Most of your resources are used in the kitchen so cooking and food preparation is a great place to start when thinking about sustainability. You can begin your eco-friendly journey with some simple adjustments and using things in different ways throughout the home. Let’s get started:
Use Organic Ingredients:
Foods grown organically contain higher levels of healthy nutrients like antioxidants than foods grown conventionally. Additionally, when you only eat organic foods, your symptoms may lessen or even disappear if you have allergies to certain foods, substances, or preservatives. Organics also contain no pesticides and are sustainable. One of the more sustainable ingredients you can use is hemp oil and rosin extract. These contain CBD but not THC and are, therefore, legally used as ingredients in cannabis food like gummies and flavored chocolate.
Ditch Plastic:
You are probably already aware of how harmful single use plastics are. Dangerous items like food containers, drink can rings, and clothing containing micro plastics are destroying the oceans and wildlife. Over one million seabirds and about 100,000 marine animals are killed yearly by plastic products. Thankfully, switching to more environmentally friendly products is simpler than ever. You could, for instance, use glass jars for storage, paper bags, or boxes for food containers. And only purchase brands that you know use sustainable manufacturing practices.
Replace Older Appliances:
Your energy use and carbon emissions will significantly reduce when you replace older appliances. White goods are an excellent example, like your refrigerator, washer, and dishwasher. This is due to how energy hungry these devices have historically been. Newer models from reliable manufacturers are significantly more effective and adhere to current energy and carbon standards. Switching to more recent models will help reduce carbon emissions significantly. Additionally, you will save a lot of money on your energy bills.
Switch to Natural Cleaners:
Many cleaners for the kitchen and bathroom are made with hazardous materials. In addition, some of the most well known brands have zero sustainability. Fortunately, major producers like Unilever now offer environmentally friendly variations of their popular products and are making strides in changing their manufacturing processes.
Use Renewable Fuels for Cooking:
The oven is the most crucial piece of kitchen equipment. Cooking enhances flavor but, more importantly, it also eliminates moisture that contains bacteria. In order to produce the necessary heat, cookware needs a heating source. Here are some of the greenest cooking fuels:
- Propane gas is much cleaner and more economical than mains gas.
- Methane is clean, efficient, and abundant as an energy source.
- LPG is a mixture of fuels, so it has reduced reliance on fossil fuels.
- Biofuels are made from food waste and are reused and burned cleanly.
- Electric can help reduce your emissions if you source renewable energy suppliers.
There are numerous options for clean burning, renewable home cooking. Making the switch will significantly improve your household’s sustainability.
Learn About Portion Control:
Food waste is one of the biggest sources of landfill waste and carbon emissions. Every year, nearly seven million tons of food are wasted in the UK alone, costing the country over £10 billion. If you waste food, buy in portion controlled increments and divide ingredients equally. This is easier to achieve if you plan your weekly or monthly menu and buy the necessary ingredients. Additionally, cooking for your family results in cost savings because you won’t need to purchase unnecessary extras. Or you can subscribe to a meal service like Hello Fresh or Gousto.
Recycle Everything You Can:
All non-recyclable materials are disposed of in landfills. Some waste, like food, can be used to make biofuels. However, most of the rubbish you discard cannot be processed unless processing plants know what it is. Sorting your trash beforehand can significantly assist processing plants. For instance, throwing away a glass bottle in your regular trash can will end up in a landfill and worsen the situation. But if you put it in the right bin, it will be processed for recycling after it is collected. Some countries also fine you for not sorting your waste.
Take Note of What You Can Reuse:
You might not realize it, but most items in your kitchen can be reused. Using reusable carrier bags when grocery shopping alone can help reduce plastic use. In addition, plastic takeout containers work well for storing items in the refrigerator, like cheese. And when you go jogging or hiking, you might think about using recycled plastic bottles as water containers. It’s also important to note that purchasing high quality pots and pans lowers costs. Copper pans from reputable brands will last forever if you look after them.
Not only is living a greener lifestyle better for the environment but it is, often times, better for your wallet too. Use the tips above to help you get started today!
Featured Image By: Pixabay
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