







Our kitchens are one of the most wasteful areas in our homes, but they don't have to be. By swapping out a few wasteful kitchen items to reusable alternatives, you can significantly reduce the waste and clutter in the heart of your home. And by purchasing reusable products, you can save a lot of money in the long-run, too. It's a win-win!





When I started my zero waste journey, I decided to do it in stages, beginning with my kitchen. Weekly shopping trips resulted in ridiculous amounts of plastic packaging. And I'll be honest, packaging still slips through the cracks sometimes. But I don't beat myself up about it. I do the best that I can with the resources available to me and these zero waste swaps helped make the process that much easier:





If you're not ready to purchase zero waste alternatives, I've got you covered! Here's my list of free zero waste swaps to help get you started.









Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps





1. Sponges





Because of bacterial build-up, experts recommend disposing of plastic sponges at the end of each week. That's a lot of plastic sponges in the landfill!





This is why I recommend using, either, a biodegradable sponge (like the one below) or a rag. Natural loofah sponges last just as long as plastic sponges but are made up of 100% plant material that can be composted at the end of their life. You can even try your hand at growing your own loofahs in your backyard; just search for Chinese okra seeds and you'll be growing sponges in no time. Or you can skip purchasing sponges entirely and use washcloths or rags as a replacement instead.

















2. Scrubbing Brushes





Plastic dish brushes are generally non-recyclable, which is why I suggest switching to wooden brushes instead. This eco-friendly alternative has a replaceable and compostable brush head and scrubs gunk off of dishes just as effectively as their plastic counterparts. Again, washcloths and rags are a great, budget-friendly option, too.

















3. Paper Towels





It is really difficult to find paper towels that aren't wrapped in plastic these days. So while the paper towels themselves are compostable after use, they still contribute to plastic pollution. Not to mention the processing and transportation involved in the production of paper towels. It's better to use large rags or hand towels to do the same job. And that way you don't have to spend and extra $10+ on paper towels every shopping trip.

















4. Napkins





Like paper towels, napkins are always wrapped in plastic and pose the same environmental problems during production. Yes, they are compostable, but is throwing a cloth napkin in the washing machine that much more difficult than throwing a paper napkin in the trash?













5. Soap





For a society that fears germs, it's amazing how we find it acceptable to destroy ecosystems with our filth. This filth includes chemicals that wash down our drains and enter waterways, killing wildlife along the way. Something that has that kind of effect on wildlife is not something I want in my home, let alone touching my body. This is why I choose to use plastic-free bar soap that contains safe, biodegradable ingredients.













6. Dish-Washing Detergent





At this point, you may be beginning to realize just how much plastic enters your kitchen alone. But, to me, it's about more than that. I want to make sure that any plastic-free product I purchase also contains safe ingredients for my family. I recently switched to Ecover Dishwasher Powder and couldn't be more satisfied! It works just as well as conventional brands and is made with plant-based ingredients, is vegan, comes in a cardboard box, and is made in a sustainable factory.

















7. All-Purpose Cleaner





Household cleaning products are some of the most toxic solutions around. The American Lung Association says that they can "irritate the eyes or throat, or cause headaches and other health problems, including cancer". So while they are irradicating germs, they are also harming your health. This is why I switched to a natural, all-purpose cleaner - vinegar. I use a 1:1 ratio of vinegar and water in a spray bottle to clean my entire home. I promise the vinegar smell dissipates quickly, unlike 409!





I understand that it's not technically zero waste, but 1 gallon of white vinegar can make 8 - 32 oz spray bottles worth of cleaning solution.

















8. Sandwich Baggies





Guess what? Plastic baggies are reusable! We just don't see them that way. If you are trying to use up all of your Ziploc bags before switching over to the reusable silicone alternatives, slow your roll. Once they are in tatters from overuse, then I highly recommend the silicone bags. They are dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe, and they can even be boiled!

















9. Food Storage





If you are in a pinch, putting a bowl over a plate of leftovers is a great idea. Sometimes it's nice to have proper food storage, though. I use to have a drawer full of cheap plastic Rubbermaid containers that cracked easily and couldn't be stored anywhere but the pantry or fridge. When I eventually upgraded, I bought glass food storage jars. These can be placed in the fridge, freezer, microwave, or pantry!

















10. Foil





I love to bake cookies, pizza, and veggies as much as the next foodie. I used to go through rolls of foil to capture grease and oil until I found these reusable silicone baking mats. And because they are made of silicone they can also be placed in the freezer. I usually freeze veggies and fruits by spreading them out on my silicone mats, then transferring them to my silicone bags for storage.













11. Plastic Wrap





I have never understood the appeal of plastic wrap. Growing up, I always preferred foil over plastic wrap. It just never clung to bowls and plates the same way. It was so frustrating. Anyway, I was happy to discover that there was a product that could effectively cling to dishes and preserve food. And that product is a plant-based food wrap, made with cotton and soy wax.

















12. Cupcake Liners





While cupcake liners are compostable, many of them come in plastic packaging and we like to avoid that at all costs here. This is why I recommend reusable silicone cupcake liners instead. They come in all sorts of colors and designs and just need to be thrown in the dishwasher after use.













13. Water Bottle





Plastic water bottle companies generally pull water right out of the tap and sell it at ridiculous prices to the public. And some tap systems are pulling water from natural springs, causing them to dry up and destroy local ecosystems. What's worse is that this "natural spring water" is sold primarily in BPA lined plastic bottles, which have been shown to disrupt our endocrine systems and present serious health issues. Switching to a reusable water bottle is a no-brainer.













14. Water Filter





For the select few populations in the United States that should be concerned with the water quality of their tap, there are better alternatives to filtering water than a Brita. A great alternative is charcoal sticks, which can be dropped directly into a pitcher to safely and naturally remove metals and toxins from drinking water. Another option is a Berkey filtration system , which requires fewer filter changes than a Brita.

















15. Tea Infuser





Tea bags are generally lined with plastic. And because of this, plastic fragments tend to make it into your drink. This is why I switched to loose leaf tea and a reusable tea infuser. Also, loose leaf tea has undergone less processing and generally has fuller flavors.





















16. Coffee Cups





Visiting Starbucks was one of my favorite treats during the week; peppermint mocha frappuccinos being my go-to choice. But with coffee consumption on the rise and little corporate motivation to create sustainable to-go cups, it's up to us to make a difference. Now I bring my own coffee tumbler to coffee shops and they gladly fill it up and generally give me a little discount, too!













17. Coffee Filter





If you aren't using a french press, it might be time to make the switch! They are super convenient, don't need power, and produce coffee faster than conventional coffee makers. If you aren't ready to make the change, I recommend a reusable coffee filter. Just compost your coffee grounds and rinse the filter out after use.

















18. Milk Cartons





Milk cartons are wasteful and unnecessary, especially if you have some nuts or oats sitting around in your pantry. Simply blend your nuts or oats with water and then strain it through cheesecloth or a nut milk bag. Who needs unhealthy, unsustainable, and unethical cows milk?

















19. Straws





I'm so proud of the recent efforts to rid the world of plastic straws. Honestly, I have a hard time seeing the need for straws, except in the medical world. If straws are important to you, perhaps consider switching to glass, metal, or wooden alternatives.

















20. Produce Bags





Plastic bags are so lightweight that they tend to make their way out of landfills and into the environment. They are often mistaken as food to wild animals, filling their stomachs up, leaving no room for actual food. This leads to starvation and often death.





Many states require customers to bring their own reusable shopping bags these days. I keep my reusable produce bags with my shopping bags, that way I never forget them. It's one of the easiest transitions I ever made.

















21. Shopping Bags





Reusable shopping bags are so much more sturdy than the plastic bags they hand out at grocery and department stores. You can generally fit a lot more in them, which is a win in my book (making one trip between the car and home is always the goal). I always have a reusable shopping bag on hand everywhere I go and find that they come in handy more often than I ever could have imagined.

















22. Paper Plates





Paper plates always come wrapped in plastic and are often lined with plastic, too. So always make sure that they are made entirely of paper before composting them. Also, it takes 8 gallons of water to produce just one paper plate! To put that in perspective, energy-efficient dishwashers only use 6 gallons of water per cycle. Time to bring out the reusable dishes!

















23. Disposable Utensils





Single-use utensils don't have to be single-use. Again, it's all about mind-set. This day and age we have become obsessed with disposable products for their convenience. But is it really convenient to have to drive to the store to purchase something you already have sitting in your kitchen drawers?

















24. Waste Bin





Many waste management companies request that you place your garbage in a trash bag to ensure that it doesn't fly out of dump trucks or landfills and litter the planet. So I suggest switching to a compostable trash bag instead of a plastic one. While it is very difficult for organic products to break down in landfills, I think it is a step in the right direction. Besides, as you continue to refine your waste output, you will contribute less and less to the landfill anyway.













25. Food Waste





Any food or organic waste that makes it into the landfill will have a difficult time breaking down. Instead of turning into compost, organic waste rots and emits harmful methane gas into the atmosphere. Separating your organic waste from recycling and trash allows it to naturally break down. I personally place all of my food scraps into a pail that I keep in my freezer (slows decomposition, aka no smell). I am lucky to live in a city that provides organic waste bins. If this is not an option for you, many farmers at local farmer's markets accept your food scraps. You could also try your hand at home composting .













What other Zero Waste Kitchen Swaps have you made? Feel free to share in the comments below!

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