She Strengthens

Sustainable Living Starts in the Kitchen

Making the switch to a zero-waste lifestyle can feel overwhelming, but it’s a journey worth taking. By incorporating small changes into your daily routine, you can significantly reduce your environmental footprint. Here are 25 practical steps to help you create a more sustainable kitchen.

Grocery Shopping

1. Plan Ahead: Reduce food waste by meal-planning and avoiding spontaneous purchases. Prioritize expiration dates and produce that may spoil.
2. Bulk Up: Shop from bulk refill bins and fill reusable cloth bags. You can find staples like grains, beans, and nuts in bulk.
3. Think Outside the Package: Opt for minimally packaged foods or consider making your own. Did you know that single-use plastics account for half of the world’s plastic production?
4. Get Creative: Make your own treats, like cookies and pancake mix, to reduce packaging waste.
5. Meet Your Butcher: Buy meat from the counter to reduce packaging waste. You can even bring your own container!

Kitchen Essentials

6. Ditch the Plastic Bags: Skip produce bags at the grocery store or farmers market. Simply wash your fruits and veggies when you get home.
7. Prep Like a Pro: Properly store and prep fruits and vegetables to make them last longer and reduce waste.
8. Say No to Single-Use: When ordering takeout, prioritize restaurants that use compostable containers and skip the single-use napkins and utensils.
9. Be Your Own Milkman: Buy milk, coffee creamer, and whipping cream in glass bottles and return them for a refund.

Kitchen Supplies

10. Glass Act: Choose glass over plastic for food storage. Glass lasts longer and can be found secondhand.
11. Get Thrifty: Consider shopping at thrift stores, flea markets, or online for kitchen items instead of buying new.
12. Meet the New Brown Bag: Use stainless steel containers, bamboo flatware, and reusable coffee mugs for school or work lunches.

Cleaning

13. Scrub, Guilt-Free: Make your own abrasive cleaner using baking soda and essential oils.
14. Streamline Your Cleaners: Create an all-purpose cleaner using vinegar and water. You can also make a natural disinfectant using lavender or rosemary.
15. Just Add Water: Use Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds, a plant-based and biodegradable cleaner, for dishes and more.

Compost, DIY, and Reuse

16. Grow Your Own: Even with minimal outdoor space, herbs are easy to grow and can be used fresh or dried.
17. Make Spa Water: Create flavored water at home using fruits, herbs, and vegetables.
18. Keep Food Scraps: Save vegetable scraps for later use in soup stocks or regrow scallions.
19. DIY Your Compost: Consider a worm bin to turn coffee grounds, eggshells, and avocado skins into compost and compost tea.

By incorporating these small changes into your daily routine, you’ll be well on your way to creating a more sustainable kitchen. Remember, every little bit counts, and making these changes can have a significant impact on the environment.