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7 Easy Steps to a Plastic-Free Kitchen

Our world is drowning in plastic—but there’s still hope.

If you feel overwhelmed by the growing sea of plastic waste, you’re not alone. But don’t despair: we’re going to give you 7 easy ways to take action by removing plastic from your own kitchen. 

“I want to do my part, but I don’t know where to start.” Ok, we get it: going plastic-free cold-turkey is pretty unrealistic. But—on the bright side—you can reduce plastic incrementally in your own life by making simple changes.  When you use less plastic, you’ll produce less toxic waste and—as a bonus—reduce your personal exposure to unhealthy chemicals. 

Starting in your own kitchen is another doable way to make a difference. Every single time you replace a plastic spatula with a reusable silicone spatula or swap a synthetic sponge for a sustainable scrubber, you’re protecting your food from toxins and keeping plastic out of the trash. 

Try these 7 Easy Steps to a Plastic-free Kitchen:
  1. 1.  Wash the dishes plastic-free.

It’s actually super easy to hand wash dishes without any plastic at all. We love this solid zero-waste dish soap bar that comes in a simple paper box. Hold it under a stream of water to form suds in the sink, or rub a scrub brush directly on it before cleaning pots and other tough jobs. Team it up with scrubbers made of peach pits, sponges made of walnuts, and brushes made of natural fibers and wood: you’ll soon be washing all of your dishes clean and green.


On the other hand, if you can’t part with your favorite dish soap, you can still cut back on plastic. Just dilute your soap to get more washes out of every bottle. Simply mix with  water in a 1:1 ratio, and put it into a pretty glass dispenser. This thinner solution cleans just as well as the concentrate, and you’ll bring home half as many plastic soap containers. 

  1. 2. Prep and cook with non-toxic tools. 

Plastic tools often can’t be recycled and toxins join the meal as unwanted ingredients when you use them. Instead, prep and cook with safe implements and containers. Scramble breakfast eggs with a non-toxic silicone or bamboo spatula that won’t release toxins under heat like a plastic tool. Microwave soup in a durable glass bowl instead of a plastic or melamine container and it will heat up with pure flavors instead of with a plasticy aftertaste and toxins. A cutting board made from sustainable bamboo is a safe and natural replacement for a synthetic cutting board that sheds plastic micro-fragments as you chop and slice. 


Birthday time? Let’s get baking! Set aside the plastic equipment and pull out safe mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons made of stainless steel. This durable material lasts for a lifetime without releasing unhealthy plastic chemicals or particles. It’s also perfect for occasional helpers like strainers and cookie cutters.


This wooden citrus reamer is one of my favorite simple ways to replace plastic juicers. It’s safe to use with citrus acids. The natural wood fits naturally in my hand and the patina grows richer the more I use it. -- Linda


3. Store it in safe containers & wrap.

There are so many plastic-free & sustainable food storage options that won’t turn into landfill trash or pollute your food.


Addicted to the zip bag habit? Whenever you’d pack pretzels, wrap sandwiches or marinate steaks in disposable plastic, switch to safe, sealable silicone storage bags and you’ll keep 1000s of baggies out of the landfill. These reusable Stasher storage bags come in handy sizes and go safely between freezer, microwave and fridge. We use them to pack up all sorts of food from veggie wraps to smoothie ingredients. They’re also a practical way to tote lip balm and protect a phone at the beach.


Cloth is an old-fashioned food storage method that really keeps veggies fresher than plastic produce bags.  Wrap lettuce and fresh herbs in damp tea towels (like our grandmothers used to do) or tuck them into the healthy humid atmosphere of a fabric bag. Vejibag is an organic terry cloth bag that gently encloses all sorts of produce—from rollaway tomatoes to bountiful greens—and keeps items fresh for up to 2 weeks. If you’re addicted to plastic wrap, try Bees Wrap. It’s a non-toxic beeswax infused cloth that’s perfect for folding up radishes, bread and sandwiches. It’s completely renewable and sustainable: after about a year of frequent use, your well-loved Bees Wrap can turn into eco-friendly kindling.


We like to use glass for lots of food storage because it’s safe to microwave and clearly reveals its contents.Try mixing up frozen orange juice or lemonade in old-fashioned canning jars with lids. Jars work fine for leftovers too, but we prefer the convenience of tempered glass containers with lids because they stack neatly and resist breaks. Refrigerate vegetable soup, store feta cheese or seal up dry pantry items like flour and peas in large glass containers, and save chopped herbs, salt or lunch-sized leftovers in smaller containers. 


4. Take it to go in reusables.
One of easiest ways to remove plastic from your kitchen is not bringing it home in the first place. Take it to-go with reusable tubs, flatware and tumblers.

Stainless steel food containers with silicone lids won’t break so they’re a great replacement for plastic when you’re on the go or feeding kids. Pack them up with take-along wraps, carrot sticks, and puffed snacks, or bring them empty to the restaurant to pack “doggie bag” leftovers. You can fill your own large stainless container at the food bar with mac-n-cheese or salad by the pound (subtract the tare weight that’s etched on the bottom). If you eat on the run, bring along a set of bamboo utensils and skip the disposable flatware.


On a morning coffee run? Ask the drive-through barista to pour hot to-go coffee into your insulated tumbler instead of taking a disposable cup and lid (most hot drink cups also come lined with toxic plastic and can’t be recycled). Time for an afternoon iced refresher? Just rinse your tumbler and switch out the sipping lid for a straw lid and reusable straw


Your efforts really do add up. If you start eating out plastic-free just one day a week, you’ll save a lot of plastic from the landfill in just one year: 52 take-out containers, 52 bags, 52 straws, 104 drink cups & lids and 156 pieces of flatware. Altogether that’s 520 items that won’t go to the dump or get swallowed by a leatherback sea turtle.


5. Set the table with reusable and/or compostable materials. 

Let’s be real: sometimes it makes sense to use single-use products for large gatherings or outdoor picnics. Paper plates are a more sustainable choice than plastic plates, but soiled paper plates can’t be recycled. We like to use compostable plates made from bamboo that can return to the soil after the party.


At home, avoid serving food on melamine plates and cups. They resist breakage, but are made from a chemical compound that leaches toxins when heated in a microwave or dishwasher. Instead, serve up quinoa salad, french fries and juice in sturdy tempered glass bowls, plates and glasses


6. Shop with less plastic. 

Skip the single-use plastic bags that seem so convenient at the store, but pile up later at home and turn into trash. Leave the house with reusable bags and you’ll naturally come home with fewer disposables.


The trick is making it easy to remember. We love these bright shopping bags that fold into a little “sockball” pouch. Lightweight mesh produce bags are also easy to grab when you go. 

Try Caroline’s trick: keep your reusable bags with your keys by the door so they’re easy to grab on the way out. Then stick them into your purse or pocket so they’re always with you when you’re on the town or at the store. 


At the store, you can avoid even more plastic by choosing loose fruits and whole fresh veggies whenever possible instead of pre-packaged salads and greens. Most bulk bin foods fit into reusable bags, too. When it’s time to check out, pull out your handy reusable shopping bags, unfold them from their pouches, and tuck all of your goodies inside for the trip home.


7. Most importantly, It’s OK to start small. You don’t need to get rid of every plastic item in your kitchen in one fell swoop. Give yourself the gift of taking on just one easy change at a time. Start by bringing your own reusable bags to the supermarket. Or ditch your beat-up plastic ladle for a new non-toxic ladle made of stainless steel. Still don’t know where to start? Remove the guesswork and join the MightyFix.

When you join the MightyFix, each month one healthy green change will be delivered to your door. Even the smallest change is a step in the right direction—and you’ll feel good knowing that you’re making a difference. Little changes add up. Before you know it, you’ll be dumping the plastic habit like last week’s recycling! 

P.S. If you want to give the MightyFix a try, use promo code DITCHPLASTIC and the first month will only be $3.