How to Reduce Plastic in Your Kitchen
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We get it, ditching plastic kitchen tools can seem like an impossible feat. From the spatula flipping your pancakes to the drawer full of takeout cutlery, plastic is everywhere. And while we all know plastic isn’t doing our kitchens or the planet any favors, figuring out where to start can be overwhelming.
Here’s the good news: it’s easier than you think. With just a few simple eco-friendly kitchen swaps, you can make a big impact. These changes will not only help you reduce plastic waste, but they’ll also bring natural beauty and sustainability into your home.
Mix it Up with Wood and Bamboo Cooking Utensils
On your journey to a plastic-free kitchen, a great place to start is with your cooking utensils. Cooking utensils are constantly in contact with heat, from sauteing veggies to stirring boiling pots of water, and plastic doesn’t hold up well against heat. When exposed to high temperatures, there’s a possibility of plastic leaching chemicals into your food.
Swapping your plastic utensils for wood or bamboo cooking utensils is a simple upgrade with a big impact. They’re safe to use when cooking with heat and they’re biodegradable unlike plastic. They’re gentler on nonstick cookware, so you’ll be able to keep it working its best longer. And, with proper care, they’ll outlast your plastic tools and look great doing it. This simple, small change is a big win for your kitchen and the planet!
Cut Out Plastic Cutting Boards
Your cutting board sees a lot of action on a day-to-day basis. If it’s made of plastic, it might bring more to the table than you bargained for. When your knife strikes that plastic surface, tiny bits of plastic—called microplastics—can shed into your food. But that’s just the beginning. Plastic cutting boards are hard on your knives and can develop grooves and scratches that become food traps, which requires them to be replaced more often.
Wood and bamboo cutting boards aren’t just safer and more durable than plastic, they’re easier on your knives and look better on your countertops. Wood and bamboo are both renewable resources that are biodegradable. With just a little extra care, your wooden cutting board can last for years. So, say goodbye to the worry that comes along with plastic cutting boards and make the eco-friendly switch to wood or bamboo.
Ditch the Plastic Cutlery
Ditching plastic forks and spoons in favor of reusable alternatives might seem like a small change but think about how often we reach for a plastic utensil when we’re eating out, grabbing takeout or enjoying a picnic. You might be thinking, it’s just one fork, but that one fork adds up. Plastic cutlery is hard to recycle because it’s small, lightweight and usually contaminated with food, so it tends to end up in landfills or in the ocean.
Reusable utensil sets make it easy to skip the disposable stuff without skipping the convenience. Just toss a set in your bag, backpack or glove compartment so you’re always ready to go. Bamboo is a perfect choice because it’s lightweight, naturally biodegradable and strong enough to handle your on-the-go meals. Plus, with our Take-Along Reusable Utensil Sets’ cute travel cases, you’ll want to show off your reusable utensil set in the lunchroom. Our reusable utensils are also dishwasher safe for easy clean up!
Sip Sustainably
Straws are everyday items we barely think about, but their impact is anything but small. Plastic straws are used for just a few minutes, but they stick around for a long time, they can even end up in our oceans and harm marine life. Paper straws are an eco-friendly alternative, but most of us know the struggle of fishing for a soggy paper straw out of our drink.
Reusable straws offer a guilt-free and durable solution to both plastic and paper straws. Our Reusable Bamboo Drinking Straws are perfect for sipping smoothies, iced coffee or anything in between.
Going plastic-free or plastic-light isn’t about tossing out everything you own. It’s about making conscious swaps that work for you. When your plastic spatula breaks or your straw stash runs low, reach for the bamboo or wood instead of the plastic.
Start small and enjoy the process of creating a greener kitchen for you and the planet.
Shop all of our items for wood and bamboo alternatives that will help you on your journey to a plastic-free kitchen.