The kitchen is the heart of the home. Comforting smells come from there. You bond over dishes coming together, often where the best family conversations happen.
The kitchen uses around 10% of water in the average home. When you add the appliances, a traditional kitchen opens the door to much more water. Now that we have your attention let’s discuss how you can make your kitchen eco-friendly.
Why bother? Because many of us go into the kitchen on autopilot and don’t think about the impact of our actions.
We want to help you change that by making you aware and giving you a list of ideas for your kitchen. Here is how to make an eco friendly kitchen.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Through Sustainable Shopping
Start by purchasing locally grown and produced items as much as possible. Not only will you reduce your carbon footprint, but you’ll also be helping to support local businesses.
Buy in bulk to save money and packaging costs. These ingredients can be found at farmer’s markets, local stores, food cooperatives, and online sources.
Choose fruits, vegetables, and grains in the season to ensure they’re as fresh as possible. Grass-fed and pasture-raised meats are a great source of protein.
Buy more beans and legumes, which need fewer resources in the production process. Source eggs and dairy products from organic farms and look for products with the lowest possible environmental impact.
Look for organic, unprocessed options like dried grains, nuts, seeds, and organic oils. Try eating more meatless meals throughout the week and reducing your food waste.
When cooking, please think of the freshest ingredients and ways to make the most of them. Freeze leftovers in single-serve containers, or use them to create a new recipe, such as soup or stir-fry. Get creative with leftovers from meals you enjoy eating!
A Guide to Composting in the Home
Composting should top the list of priorities when it comes to whipping up an eco-friendly kitchen. Home composting is great for getting rid of food waste and can even help you create nutrient-rich soil for a home vegetable garden.
Choose a Suitable Location
Your location must be accessible, such as a rich soil garden bed or someplace close to the kitchen door. Avoid sites that are near waterways, drains, and other runoff areas.
Compost should also be away from flooding sources, high winds, and intense sunlight to promote the breakdown of organic material. Keeping your compost at least one meter away from any walls, fences, or trees and an equal distance from any houses or other buildings is vital.
Get a Bin
You can buy a bin at a hardware store or online. There are even options to build your own. When you decide on a bin, please place it in your chosen spot.
Add Scraps
Once you have a bin, add your food scraps, yard waste, and other items like chopped-up paper. To kickstart the decomposition process, add some soil or a bit of compost that has already begun to break down.
Take Care of Your Compost
Aerate the compost pile through regular stirring and add water when necessary. With regular maintenance and care, your compost bin will produce nutrient-rich compost perfect for your backyard garden.
Easy and Affordable Swaps for Eco Friendly Kitchen Supplies
Some easy swaps you can do can be started by using eco-friendly kitchen products. Ditch the plastic bags and packaging and switch to biodegradable or reusable bags.
Trade out single-use dishware, utensils, and drinking straws. Use reusable items made of bamboo, metal, or glass instead.
You must also transition away from harsh chemical-filled cleaning products and stock up on cleaners, sponges, and dishcloths made with natural ingredients. Whenever possible, look for products with minimal waste and packaging.
Use Unconventional Storage Solutions
Utilizing unconventional storage solutions in an eco-friendly kitchen is a great way to keep things organized while reducing waste. You can upcycle materials like cans, glass jars, fabric bags, and baskets.
Even furniture like an old dresser or shelves can be repurposed. Anything can be a great organizational solution without needing more traditional items. You need to be creative.
The organization is vital to an efficient eco-friendly kitchen. So if you are beginning your journey, start by utilizing existing resources for storage.
Use Reusable Energy and Resources
Using reusable energy and resources for your kitchen helps your budget and the environment in a big way. Taking the initiative to convert your kitchen to eco-friendly practices helps reduce your environmental footprint.
Start by replacing some of your current appliances with more energy-efficient alternatives. Use Energy Star-certified refrigerators and dishwashers to reduce your energy consumption. Also, look for eco-friendly products for other kitchen areas, such as countertops and floors.
Consider investing in a water filtration system, so you don’t have to buy bottled water. Get creative and find ways to reduce, reuse and recycle in your kitchen.
Finally, consider switching to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or hydro-powered energy. Getting used to a new energy source may be challenging, but these helpful tips may help. The change will be worth it.
Get Started with Your Green Kitchen
Creating an eco friendly kitchen is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint without much effort. Not every kitchen makeover needs to take all your time. All it takes is minor changes and awareness of eco friendly kitchen products and methods.
This guide has everything from buying organic ingredients, sustainable supplies, composting and using reusable energy and resources. Start now and join the fight to create a better world for tomorrow. Good luck!
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