5 easy ways to eliminate plastic in your kitchen

Plastic is everywhere. It’s one of the main pollutants on the planet. Every piece of plastic that’s been created on this earth still exists in some shape or form. Research has shown that more than 380 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year. 80% of the pollution in the ocean is from single-use plastic, a lot of which can be found in the kitchen.

There’s no doubt that the environment is in serious danger and we all need to do better to make a change. It can be overwhelming thinking of how destructive we humans can be, but making small, attainable changes can make a lasting impact.

Here are 5 easy ways to eliminate plastic in your kitchen:

1. Reusable water bottle

One of the easiest ways to reduce plastic waste is to swap single-use plastic bottles for reusable ones. It saves you money in the long run and you’re limiting your risk of exposure to microplastics. Studies have found microplastics in 93% of bottled water. Access to filtered water is ideal. Not all water filters are created equal so it can be helpful to understand what is in your local water supply. You can search the Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database with your zip code to see what’s in your tap water.

To avoid additional microplastics choosing a stainless steel or glass bottle is best. Regardless, I recommend decking them out with fun stickers. I now have a bond with my favorite water bottles because they just look so cool. 😎

2. Beeswax wraps

Not only is plastic wrap a pain in the ass to use but it’s just another form of single-use plastic that is in the garbage before you know it. This alternative is easier to use, lasts so much longer, and once they’ve lost their wear and tear you can compost them. That’s a win, win in my book! 😉

Beeswax wraps are basically just what they sound like. They’re simply a piece of cloth coated with beeswax, maybe a few other oils, and that’s it. You can wrap them around just about anything you’d normally use saran or plastic wrap for, aside from raw meat. There are many affordable options out there, many of which are made by small businesses. If you’re feeling crafty you can even make them yourself without leaving a nasty, saran-wrapped carbon footprint.

3. Glass containers

It may take a bit more time to fully transition, but swapping plastic food storage containers for glass is a simple kitchen upgrade that will have a lasting impact. Not only do you get the trendy glass container aesthetic, but it’s another way to reduce your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

Many plastic food and drink containers contain BPA which is a man-made chemical used to harden the plastic. While it’s still unclear how this chemical can directly affect our health, studies show widespread exposure to BPA in the U.S. population. BPA is an endocrine disruptor that can mimic the way our bodies produce estrogen. This, in turn, upsets the normal process of development and the functions of maintaining a healthy body.

In addition, studies in animals have shown to cause:

• altered brain development
• reproductive abnormalities
• obesity
• toxicity in ovaries and uterus

You don’t have to go out and purchase a brand new set of containers either, I use various sizes of mason jars for just about everything. I also try to reuse glass jars from other things like honey, sauces, jelly, etc. before I throw them away.

4. Silicone resealable bags

The single-use sandwich bags have probably been one of the hardest things for me to completely ditch. They are so convenient! I noticed I was going through wayyy too many and I knew I needed to make a change. In addition to using glass containers for food storage, I’ve also started using resealable storage bags. They aren’t as cheap as single-use plastic zip-lock bags, even though there are a lot more affordable options now. They are worth it though. Their durability makes them last much longer so they aren’t going straight into the landfill.

5. Reusable grocery bags

Since we’re on the topic of reusable bags, it’s time we all start to bring our own bags to the grocery store. Single-use grocery bags are made of crude oil and they take forever to decompose. Studies suggest that it could take plastic bags as long as 1,000 years to degrade in a landfill! 😳 Even then the bags don’t fully break down but turn into microplastics that continue to pollute the environment. Fortunately, some states are starting to address this problem by banning single-use plastic bags in major retail stores. Hopefully, we will continue to see more efforts and additional states following suit.

If you have some plastic grocery bags laying around, try to get more than one use out of them, or check out your local stores that may provide bag recycling options. I’ve found it helpful to stash a few reusable bags in the trunk of my car so I always have some on hand when I need them.

Making these lifestyle changes can take time but being mindful of our actions is the first step.

Here are a couple of questions that might be helpful to ponder:

• In what ways does your lifestyle impact the environment?
• What are some of the things you are doing to reduce your impact?

I’m always trying to do better so make sure to follow along on my journey as I share what I’m learning along the way 🌲