Tips for Making an Eco-Friendly Kitchen
The effects of climate change are being felt across the globe, and the actions that we take today will have a huge impact on the planet that we leave for future generations. Thankfully, more and more people are becoming aware of the need to be more eco-friendly, and there’s no better place to start than in our own home. Kitchens are the most productive area of our property, and they’re also the place where we can make the most positive impact to the environment, so here are four simple tips that will help you create a more eco-friendly kitchen.
Use a Refillable Water Bottle
One of the biggest threats to our planet today comes from one particular product: plastic. Plastic pollution is being found in our seas, on our land and beaches, and it’s not only turning our beautiful landscapes into something altogether ugly, it’s also a huge danger to marine and avian life. That’s why we should all do everything we can to cut down on the amount of single use plastic that we use, and a great way to do this is to buy and use a refillable water bottle. Americans currently purchase a staggering 50 billion plastic bottles of water each year, most of which ends up in landfill or at sea, but using a refillable bottle means you can use tap water and drastically cut down the amount of plastic that you use.
Recycle as Much as Possible
Carbon emissions are one of the causes of greenhouse gases that are a major contributor in manmade climate change, and its effects can be seen in the increasing severity of worldwide floods and droughts. We all need to reduce our carbon footprint, and a great, yet simple, way to do this is to recycle as much as we possibly can. Food waste from the kitchen can be used for composting, and try to only buy what you really need rather than throwing away excess purchases. Look up your local recycling center and find out exactly what you can and can’t recycle; you could be surprised at the things that can be recycled, including aluminum foil.
Buy Sustainably Sourced Products
We want our kitchens to look neat and tidy, and the food we serve up from them to be just as alluring, which is why high-quality serving trays are always a popular choice, especially when they’re made out of a beautiful hardwood such as walnut. It’s important, however, to ensure that the wooden products we use have been made from sustainable sources. Wood serving trays with handles from Virginia Boys Kitchen are a perfect choice, as all the wood used is first classification sustainably sourced, meaning that trees are planted to replace ones that are used in the manufacturing process. They’re made here in the United States too, which ensures that your carbon footprint isn’t increased by worldwide transport of your tray.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
Keeping our kitchen surfaces, utensils and crockery clean is vitally important, of course, but our choice of cleaning product is just as important. Remember, the cleaning product you use will end up going down the plug hole and eventually into our sources of water, so try to find products that are as green as possible, and free from chemicals that can be harmful to our planet and life upon it. Look for brands that are known for their eco credentials, or labels that say ‘environmentally friendly’ upon them.
Going green doesn’t have to cost the earth, but it can help to save it. Using sustainably sourced wood and greener cleaning products can make a big difference. When you also recycle everything you can, and cut down or eliminate the purchase of single use plastics, you can have a much more eco-friendly kitchen. Start your green kitchen journey today, and don’t forget to encourage your family and friends to do the same.
