Photo Credit: Flickr/ooh food
If you didn’t read ‘Phase one’ on Monday, I discussed a few ways to eliminate plastic in the bathroom. What’s so wrong with plastic you ask? Read Monday’s post where I give an overview of the plastic problem. But basically, 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. I like to use non-plastic bags like Reusies for my lunch but there are times where they won’t work. Keeping things fresh for longer than a day or containing something that is on the gooey side requires something else. You can use plastic bags but remember these bags can be washed out and reused several times. Just swish with soapy water, rinse, and hang to dry. I made a ‘bag dryer’ out of a paper-covered hanger and clothes pins. Just poke the clothes pins through the paper at equal intervals and they stay put. Just don’t try to wash out bags you have kept meat products in. That’s not good for food safety.
If you are feeling really ambitious, try getting rid of bags altogether and using some of those glass containers with lids.
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 take to the store 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 replacements if we look hard enough for them. 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! Need
help finding good alternatives?
Email me
at Melissa@ecohomeconsults.com. Leave a comment here if you have other suggestions
for a plastic–free kitchen. Check back
on Monday for Phase Three, random plastics.
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