Plastic Free July: 7 sustainable kitchen swaps
To help you purge the plastics and do your part for the planet, Good Homes has compiled a list of Plastic Free July ideas for the kitchen.
Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps people choose more sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic. Cling film, bin liners, sponges and plastic plates… the kitchen is a hotbed of waste that usually ends up in landfill. Check out these sustainable kitchen swaps that are sure to get the job done just as well – if not better!
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1. Bamboo pot scrubbers
Swap your synthetic scourers and scrubbing brushes for this playful, plastic-free pair of Cheeky Bamboo Pot Scrubbers (£10.95 from kempii). Both brushes have a sustainable bamboo base, but one has softer bristles for gentle crockery cleaning, while the other boasts harder bristles to make light work of pots and pans. Best of all, unlike plastic, the sisal bristles are completely biodegradable!
Cheeky Bamboo Pot Scrubbers from kempii
2. Glass storage container
A Kilner jar is a must for a sustainably minded chef, and so are these Kemble Glass Storage Containers with bamboo lid (£8 from Garden Trading). They’re perfect for storing leftovers, but the best bit is that you can take the container out the fridge, remove the lid and put the whole glass dish straight in the oven. There are three different sizes available, and each will keep the contents fresh with its contrasting bamboo lid.
Kemble Glass Storage Containers with bamboo lid from Garden Trading
3. Eco-friendly kitchen sponge
A reusable alternative to a disposable dish sponge, the Kitchen None Sponge (£8.95 from Tabitha Eve) is plastic-free with a plant-based core, and has a soft cotton side and a rougher mesh side. Simply rinse it out and leave to dry after each use and give it. spin in the washing machine weekly. It also comes in a number of colourful designs.
Kitchen None Sponge from Tabitha Eve
Read more: Sustainable swap: eco cleaning products for your home
4. Compostable bin bags
Compostable bin bags are a very affordable Plastic Free July idea for the kitchen. Of course, they cost a little more than the plastic version, but not much. These Compostable 10L Bin Liners cost £4 per roll from Seep and, instead of plastics, they are made from renewable sources like biopolymers, and will therefore take less than eight weeks to break down in a composting facility. They’re also available in 30L and 50L rolls.
Compostable 10L Bin Liners from Seep
5. Cork placemats
Turn your eco attention to your tableware with these stunning organic cork placemats (£7, Love Liga). They’re eye-catching and environmentally-friendly as they biodegrade completely and can be recycled without releasing toxic residue like many other materials.
Photo: Love Liga
6. Bamboo measuring spoons
Bamboo measuring spoons are much less flimsy and fragile than the plastic versions – they’re much more sustainable too. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world, so chopping it down doesn’t have a destabilising impact on the local environment. Plus, it’s reusable, durable and bang on Scandi-chic trend. The minimalist design, hand-crafting and subtle variations on this Set of 4 Bamboo Measuring Spoons (£6 from Sass & Belle) give them a really artisan feel.
Set of 4 Bamboo Measuring Spoons from Sass and Belle
7. Wooden children’s plate
This Eco Wooden London Bus Tray (£36.99 from Blue Brontide) is not only much more sustainable than the usual plastic children’s plates, but also much cooler. Perfect for fussy eaters, this Scandi take on a segmented school dinner tray is made from solid oak, and has been finished with a food-grade sealer to ensure it stays like new. Naturally antibacterial, just wipe the wood down with a damp cloth after use.
Eco Wooden London Bus Tray from Blue Brontide
MORE ECO-FRIENDLY HOMEWARES & PLASTIC FREE JULY IDEAS
- 6 sustainable homewares you need to know about
- MADE.COM launches new sustainable rehoming platform
- Sustainable swap: eco cleaning products for your home