How to Avoid Plastic in Your Kitchen

Plastic is everywhere, especially when it comes to how we store, package, and consume food and beverages. Reducing plastic use not only helps the environment but can also protect your health from chemicals often found in plastic.

Whether you’re trying to reduce your environmental footprint or just live a cleaner lifestyle, there are plenty of simple changes you can make.

Why Avoid Plastic?

We’re hearing a lot these days about how plastic leeches chemicals into foods and beverages that may be bad for our health. There are other reasons to avoid buying plastic.

For example, even if every bottled water gets recycled, the amount of energy used in that recycling is huge, as is the energy used in manufacturing the bottles and transporting them.

Additionally, plastic is a petroleum product, and consumption of it helps drive up oil costs. Below are tips on how to use less plastic around your food and beverages.

Remember: you don’t have to do it all. It’s not a pass/fail kind of thing. Just do what you can.

Stop Buying Bottled Water

Get a reusable water bottle instead. There are plenty of glass and steel portable bottles to choose from. Or get a BPA-free plastic bottle – at least you’ll use it many, many times before it ends up in the landfill.

You may not like your tap water even if you know it’s perfectly safe in your area. A simple filtering pitcher will remove all sorts of unpleasant tastes, chemicals and minerals.

And as for safety, bottled water is not safer than tap. Both have to meet similar regulations in the US. And some bottled water is just tap water.

I had one Pur Pitcher for about 15 years, and now I’m on my second, and they’ve been great. The filters are affordable and last anywhere from 3-8 months, depending how much chlorination or hard minerals are in your tap water. If you have a refrigerator that dispenses water, that’s also also filtered.

(And if you’re also struggling to drink more plain water and break the soda habit, try infused water to help you make the transition.)

Choose Glass or Stainless Steel Food Containers

Plastic food containers may leach chemicals, especially when heated. By switching to glass or stainless steel containers, you’ll reduce plastic exposure and waste.

Replace plastic food storage containers. At home, use glass storage dishes for leftovers and wax paper where you would normally use a Ziploc. You’ll find glass dishes are actually easier to clean than plastic. And they don’t retain the smells of certain foods the way plastic dishes can.

Use wax paper for sandwiches. You can make a “baggie” out of wax paper by stapling the edges together and folding the top over with a reusable clip.

Stainless steel containers are great for on-the-go meals like salads and sandwiches.

For bulk storage, opt for mason jars or other glass jars for pantry staples. Clean out your glass condiment jars, and you’ll quickly have all the glass containers you need!

Stop buying single-serving yogurts & puddings. Buy large tubs of yogurt and carry single servings to work or school in a reusable cup. You can get a lightweight one made from food-grade plastic.

Wrap Food with Sustainable Alternatives

Plastic cling wrap is used widely in kitchens, but there are more sustainable (and reusable) options available.

Switch to beeswax wraps. These wraps mold around your food or containers like plastic wrap but can be washed and reused many times.
Use silicone stretch lids to cover bowls and dishes without the need for plastic wrap.
For storing dry snacks or sandwiches, use cloth snack bags or paper bags.

Buy in Bulk and Avoid Plastic Packaging

Food often comes packaged in layers of unnecessary plastic. Buying in bulk and avoiding plastic packaging is a great way to cut down on this waste.

Bring your own cloth or mesh produce bags when shopping for fruits and vegetables.
Purchase dry goods like rice, pasta, and nuts in bulk bins where you can bring your own containers.
When possible, choose products that come in cardboard, paper, or glass packaging instead of plastic.

Bring Your Own Cup and Straw

Many coffee shops and restaurants still rely on plastic cups, lids, and straws. You can reduce plastic waste significantly by bringing your own.

Carry a reusable coffee cup. Many cafes offer discounts for bringing your own cup.
Invest in a stainless steel or silicone straw if you enjoy drinking beverages with straws. Some reusable straws even come in portable cases.
When ordering to-go, ask for no straw or lid if you don’t have your own cup or straw.

Remember when I said just do what you can? This is a good example. If you buy coffee out 5 days a week, this is totally worth doing. If you only buy it rarely, then it’s not worth stressing over.