Replace your plastic and single-use kitchen supplies with these reusable alternatives to reduce your waste, carbon footprint, and exposure to microplastics.
Single-use plastics have dominated our world since revolutions in extraction and manufacturing in the 20th Century. Plastics are produced with materials to retain structure and resist breakdown in the environment and contain microplastics that have been shown to disrupt cellular, organ, and endocrine function. They persist in the environment for thousands of years, long after any other materials.
BPA forms a firm, transparent structure that is useful in manufacturing goods. It is one chemical that has been identified to have these effects, especially in babies and young children. The FDA has banned the use of BPA in certain baby products due to this finding. However, BPA is not banned elsewhere, and there are many other harmful plastic chemicals (BPS, phthalates, PFAS) that are often used in addition to or in place of BPA.
Not only do they contain chemicals that are detrimental to our health; they are typically produced and shipped from across the world, dramatically increasing our carbon footprint. They require energy to produce, energy to transport, and energy to dispose of. These products are often used only once before being diverted to landfills and leaching toxic chemicals into our ecosystem.
Food itself takes significant energy in each stage of its growth/production, shipment, and preparation. Reducing food waste by purchasing only what is needed, saving and consuming leftovers, and composting what cannot be consumed has a profound impact on our energy footprint.
While complete avoidance of microplastics may not be possible in today's society, choosing reusable alternatives could significantly reduce our exposure, improve our health, and reduce our waste and carbon footprints. Here are some alternatives that we've enjoyed.
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Grocery shopping
Our journey to greener food products begins at purchase. On average, each US resident uses more than 300 plastic shopping bags each year, which equates to more than 100 billion annually in the US alone. Shopping at bulk and zero waste markets reduces packaging waste. Stores that allow you to weigh and purchase only what you need reduce food waste from excess purchases.
Forgo store-supplied plastic bags for reusable canvas shopping bags and cotton produce bags to reduce plastic exposure and single-use bags destined for the landfill. Purchase products in bulk and avoid those that are individually wrapped to reduce packaging per unit. Visit stores that allow you to measure your own to only purchase what you need.
Cookware
Plastics are snuck into many of our kitchen essentials. While some are entirely made of plastic, others are coated with plastics to decrease cost, reduce weight, or provide chemical properties such as nonstick coatings. All of these products leach microplastics into our body, especially when heated.
Replace your plastic cooking utensils with food-grade silicone or bamboo cooking utensils and your nonstick pots and pans with ceramic/steel/cast iron ones. Instead of disposable parchment paper or foil, utilize silicone baking mats to cover food and reduce cleanup.
Serveware
Plastic makes up much of our single-use serveware. Disposable utensils are made primarily of plastic. Paper and styrofoam plates and cups are often coated in plastic to improve durability for hot foods and liquids. While improving structural integrity, these coatings and materials break down quickly when heated and release microplastics into our food. By nature, many recyclables and nearly all disposables end up in landfills. Even compostable plastics contain toxic chemicals and generally make their way to the landfill, as they are not typically routed to facilities that can process them as compost.
Bring your own collapsible bowl to events and restaurants for leftovers. Use stainless steel or wooden serving utensils instead of plastic ones. Replace paper napkins with 100% cotton napkins which also feel classier. Use placemats to reduce cleanup and add some color. While most people utilize stainless steel silverware at home, we recommend also carrying a cutlery set with you in your bag or keeping a few in your car to use in place of disposables.
Drinkware
Our drink vessels are often made of plastic to make them light, inexpensive, and durable for shipping. Bottled water and drinks are a significant source of microplastics, especially if the plastic bottles have been exposed to heat or sunlight. Single-use coffee and tea products are often made of plastic, and the process of steeping them in hot water is prime for the release of chemicals into your drink.
Instead of bottled water, use a water filter and pitcher. Fill a stainless steel bottle and bring it with you out of the house. Use reusable coffee filters (#4, k cups) and tea bags and bring a glass bottle to take hot (or cold) beverages on the go. Opt for reusable steel or silicone straws. We use nutmilk bags/cheesecloths to make our own fresh milks without added sugar or preservatives.
Food storage
Another huge source of plastic use in the kitchen is for food storage. As we often repeatedly heat and cool our leftovers, silicone and glass food containers are much preferred to plastics as they are nontoxic and withstand heating and cooling cycles without breaking down over time.
Pyrex is the only brand that we have found to produce high quality glass tupperware with glass lids. We also use silicone covers for leftovers and to prevent splatter in the microwave (we prefer them to beeswax covers). These silicone food savers are great for storing leftovers or raw ingredients in either the refrigerator and freezer. For storing or taking on the go, reusable ziplocs easily replace single-use ones. Storing bread in linen bread bags keeps it fresh and at the right humidity.
Cleaning supplies
Cleaning with artificial and disposable products generates a huge amount of landfill waste that do not decompose. Artificial cleaners are often harmful for our skin and organs upon contact or ingestion. There are plenty of reusable natural alternatives that are better for our health and waste footprint.
Replace paper towels with cloth towels, which are handy to use with natural cleaning solutions and glass spray bottles. Utilize glass or aluminum hand soap dispensers with natural liquid soap refills and a dish soap dispenser with natural dish soap refills. Purchase biodegradable trash bags that are treated with a technology that breaks down plastic in a landfill. Replace plastic sponges with cellulose dishcloths which are less expensive and can be cut to size. Scrub stained pots and pans with natural coconut husk dish scrubbers.
What other reusable products have you successfully used to replace single-use plastics? Leave a comment and let us know!
