve single-use solutions. To overcome this, Eddington have created Bee’s Wrap®. These reusable wraps are made with organic cotton, sustainably harvested beeswax, organic jojoba oil and tree resin to keep food fresh. All wraps are fully biodegradable and compostable and can be used again and again. Simply wash with cool water and soap, hang to dry and repeat. When used several times each week, Bee’s Wrap should last for roughly one year.
Swap single-use kitchen towels for a sustainable alternative…
It’s time to rethink our ‘one-and-done’ approach when it comes to cleaning the kitchen. Although reusable cloths are a great way to cut down on single-use products, they’re not always suitable for the job in hand. Cue Cheeky Panda’s kitchen roll. Made from 100% FSC bamboo, this sustainable alternative is biodegradable and recyclable. It’s strong and absorbent too, so it can tackle kitchen stains and spills with ease. Containing no chemical nasties,it is perfect for those with allergies or skin conditions, as it contains less tissue dust, so it won’t affect those with sensitive skin or hay fever. This kitchen roll is the first to be certified vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.
Swap conventional teabags loose-leaf tea infusers…
While we love our steeped cup as much as the next avid tea drinker, some teabags contain harmful micro-plastics that, in addition to preventing the bags from fully decomposing, end up entering your body too. So, if you'd prefer not to be sipping on some plastic, use a silver-plated infuser instead. The sturdy handle is great for stirring and you can just pop the leaves in the compost bin when you’re done.
SCROLL TO SHOP
Swap out your countertop compost bin for a larger alternative…
As soon as you start to compost and recycle, you soon notice that the contents of your general waste bin shrinks significantly. Not to mention the bad habit that forms when your small countertop bin is full and you start chucking food scraps that should be composted into the general waste bin. To combat this and ultimately leave you with a tidier home, swap out your small countertop compost bin for a larger alternative. This stainless steel touch bin from Brabantia is sleek hygienic and effortless to use. What’s more, the product is certified Cradle to Cradle™ Bronze Standard, meaning it meets strict sustainability criteria across material health, material re-utilisation, renewable energy, water stewardship and social fairness.
Oh, and if you’re worried about any unpleasant odours that might occur from using a larger bin, these cleverly designed odour filters from Joseph Joseph are made to help eliminate unpleasant odours and ensure the longevity of your waste disposal bags until they are full. The discreet carbon filter is integrated into the underside of the lid, and is quick and easy to change.
MORE TO READ
A sustainable kitchen doesn’t just stop here, learn about how top chef Domini Kemp makes our in-store restaurant, Hugh Browns, sustainable by reading In The Kitchen with...Domini Kemp.