From plastic straws to sandwich bags to plastic cling wrap, the kitchen can definitely create a (literal) ton of waste! This category was my first area to really focus on reducing our waste (and need to purchase more) around our home. Whether you’re an avid eater at home or out of the house, there are several ways to reduce your dependency on disposables.
This is the second chapter in the Disposables to Ditch in 2020! If you missed our post from yesterday on personal care items, make sure to check it out here!
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Beverages
We generally use upcycled glass jars for drinking around the home. I do keep our own personal straws and cups in our vehicle incase we stop at a restaurant. We generally use Kleen Kanteen. Other brands of stainless steel beverage containers hold a possibility of lead contamination. Kleen Kanteen and Yeti were recently tested for lead contamination and were cleared! (I simply prefer Kleen Kanteen because that’s what we have always used!)
For straws, there are several different options. We have stainless steel (with the silicone covers), there are glass options, and we have the full silicone options. With having young children, I just feel safer with the full silicone options.
I love these bamboo lids for mason jars to convert them into (almost) spill-proof!
Cutlery
I keep kits with bamboo cutlery in our vehicles for on-the-go meals because if they accidentally get left behind or tossed into the trash, I know that they are biodegradable. But even keeping spare silverware in your lunchbox can make a difference!
Sandwich Bags
While I do can a lot of our fruits and vegetables, there are certain things that I simply preferred frozen (Corn, blueberries, bone broth, etc.). For the longest time, I couldn’t find a reliable substitute for plastic bags for the freezer or to store snacks on the go for the kids.
If I’m packing soft foods, I’ll use a glass mason jar but in the case of sandwiches or snacks for the boys, I really love the Stasher bags. I have a few of them that we use regularly. My second choice if the Stasher bags are all being used are these options from Amazon. They work pretty good, they just aren’t as convenient as the plastic top for sealing can take awhile to break in and if the tops are lost, the bag is useless.
With either of those two options, we haven’t experienced any leakage or freezer burn! They are both supposedly dishwasher and microwave safe, but I don’t use them in the microwave and prefer to hand wash them.
Napkins and Papertowels
DIY options for these are everywhere and they are relatively easy if you have a sewing machine and some spare time on your hands. They are absorbent, wash up well, and you can choose for a variety of prints! I wash them with our regular laundry and they have held up well for almost a year. (They don’t get washed with Bryce’s work clothes or cloth diapers for obvious reasons…)
For simplicity, you could use flour-sack towels for both or stick with the plain towels for paper towel replacements, and opt in for colorful napkins.
Learning how to use our sewing machine over the years has been a slow process, but I made some flannel napkins for us earlier this year. They’ve served us well!
Food Covers
We used to go through boxes and boxes of cling wrap during the summers when the spinach and lettuce is plentiful. A fresh salad is always ready to grab and eat with every meal. Fresh bread would be wrapped in the plastic mess that only ever seems to stick to itself. So part of this conversion for us was due to frustration with the conventional product, not only to reduce waste.
I have done some DIY’s for a beeswax cloth wrap that has worked well, but they definitely still need some perfecting. I currently prefer the ones we purchased at the store. They have a mix of beeswax and food grade oils that just make for a better “cling” and seem to keep food more fresh than my homemade versions.
The newest addition to the kitchen came this past Christmas from my sister-in-law! These silicone food covers are reusable, BPA free, and come in a variety of sizes! They also stretch and seal really well.