Tips for Creating an Eco-Friendly Kitchen at Home

Having an eco-friendly kitchen is much easier than it seems. You just need to focus on five magic words: rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle. And why exactly the kitchen? The kitchen is where the most waste is generated in a home. On average, each resident produces about 1 kilogram of waste per day.

This might seem insignificant, but multiply that number by the number of people in your home. Then multiply it by the population in your area, city, state, country, and even across the globe. Thinking collectively makes it easier to understand how individual actions matter for preserving our planet and humanity.

Stay with us in this article and follow all the tips we've provided to create your own eco-friendly kitchen.

What Are the Five Pillars of Sustainability?

To better understand the tips we'll present below, you should grasp the importance of five pillars of sustainability. These will define your future path. Let's quickly go over them.

Rethink

The first R is rethink. The idea here is to assess whether you really need the product you're about to buy. Every new item, no matter how it is, consumes natural resources for production: water and forest areas.

Take a few minutes to think — are you falling for a trend, or is there another way to obtain the item? For example, by buying used or reusing materials.

Refuse

After the first R, you have a chance to refuse. Yes! This is a powerful force. You can refuse the purchase of any appliance, including a standard plastic bag.

Reduce

If you can't stop yourself from buying or refusing, then reduce. Buy as little as possible and be mindful to avoid waste.

Reuse

The next R is reuse. Don't throw anything away until you know whether it can be used again because there's no real 'exit'.

This could be a stem or peel from food, as well as packaging. The longer you extend the life of your products, the more sustainable your kitchen will be.

Recycle

Many people think recycling is the only way to be sustainable. But that's a myth. Recycling is just one of five components of sustainability, and as you see, it comes last. That means only after completing all the previous steps should recycling be considered. But still, it's fundamental.

Recycle everything possible when other options aren't available.

Eco-Friendly Food Preparation

Buy from Local Producers

Support family farms and small businesses by buying from local producers, and you'll get fresh almost always organic food.

Use Reusable Bags

Plastic bags are completely out of fashion now. It's trendy to use your own bags when shopping for groceries and at the market.

Grow Your Own Garden

It can be small or large. The main thing is to grow a home garden with herbs, spices and vegetables — this is very sustainable and healthy.

Explore New Recipes

Grains, stems and seeds can become key ingredients in new recipes. Reusing helps avoid waste and ensures a healthier, more balanced diet.

Thaw Naturally

Whenever possible, prefer natural thawing inside the refrigerator. Avoid the habit of using a microwave. Besides being healthier, natural thawing saves electricity.

Avoid Waste

Water, energy and gas should be used mindfully. A good example is leaving dishes to soak a bit longer, making washing easier and avoiding constant faucet use.

Meal planning is a way to more efficiently use your oven and stove, since you can save gas and energy when cooking multiple dishes or large portions.