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I’m an enthusiastic proponent of the concept we may fortunately do with no lot of stuff within the title of residing an eco-friendly life, however after all, we do nonetheless want some issues.
Being inexperienced doesn’t imply martyring your self by struggling with out these requirements. I wouldn’t anticipate you to surrender the fundamentals like clothes, meals, and shelter — and even the seemingly infinite trivialities of random objects that so many people take without any consideration like pens, tweezers, mirrors, flashlights, and smartphones.
For these objects we will’t reside with out, there are sometimes methods we will enhance how we acquire, deal with, and dispose of those requirements. There is sort of at all times a greener choice simply across the nook.
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A Recipe for Waste Reduction
Kitchens are sometimes the residing hub of the family. Here, we collect with our households and eat the meals that retains us alive. But kitchens can even produce numerous waste. Put a lid on kitchen waste with these three inexperienced family merchandise to interchange not-so-green widespread kitchen requirements.
1. Reusable Produce Bags
We all know that plastic bags are a problem. And extra of us are bringing our personal reusable shopping bags to the grocery retailer to cart our purchases residence — nice job! But are you continue to utilizing these useful plastic baggage which are out there within the produce and bulk meals sections of your native grocer’s?
If you haven’t switched to reusable mesh baggage for transporting your produce residence, strive Colony Co. reusable produce bags. Unlike many different reusable produce baggage, they’re made from unbleached cotton and are biodegradable at their finish of life. Each bag has the tare weight famous on brightly coloured labels — simple for you and for the cashier!
Now, what for those who’re having bother maintaining your produce recent when you get it within the fridge? The Vejibag reusable vegetable preservation bag is greater than only a reusable bag for transporting your veggies residence from the shop. Wet it, and it retains your greens crisp, your carrots crunchy, and your herbs perky for longer than they ever would in a plastic bag.
2. Natural Dish Scrubbers
Did your Grandma have a kind of cheerful nylon scrubbers at all times sitting fortunately inside its froggy holder on the facet of her sink, too? While easy nylon scrubbers have been a staple in lots of kitchens for years, eco-friendly options are able to take their place.
From easy options like scrubber sponges made with walnut shells or 100% coconut fiber scrub pads to bamboo dish brushes with natural bristles, the choices for plastic-free scrubbing are infinite. Such choices cut back the waste of petroleum-based plastic manufacturing, and as a consequence of their pure supplies, many of those choices may be composted after they put on out.
3. Beeswax Food Wrap
It may be robust to think about, however there was a time earlier than plastic wrap and disposable ziplock baggage — and there may be life afterward, too! Reusable glass containers are nice for leftovers, however when you should seal a bowl, wrap a slab of cheese, or preserve the tip of a lower cucumber recent, I really like to make use of a reusable beeswax wrap referred to as Abeego.
I found Abeego at a farmer’s market in Victoria, Canada, a couple of years in the past and it has been a staple in my (principally) plastic-free kitchen ever since. Natural cotton and hemp fibers infused with beeswax and tree resins create a versatile, pliable, reusable sheet you could mildew to securely wrap up leftovers, cowl an open container, or maintain a sandwich. Easy to wipe clear and compostable when it wears out after a 12 months or two, Abeego is a superb resolution for securing your meals and maintaining it recent.
But there are numerous choices on the market. We additionally suggest Etee natural beeswax wraps, and extra reusable food wraps are hitting the market every day.
Feature picture by Jean van der Meulen from Pexels. Originally printed on January 16, 2015, this text was up to date in November 2021.
