The Great Plastics Purge Phase 2: The Kitchen

Photo Credit: Flickr/lorigami

If you didn’t read ‘Phase one’, click here and read up on a few ways to eliminate plastic in the bathroom.  But if you need a quick refresher on why plastic is bad news: making plastic produces toxins and uses resources that should be conserved, it pollutes the environment and our bodies, and not everyone has gotten a handle on what to do with plastic items when they are done with them.  So why not try to limit the amount of plastic we bring into our lives?

Today’s focus – the kitchen.  Besides the bathroom, this is the room where most of your plastics are going to be found.  But there are things you can do here to substitute plastic with less problematic substances:

Plastic food containers – I will admit that I have been to my share of Tupperware parties in the past.  Most of the plastic food storage containers that I have acquired over the years are now gone.  I have either given them away or the containers have, well, stopped being useful.  Most of these products are meant for holding leftovers, and most people not only use these for storage but for heating the leftovers in the microwave as well.  Think of all of the chemicals that went into making that container!  Heating the chemicals up helps to release them from the container and they get mixed in with your food.  It is not healthy to heat your food in plastic.  When you need new food storage containers, replace them with glass containers.  They may be a little more expensive but they will last and be safe for reheating your lunch.

Zip-close food storage bags – I admit, I have a stash of these that I use from time to time.  But I usually only salvage them from other people who would throw them out.  I wash them and reuse them several times before they go into the landfill.  But I generally like to use non-plastic reusable bags like Reusies for my lunch.  If you have something that can’t go in a reusable bag, use a glass dish or a salvaged plastic bag. 

Food – Do you ever make decisions on which item you are going to buy at the grocery store based on whether it is in a glass or plastic jar?  See how much plastic packaging you can replace with glass or paper on your next grocery store trip.  Keep this in mind when you are buying condiments, spices, sauces, sandwich meat, or anything that comes in plastic packaging.  If there isn’t a non-plastic alternative, pick the item that has the least amount of plastic.

Do you buy pre-packaged meat wrapped in plastic?  Try the meat counter and ask them to wrap your order in paper.  Most butchers will do this, or venture out and find one that does.

Use plastic produce bags?  Try reusing ones you have already brought home from the store, or find cloth bags you can bring with you.  Or, try not using bags altogether.  Many produce items travel just fine without its own bag.

The point is, many items have non-plastic alternatives.  For instance, my can opener broke a while back and I was determined to find a replacement that didn’t contain any plastic.  It took a while but I was successful in finding a great one made of metal and wood.  It is amazing how many kitchen items are made of plastic, but a little investigating and persistence, you can find alternatives that are plastic-free! 

Eco Home Consultations provides green living consultation services in the Seattle area, focusing on practical ways to integrate green living into your household.  Learn more at www.ecohomeconsults.com or email questions about this blog or other green living issues to Melissa@ecohomeconsults.com.