Are you taking part in Plastic Free July this year? There are so many easy plastic-free swaps you can implement in the kitchen, which makes it a great place to get started.
Here’s a list of our top ideas for creating a zero waste kitchen. And if you’re feeling inspired and want to challenge yourself even further, head to the Plastic Free July website for even more tips and information.
1: Refuse foods that have plastic packaging
Well you’re already halfway there with this one. Local Organic Delivery’s Organic Fruit & Veggie Boxes and Organic Extras don’t have any plastic packaging. Tick!
But what about other foods? When it comes to dry pantry foods you can hit your local bulk food store (we love The Source Bulk Foods) once a month to stock up on things like rice, lentils, beans, flour and nuts. If you eat meat, fish or cheese, then most butchers, fishmongers and delis will allow you to bring your own container these days.
2. Refill your soaps
Rather than buying a new bottle of dishwashing liquid or dishwashing powder, you can refill these at your local bulk food store or through a service like Roving Refills. We’ve even seen fill up stations at supermarkets and shopping centres recently, so keep your eye out for these in your local area.
3. Cut out the cling wrap
You can easily cut cling wrap from your kitchen by substituting for beeswax wraps, or storing food in containers instead.
4. No more plastic bin liners
Plastic bags break up into small pieces and end up in nature and ingested by animals. You can substitute your plastic bin liners for certified compostable liners. Or you can even go one step further and cut out the bin liner all together (this is easier if you’re already composting your food scraps).
5. Choose loose leaf teas
Unfortunately most tea bags out there contain plastic, which is not ideal for yourself or the environment. You can do your research and find a plastic free tea bag alternative, but even better than that is switching to loose leaf teas.
6. Choose bottles over cartons
Cartons used for milk, juice and stock all end up in landfill. Choose glass bottle options wherever you can, and for things like juice and stock you can try to make your own at home as much as possible.
These are just some ideas to get you started on your journey to creating a zero waste kitchen. We’d love to hear about any ideas you’re putting in action by tagging us in your social media stories - @localorganicdelivery.
