A recent IPSOS poll revealed that 85% of Brits are concerned about climate change. As such, many of them are adopting various sustainable habits to reduce their environmental impact. The kitchen is one of the most used and environmentally unfriendly areas in any home. Indeed, this space can quickly fill up with waste, appliances, and heat, and many practices here are bad for the environment. Thankfully, there are many simple ways to make your kitchen space more eco-friendly. Below are some top tips to go green in your kitchen.
1. Renovate with eco-friendly materials
Eco-friendly renovations are undoubtedly among the best ways to go green in your kitchen. Therefore, you can ditch your granite countertops and kitchen islands for eco-conscious alternatives made of Corian or quartz. Granite is a non-renewable resource, so opting for more sustainable options reduces the negative impact of mining granite on our ecology. Moreover, Corian and quartz are durable, easy to maintain, and don’t need toxic sealants during installation. You can also select cork as a sustainable kitchen floor option instead of linoleum or wood. Finally, you can invest in ceramic tiling for your walls and learn how to decorate with coloured tiles to make your kitchen eco-friendly and beautiful.
2. Avoid waste
Kitchens generate the most waste of any area in your home on average. You don’t have to look further than the excess packaging on supermarket shelves to see why so much waste is in your kitchen. The good news is that it isn’t as challenging as it seems to cut back on waste in this space. You can take your bags to the supermarket every time instead of relying on single-use, plastic carrier bags and purchase more fresh unwrapped produce. Also, reuse everything you can, like old bottles, glass jars, and other types of packaging you can’t get rid of. Finally, compost all your uncooked organic and food waste scraps instead of tossing them in the trash.
3. Use green kitchen cleaners
A 2021 Gtech survey of 2,000 UK homeowners and renters revealed that Brits cleaned their kitchens every 2.69 days. As such, kitchens were the most frequently cleaned rooms in UK houses. Many substances that constitute your standard petrochemical-based detergents, dishwashing liquids, floor cleaners, and other cleaning products are not eco-friendly. Fortunately, several natural cleaning companies are manufacturing non-toxic, plant-based detergents that you can use for your cleaning. Alternatively, you can create cleaning products using popular ingredients like baking soda, lemon and vinegar.
4. Cook from scratch
It would help to not buy pre-made, frozen foods in your quest to go greener in your kitchen. Instead, make your meals from scratch at home. This will almost always mean sourcing local and sustainable ingredients and less food wastage. Also, cooking from scratch at home uses less energy compared to a commercial kitchen. Indeed, it is easy to see how your tiny stove and few appliances would run on less energy than large, energy-intensive kitchens in restaurants. Besides, it is healthier for you and your family and easier on your pocket.
Photography by ali Tayebbi
