Sustainability has become the top priority of many, especially in the domestic sphere. Change is relatively easy to achieve at home because, typically, there aren’t even that many things that need to be switched or replaced. If you’ve been thinking of making your home more sustainable, your kitchen is the best place to start. The fact is that this is the place in your home that gets to see the most wear and tear. Since it is used for cooking, a practical purpose, your kitchen is vulnerable to damage from steam, temperature variations and staining.
For this reason, you want to make sure you fill your kitchen with durable items. Some of the most resilient also happen to be made from environmentally-friendly materials, so you get the best of both worlds. Here are some of the changes you can integrate into your home to make your kitchen look lovely and help the planet simultaneously.
Ditch plastics
Plastic is one of the world’s main polluters. Depending on the material and structure of a plastic item, it can last a few hundred years until it decomposes entirely in a landfill. Even after this process is completed, the plastic doesn’t simply vanish, but instead photo-degrades and turns into microplastic that continues to pollute the environment and harm wildlife.
There’s another layer to its unsustainability: it is produced mainly from fuels that have a warming effect on the planet, such as coal, oil and gas. According to recent research, the average UK household disposes of nearly 100 billion pieces of plastic packaging each year, of which only 12% are recycled. That’s a lot of plastic that sticks around in the environment, a lot of which ends up being ingested. Recent data shows that you might eat up to five grams of micro and nano plastics weekly. That’s a considerable amount, and the full implications for human health are not well understood.
When you choose to say no to plastic in your household, at least when it’s feasible, you’re doing a big service to the planet and your health. The easiest way to do this is to replace plastic supermarket bags with a reusable alternative. Not only are they green, but they’re also more resilient, and you can mend them if they rip or tear. The next step is to choose biodegradable trash bags, and beeswax wrappers as the alternative to using single-use plastics to preserve food. While the upfront costs will be higher, in the long run, the amount you spend will be lower because the items are more resilient, won’t break down as quickly, and you don’t need to replace them as often.
Other sustainable solutions include storing food and spices in mason jars and not using plastic, single-use cutlery.
Better furniture
If your kitchen cabinets need change, you can take this as an opportunity to bring some sustainable items into your home. At kitchenwarehouseltd.com, you can find a wide range of kitchen unit styles and designs, so you can find something that’s perfect for your needs. You can choose between the classic Shaker models, the elegant handleless style, high gloss materials, Solid Wood Wakefield, or Windsor Shaker. The materials are sustainable as well as resistant to scratches and stains.
Solid wood is one of the best options for any kitchen. It is timeless and looks good with everything. Since it never loses its appeal, you can choose to get wooden cabinets in any colour palette you wish. Selecting a high-quality material means that you’re going to have your kitchen last longer since you won’t have to replace the items as often. Your cupboards will be easier to clean, so you won’t need to use harsh chemicals to wipe down the surfaces. This also means that your furnishings will keep their colours and lustre longer.
Energy-efficient appliances
One of the biggest problems for sustainability is energy consumption. It’s easy to be careless and use unsustainable options. Seemingly small things like forgetting the lights in a room you’re not in will add to your electricity bill and make your home less sustainable. Look for appliances that are energy-efficient appliances across all areas.
Think about how efficient your dishwasher, cooker and fridge are. Don’t hesitate to replace them if you find them subpar according to sustainability standards. Not only will they be better for your electricity bills, but they’re also going to do a better job keeping your food fresher and getting your silverware spotless.
Commercial undercounter fridges are also one of the best options that make your kitchen more attractive.
Eco-friendly products
Many of the cleaning products you use are made with harsh chemicals. Their manufacturing process is typically very polluting and can also be rough on your lungs and airways. Moreover, their packaging is made from non-biodegradable materials, which means that at the end of their lifetime, they’ll be adding to the ever-growing piles of plastic in landfills. The best way to offset these detrimental effects is to look for brands that offer green solutions.
The products are not the only thing you can replace, but your brushes, sponges, and even gloves. There are plenty of options out there made from natural, environmentally-friendly materials.
Buy local
While your kitchen looking nice is a great thing, this place still serves an efficient purpose, preparing and cooking meals. And here, too, you can make some changes for the better. Choose locally sourced products and support farmers, growers and the community in your area. Buying local also means that the food you get is more likely to be free from preservatives since it doesn’t have to travel many miles to reach your plate.
Big supermarkets typically use large quantities of plastic, and the food is grown using pesticides and fertilisers. This means that their nutritional value is reduced, and they’re typically not as delicious as the ingredients you find in farmers’ markets. If you’ve thought that your dishes are not as tasty as they could be, it might not be your cooking skills but the quality of the foods you purchase.
Creating a sustainable home can be challenging since there are many things you’ll have to keep in mind. But it’s also the best way to improve your home and do your part in helping the planet thrive.
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