Eco-friendly kitchen updates you can do now – which will you do first?
Posted on 4th June 2021
Want a more eco-friendly kitchen? It’s something I’m on a mission to do in my own home. In a bid to be more conscious of the products I use and items I buy, I have so far eliminated cling film (swapped for wax wrappers), banned plastic straws in favour of stainless steel ones, boosted my Tupperware collection and started composting (and meal planning to reduce food waste), as well as some other bits around the house such as choosing non-toxic candles and opting for shampoo bars over single-use bottles.
Small changes, they say, mount up to big differences if we all do a little and that’s my thinking with being more sustainable. Slowly, slowly I’m tweaking my lifestyle and making sure to use up what I have left before buying eco-friendly kitchen alternatives. Next on the list is my laundry detergent and washing up liquid, so I’m on the hunt for the best solutions that are better for the planet (and won’t break the bank, let’s be honest).
On my search, I’ve found some great eco-friendly kitchen updates that are relatively easy to incorporate into your design – I love the idea of hemp furniture and surfaces made from recycled plastics. Here’s what I found…
These are so stylish, there’s no reason for your table setting not to be sustainable too. While some shops have a sustainable section, for Lighttp://loveliga.co.uka, it’s the whole store. Its tableware, textiles, and homewares are all made with recycled, organic, and sustainable materials, with an emphasis on natural cork – a material that’s harvested without felling trees. Liga’s collections include striking prints of wild flowers, coastal designs and graphic prints as well as smoked and ice cork, ideal for a sustainable table setting. From £3.Vepadrentea’s Hemp chairs, developed in conjunction with Hempflax, are a recyclable range of seating made with biodegradable hemp fibres and sugar-beet residue resin, finished with linseed oil. If that weren’t enough, the production process actually absorbs more CO2 than is emitted, so the range is carbon negative. Available at Nomique.Protect your walls from mess and be kind to the planet. How? Lochanna Kitchens’ EcoStone splashbacks are made from 93% quarry stone waste that’s formed into slabs using a heat-free process creating virtually no carbon footprint. Each slab is then decorated in one of six designs and finished with lacquer for a stylish, sustainable addition to your kitchen. Available in three sizes, prices start from £399. How pretty is the floral design below?Lochanna Kitchens’ EcoStone splashbacks are made from 93% quarry stone waste that’s formed into slabs using a heat-free process creating virtually no carbon footprint.Key to an eco-friendly kitchen is reducing food waste and composting is a great way to put any essential waste to good use in the garden. Eko Home has launched two caddies: Puro can be hung from a cupboard door or mounted on a wall while Deco, which has an antibacterial body to keep nasty whiffs at bay. Combined with compostable plant starch bags, there’s no reason not to keep adding to your garden heap. Puro caddy shown, £9.99; Deco caddy, £19.99; Compostable waste bags, £4.99 for 20. Kinn Living’s products range from multi-surface cleaner to glass and stainless-steel cleaner – all plantbased, organic and made with essential oils. Start your new routine with its Lavender & Rosemary Cleaning Set of washing-up liquid, kitchen spray, bathroom cleaner and floor wash, £15. Organic and vegan cleaning products, from £3.50. See more eco-friendly cleaning alternatives from Irina – here.Plastic-free, compostable and biodegradable, Seep’s sponges are made from wood pulp and natural loofah fibres, with washable cloths from loofah material – both of which also need less soap. Loofah scourer sponges and cloths, £8.50 per pack and £6.50 per pack or £27 for a four-pack sponge and cloth bundle, Seep.Want to waste less hot water in the kitchen? The Thermassure range of taps helps save on energy and in turn should reduce your water bills. It works by minimising the supply when the water gets too hot, so the flow won’t exceed 45°C. Not only does this mean it’s ideal for multi-generational households and families, each one is fitted with an aerator so it won’t splash. From £130 from Not Just Taps.Zwilling’s Fresh & Save vacuum storage keeps food fresh up to five times longer. Simply suck out air from its bags and boxes (shown below), store as normal, and let the QR code on the lid remind you of the best before date – how handy is that? A starter set costs £89.95.Zwilling’s Fresh & Save vacuum storage.Great for worktops, bathroom surfaces, sinks and panels, Durat is a silky solid surface material made from post-industrial recycled plastic – now that is a clever eco-friendly kitchen idea. Now there’s one more reason to love it: Durat will donate 10% of profits from the sale of its ocean-inspired limited edition 730 JNS colour to a foundation dedicated to protecting the Baltic Sea. From £360 per sq m at Surface Matter. You can’t have an eco-friendly kitchen without a good recycling system, I say. This split 60 litre Totem pop waste separation and recycling bin from Joseph Joseph is super practical and, for a bin, looks pretty cool, too. £148.99 from John Lewis & Partners.
So, which eco-friendly kitchen update is next on your list? Let me know in the comments below.
