Ultimate Guide: Waste Reduction in the Kitchen

An easy way to get started on your waste-free journey is to simply buy eco-friendly or zero-waste alternatives to everyday items once they’ve run out or need replacing. There are loads of products out there and to make it all a bit easier, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide of 15 of the best waste-free kitchen alternatives to get you started. 

Investing in reusable products may seem like a big spend outright, but they will save you money in the long run. The smoothest way to transition to zero-waste alternatives is just to use up what you already have and replace it as it runs out or gets tatty. If you want to buy everything at once, that’s great, but you might as well use your plastic dish brush until the bristles are totally shot rather than chuck out a perfectly usable product. 

Fully transitioning to all of these waste-free alternatives takes time, do what you can every day and what makes the most sense for you, and you’ll be there in no time! This guide isn’t meant to be a daunting shopping list, it’s designed to break down the waste-free lifestyle into small, easy, and manageable changes you make today.

Heres our list of simple and convenient alternatives that don’t take a lot of effort to make the switch. 

1. PAPER TOWELS < REUSABLE CLOTHS

Getting some good quality cleaning cloths will make paper towels completely redundant and will save you money in the long run! These SPRUCE cloths can be machine washed over and over again and best of all, can be thrown in the compost bin when they get old. Or you could always knit your own cotton bench cloths!

2. PLASTIC COOKING UTENSILS < WOODEN OR METAL UTENSILS 

As your plastic ladles, spatulas, and measuring cups kark it, replace them with more durable utensils made out of eco-friendly materials such as wood or stainless steel. You can find them almost anywhere – they may cost a bit more than the plastic alternative, but they should be much more durable.

3. PLASTIC DISH BRUSH < BAMBOO DISH BRUSH 

Most bamboo scrubbing brushes (like this nil one) have replaceable heads that can be home composted when they get tatty, and the handle can continue to be used. There are lots of bamboo vegetable brush options out there too, like this nil brush.

4. PLASTIC FOOD WRAP < REUSABLE BEESWAX WRAPS 

Beeswax food wraps can be used again and again and home composted when they get old. Just give them a wipe with a clean cloth and cold (definitely not hot) water to clean