Living waste free is about living simply, choosing waste free options and getting back to basics. Every waste free journey has to start somewhere. The process isn’t something that simply happens overnight but with these small tips you can be more conscious about the products you are using and switch items for more ecofriendly options.
The first step is to break down sections of your life and focus on one area at a time. We’ve approached the food side of waste with simple sustainable alternatives.
Plastic bottles are one of the most prevalent items in landfill. With an incredible low recycle rate, they can only be downcycled. Switch your disposable bottle for a long lasting and sturdy stainless steel counterpart. The Avanti Fluid Vacuum bottles are BPA free, come in any colour you can dream of and will keep your drinks cold for up to 24 hours!
Glass containers are superior to plastic for sustainability. Heat or pop leftovers right into the container without the worry of staining, melting or harmful chemicals leaching into your food. Kilner has quintessential glass containers to put oatmeal, noodles and more to take on the go. But if you like squares, Glasslock containers are made from shatter-resistant, BPA-free tempered glass and oven safe up to 230C.
Ditch the paper towel, the plastic sponges and disposable cloths. E-Cloth is the healthier, and simpler way to clean. With a simple wipe, these microfiber clothes will remove bacteria, dust, dirt and grime with the purest compound on earth: water. There’s an E-Cloth for so many sustainable uses – floors, dishes, windows, stainless steel appliances, and even your car. Throw them in your washing machine to use over and over again.
Plastic sandwich bags, foil and clingwrap are probably your go to storage option for your snacks or leftovers – but they shouldn’t be! Karlstert Beeswax food wraps are natural and reusable and compostable alternative. When you’re done simply wash them with warm soapy water and hang up to dry.
Investing in good quality, long lasting cookware is extremely important, and picking the right brand can also benefit the environment and your health too. Aluminium extraction from bauxite to make cookware can be particularly energy-intensive. Just 1 kg of bauxite extracted from the earth leads to 85kg of waste, while in comparison 1 kg of recycled aluminium leads to only 3.5kg of waste. That’s a huge difference!
Scanpan uses 100% recyclable aluminium in its non-stick cookware – turning soft drink or beer cans into cookware and using a considerable amount of less energy in production. Scanpan is also free from both PFOA and PFOS, making it better for your overall health. Read more here.
Part of reducing your food wastage is being smart about your food storage. Having clear storage like Kilner’s Fresh Storage to organise your food will result in less waste, and fermenting and pickling can be an easy way to use all the bits and pieces you might usually chuck! Ripe apples can be turned into applesauce and celery leaves into pesto. Cornersmith tells you how to use it all in the kitchen here.
There’s an overwhelming amount of plastic bags in landfills and waterways. They’re incredibly wasteful and put marine wildlife in danger. Karlstert muslin produce bags are a great alternative to the plastic rolls found in supermarkets. Unbleached, untreated and food safe, they’ll keep your produce fresh from the trolley to the fridge.
Most disposable paper cups cannot be recycled if they are made from bleached paper sprayed with a polyethylene coating, and toxic dyes. A reusable cup is the best choice to ditch the single use. Don’t forget to bring yours post COVID! We love the Avanti Glass Go Cup which is made of hand blown, heat resistant, premium borosilicate glass keeping your favourite barista drink hot for up to 8 hours.
The one-and-done use of throw-away straws has become an ocean pollution nightmare, and in the best interest of our sea creatures it’s better to make the switch. The Avanti folding stainless steel straw is a prime choice. It easily folds into a keychain sized wheat fibre portable carry case and comes with a wire brush for convenient cleaning.
In Australia, we throw away over 5 billion plastic bags each year. By replacing single-use plastic garbage bags with Brabantia’s compostable bin liners you’ll cut back on a major pollutant. Made with starch derived from corn and other plant materials like sugar cane and residues, the bags are certified to meet relevant composability standards. They are best used for organic and kitchen wastes and come in two sizes – 6L and 10/12L.
kitchenwarecollective.com 