The conscious kitchen movement is gaining traction due to increasing awareness of the sustainability movement and the impact of climate change. People are looking for alternatives to their practices to ensure sustainable living, and this concept provides an avenue to reduce their carbon footprint, stay healthy and cut costs.
A conscious kitchen promotes innovation, resourcefulness and a cleaner lifestyle by tweaking daily habits that could harm health and the environment. Here are some tips for converting your kitchen to a conscious one.
1. Source Sustainable Ingredients
Sustainable ingredients are one of the most important aspects of a conscious kitchen. Maximize their value by researching what they are and how to find them.
Look for locally sourced ingredients — these are usually cheaper as they don’t have to be transported and have a lower carbon footprint. Look for seasonal foods whenever possible because sourcing something not in season is counterproductive to your sustainability efforts and would cost you more.
Study your neighborhood’s grocery landscape and choose shops with sustainable practices, organic products and zero-waste packaging options. These are becoming more popular as awareness of food sustainability increases. You could also join a co-op and seek farms that focus on eco-friendly growing methods. About 38% of food co-ops’ annual sales come from certified organic products.
2. Practise Zero-Waste Cooking
Your kitchen should produce minimal waste wherever possible. Every part of food has a use — you just have to find it. For example, discarded apple peels can be added to pastries and herbs can be converted into infused oils. You could even recycle things outside the kitchen, like grinding eggshells into a fine powder and sprinkling them on plants to make them healthier.
Speaking of healthier plants, compost wet kitchen garbage and add it to the soil instead of throwing it away. This helps reduce landfill waste.
You could also try preserving methods like fermenting, drying and pickling. Preserving seasonal fruits and veggies can extend their shelf lives and help you reduce the cost of buying them during the off-season.
3. Switch to Eco-Friendly Packaging and Storage
In 2022, nearly 2 billion plastic packages were discarded from U.K. households weekly, 83% of which were food and drink packaging. Reducing plastic bags and storage can help improve your kitchen’s eco-friendliness and reduce costs.
Switch to sustainable bag materials like fabric, mesh and jute. This doesn’t mean you must throw away all your plastic bags since this would generate more waste. Reuse the existing ones and discard them responsibly when the time comes.
Store items in steel containers or glass bottles. These last longer than plastic ones, look aesthetically pleasing and reduce the amount of plastic in your kitchen.
4. Grow Your Own Herb Garden
Having your own herb garden can cut back on plastic packaging, reduce your carbon footprint, provide fresh herbs whenever you need them and cut costs.
Some sustainable ways to do this are:
- Choose the right herbs: Look for the herbs you frequently use that grow in your climate.
- Go for eco-friendly fertilisers: Avoid toxic fertilisers that could harm the environment.
- Get eco-friendly pots: These pots are more durable than plastics and recyclable.
You could start small on your windowsill, planting seeds in old containers. Remember to ensure ample sunlight.
5. Meal Prep
In 2021/2022, 6.4 million tonnes of food and drink were discarded as waste by U.K. households, equivalent to 95 kilograms per person annually. Planning meals can combat this issue by reducing garbage and improving individual carbon footprint.
Planning and prepping your meals ahead of time decreases the need to run to the grocery store every day you cook. Start by creating a menu for the week so your grocery shopping list would only consist of what you need, allowing you to save money and reduce waste. Also opt to buy in bulk, as this would reduce plastic packaging.
6. Opt for Eco-Friendly and Energy-Efficient Appliances
Cookware plays a vital part in a kitchen’s sustainability. Many households have various types of pots and pans, such as Teflon and nonstick. However, these products contain chemicals that are harmful to humans and can end up in food. Instead of these materials, use stainless steel, cast iron or ceramic nonstick to ensure healthy and sustainable cooking practices.
In addition, switch your old kitchen appliances to energy-efficient ones. They are rated from A to G, with G being the least eco-friendly. Upgrade to a higher rating and reduce your carbon footprint and electricity consumption. For example, an A-rated refrigerator and freezer can help you save £360 over its lifetime compared to an E-rated one.
7. Use Green Cleaning Products
Cleaning products could harm your health and the environment, however efficient they are. Many contain chemicals that could cause pollution and affect water quality.
Green cleaning products can reduce these risks and make your kitchen more conscious and sustainable. Read labels, but be wary of greenwashing claims that could mislead and deter your sustainability efforts.
In addition, reduce your plastic consumption by buying your products in bulk and as refills using zero-waste packaging.
Empower a Greener Future With a Conscious Kitchen
No matter how small, your sustainability efforts will impact the health and lifestyle of future generations. Choose now to practice a conscious kitchen and play your part in safeguarding the prospect of a greener Earth for tomorrow.
