When the Daily Mail launched its Banish The Bags campaign in February 2008, it was easy to believe the steadily rising tide of plastic presented an insurmountable problem.
But in the past ten years, the impact of that campaign has been astounding: for most of us, taking our own bags to do the food shopping, rather than relying on plastic ones at the supermarket, is now second nature — and our consumption of plastic bags in the UK has gone down by a staggering 85 per cent.
It really does prove that every small step helps.
All this week, we are serialising a brilliant new book, Life Without Plastic by husband-and-wife team Chantal Plamondon and Jay Sinha.
The couple has dedicated the past 15 years to finding ingenious ways to cut back on plastic and become much savvier when it comes to recycling.
In yesterday’s article, they showed us clever ways to say no to plastic when we are out and about. Today, the focus is on blitzing our kitchens.
For most of us, the kitchen is not only the heart of our homes but also the hub of our single-use plastic consumption. From the handy shelf filled with rolls of sandwich and freezer bags, cling film and bin bags to the drawer packed with plastic spatulas and spoons, the cupboard full of storage containers, and the numerous plastic bottles of cleaning products and fluids stashed under the sink, plastic seems inescapable — and indispensable.
Every piece of kitchen plastic, it seems, performs a thoroughly useful function. And no matter how well-intentioned you are, it might seem impossible to consider cutting back.
But in fact your kitchen is one of the easiest rooms to attack first — and it really needn’t take huge amounts of time, effort or expense. There’s no need for a radical overhaul.
In just a few minutes, you can make some simple changes to radically reduce your plastic impact. Here’s how…
SWAP: CLING FILM FOR BEESWAX WRAPS
Cling film is one single-use plastic that’s particularly difficult to recycle, and one everyone can learn to live without.
CLEVER USES FOR THAT STASH OF PLASTIC BAGS
Aim to cut back on plastic food storage bags to the point where you are so good at repurposing packaging you never again need to buy a roll of new bags.
This is a simple, speedy way to cut back on plastic consumption. Even if you always say no to plastic bags at checkouts and avoid as much packaging as possible, you will still find plenty of them making their way into your home.
Here are some ideas to help you put each one to good use, and tips on how to recycle them, too . . .
- Reuse the plastic bag in your box of cereal or wrapped around your loaf of bread to hold your children’s sandwiches.
- Extend the life of any bag by washing it in warm, soapy water between uses and letting it drip-dry on your draining board. A specially designed bag dryer might help — try the Kira bag drying rack (£34.72, etsy.com).
- Plastic carrier bags nearing the end of their life can be used to line small household bins. Check with your local authority, but in most cases, you don’t need to use big, black bin bags inside your wheelie bin — small recycled shopping bags will do.
- If your kerbside recycling system can’t take plastic carrier bags or flimsy plastic wrapping, drop them off at your nearest big supermarket the next time you’re passing — Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, the Co-op and Waitrose all have collection points at their larger stores.
More than 1.2 billion metres are used by households across Britain every year. That’s 745,000 miles of cling film — enough to wrap around the world 30 times over.
So the first step is simply being aware of, and cutting back on, how much you use.
If you must use it, do so sparingly — never put it in the microwave and don’t let it touch your food.
Instead, try wrapping foods you need to take out the house with you — such as your children’s lunch sandwiches — in baking parchment to keep them fresh and make every effort to repurpose takeaway pots.
If you can’t break your cling film habit, at the very least opt for Bacofoil’s biodegradable cling film, available from Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. It’s slightly more expensive at £2.20 for 40m, but breaks down within two years, as opposed to the many decades it takes normal cling film to fully decompose.
Cutting back on cling film is also an opportunity to introduce a pretty, retro style to your kitchen. A lace cotton cover, popular in the post-war years, can be placed over the top of jugs containing sauces or over ceramic bowls to keep baked goods fresh. Or you could try cotton bowl covers.
Patterned beeswax food wraps are a great alternative to plastic cling film. They are made of cotton or hemp fabric dipped in a blend of beeswax and natural essential oils. They smell like honey and can be moulded to the shape of a bowl with just the heat of your fingers to keep it airtight.
Try Eddington Bee’s Wrap Honeycomb Reusable Sandwich Wrap (£15, john lewis.com), which is fully biodegradable and compostable, or BeeBee Wraps Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps, which protect food while letting it breathe (£14, anythingbutplastic.co.uk).
Keep a few handy to cover leftover bowls, salads, a half-cut melon, bread or cheese. Wipe them clean with a damp soapy cloth or wash them with soap and cold water (hot water causes the beeswax to melt) and then reuse them. Each wrap should last for a year or so.
SWAP: PLASTIC UTENSILS FOR WOODEN ONES
You don’t have to go to the lengths of discarding (or recycling) plastic kitchen equipment, but it is good to be aware of just how much multi-use plastic you have in your kitchen and to think about alternative materials when you do come to replace them.
The less plastic you buy new, the lower the demand for new plastics, meaning retailers will order less.
Plus, you can be confident that there’s no risk of plastic residues leaching into food as your plastic food mixer, blender or mixing bowls become tired and worn.
Patterned beeswax food wraps, pictured, are a great alternative to plastic cling film and can be moulded to the shape of a bowl with just the heat of your fingers
Plastic kitchen utensils have taken over most of the aisles of kitchen stores and you are very likely to have a drawer full of plastic implements, from your potato peeler to your spatula, serving spoons or sieves. As part of your plastic audit, it is worth putting any utensils that are damaged into the recycling, or giving away any that you don’t need.
Then, when it’s time to replace them, opt for vintage-look metal, glass or ceramic versions if you can. There are also excellent wood, bamboo, or stainless steel options available, from salad tongs to stirring spoons. Spatulas used for scraping-out mixing bowls are more challenging to find in non-plastic versions, but with a little hunting, you should be able to find a wood-handled spatula with a removable rubber head.
SWAP: PLASTIC PEGS FOR WOODEN ONES
Opt for wooden clothes pegs — they’re quaint, retro and even cheaper than plastic ones. John Lewis sells a pack of 24 pine pegs for £2.20 (johnlewis.com).
SWAP: SILICONE FOR METAL BAKEWARE
Watch out for silicone. In recent years it has invaded the kitchen billed as a healthy, plastic-free alternative, but this is misleading.
Although silicone is stable and resistant to temperature extremes, it is not a naturally occurring product, does not degrade easily and is not easily recycled.
In fact, silicone is non-plastic in name only.
There is no need to cull your baking cupboard, but you should stop using silicone cake and muffin tins when yours come to the end of their lives. Revert to old-fashioned metal ones instead.
SWAP: PLASTIC FOR WOODEN BOARDS
You might love your plastic chopping boards but be warned: the scuffing action of years of cutting (and washing) will damage the plastic and increase the risk of toxic chemicals leaching out of the plastic and into your food.
Recycle any that look damaged and tired and invest in wooden chopping boards instead. Wooden boards can be effectively cleaned with soapy water.
A 1993 study even concluded that hardwood cutting boards could be more sanitary than their plastic counterparts.
Researchers dowsed different boards with a bacterial broth containing E. coli and salmonella and found that bacteria multiplied over time in the plastic (polypropylene) cutting boards, but would eventually disappear in the wooden ones.
SWAP: AN ELECTRIC FOR STOVETOP KETTLE
If you’ve got a plastic electric kettle, don’t consider trading it in until it’s really time to replace it.
When that day comes, investigate metal electric styles or stainless steel stovetop kettles, such as John Lewis’s classic design (£40 johnlewis.com), or a whistling stovetop kettle (£49.99, lakeland.co.uk).
If you don’t have a gas stove, it can be challenging to find a completely plastic-free electric kettle. Try the stainless steel Ottoni Fabrica Italian Top Kettle (£84.90, amazon.co.uk).
It’s a worthwhile swap, and not just because you’ll be reducing your plastic use. If your kettle has plastic parts that are in direct contact with the boiling water — such as the window which allows you to see how full your kettle is — chemicals from the plastic could contaminate your water.
The potential for toxic chemicals to leach from plastics is substantially increased when boiling water is involved.
Your kettle is going to be boiling water multiple times a day, and if that boiling action is damaging the plastic, it could be putting you at risk of drinking plastic toxins in your tea or coffee.
FIVE OF THE BEST: STOVETOP KETTLES
Orange, £80, lecreuset.co.uk and Blue, £19.99, amazon.co.uk
Never store your food in plastic – use these instead
Glass is the most readily available and inexpensive way to store your food, particularly if you wash and reuse jam and sauce jars
If you have a cupboard full of plastic storage containers, don’t feel guilty — and definitely don’t just throw them all away. Instead, conduct a proper plastic audit.
Consign any that are old and scratched, or that have been through the dishwasher numerous times, to recycling.
Stop using the containers for food as soon as they become scuffed, scratched, sticky or cloudy (this could indicate toxic chemicals are leaking) and repurpose them for non-food storage. And don’t use them to reheat or defrost frozen food in the microwave — use a microwaveable plate instead.
Even if all your storage is plastic, take solace in the fact that repeatedly reusing it is an environmental plus.
If you are serious about cutting back on your plastic imprint, make a pact not to buy any more. Get clever about repurposing butter tubs, takeaway food containers or old biscuit selection tins, and explore the huge variety of non-plastic alternatives…
GLASS
Consider glass your new food-storage ideal. This is the most readily available and inexpensive way to store your food, particularly if you wash and reuse jam and sauce jars.
Glass containers are a marvellous way to store leftovers. Many can be used safely in the microwave (after removing the lid), but make sure you let the glass warm to room temperature first to prevent the risk of it cracking in the heat.
Glass jars are great for freezing, too, as long as you leave about 20 per cent of the space empty to allow the food to expand.
Lakeland sells three 1 l Kilner jars for £10.40, and six 490ml Mason jam jars for £15.99 (both lakeland.co.uk).
If you are concerned about the effects of plastic possibly leaching into food, it is worth noting that many jar lids are made of plastic or coated with a plastic lining, so it’s a good idea to avoid filling your jars to the point where food is in contact with the lid. And when shopping for new jars, aim to find ones with rubber rather than plastic seals.
STAINLESS STEEL
STAINLESS steel food containers are practically unbreakable, repairable and safe. And with the addition of a little silicone in the grooves of their lids, they can be made airtight.
Stainless steel food containers are practically unbreakable, repairable and safe and is good for storing bread and pastries as well as tea and coffee
Metal containers with an airtight lid work well in the freezer, and a big plus is that food can be defrosted in the container directly on the stove over a low heat.
When shopping, look for high quality, food-grade stainless steel, which contains nickel to prevent rusting. Stainless steel is good for storing bread and pastries, too, as well as tea and coffee. Try a stainless steel tea, coffee and sugar canister trio from John Lewis (£12.50, johnlewis.com).
Airtight food containers can also be used in the fridge for storing salad and vegetables — simply add a little moisture to the bottom of the box or wrap the greens in a damp cotton towel to prevent them from drying out.
TIN
As wet food can make tin containers start to rust, you should use these only as a storage option for dry food.
They are also not an option for long-term storage because they are rarely airtight — contact with air could make your flour or grains go rancid more quickly — use them for food you plan on consuming in the coming month or so.
FABRIC
CLOTH bags are much more versatile than you might think. They are useful for storing baked goods and will keep biscuits crunchy when a completely airtight container might leave them too moist and sticky.
Put the baked goods in the fabric bag for a few days, then transfer them to an airtight container to keep them from drying out too much.
Sugar, salt and dried beans can also be stored in fabric bags in a very dry cupboard for up to a month.
It is worth investing in a few cotton mesh bags — these reduce your reliance on plastic when shopping and double up as salad spinners. Simply step outside and swing the bag around a few times so the water is forced out. Pop them in the washing machine every week or so to keep them free from bacteria.
Leafy greens can be stored in a cloth bag with a slightly tighter weave. Dampen it first to help the contents stay fresh and crisp.
FIVE OF THE BEST: STORAGE JARS
Geometric, £27, connox.co.uk and Yellow, £39.95, skandium.com
Horrors lurking under your sink
Kitchen cleaning products such as washing-up liquid, floor cleaner, bleach and polish can really add to your plastic inventory
Kitchen cleaning products such as washing-up liquid, floor cleaner, bleach and polish can really add to your plastic inventory. But you can easily cut your plastic impact here by making a few simple changes…
SUPERSIZE YOUR SPRAYS AND BOTTLES
Buy cleaning products in bulk in the largest sizes you possibly can and decant them into your existing plastic containers.
Every time you refill a bottle you’re saving plastic and transforming your original container from single-use to multi-use.
For instance, you can keep 5 l of washing-up liquid in your garden shed and slowly decant it into one plastic 500ml squeezy container.
By reusing the same small container you save eight bottles. Double or even triple that impact if your small bottle lasts long enough.
Ecover, the world’s largest producer of ecological detergents, allows customers to refill their household cleaners and washing-up liquids at many natural food stores across the country (see ecover.com). But it’s not the only eco range. The method offers refillable, eco-friendly products (methodproducts.co.uk).
Or give splosh.com a go. It delivers cleaning product refills in special pouches which you can send back to be refilled, creating zero waste.
Alternatively, at refillablepackaging.co.uk you can buy sachets of highly concentrated cleaning fluids that you drop into your existing bottles and dilute with water, for £1 per 750ml equivalent.
Try YOU kitchen, bathroom, or window cleaner (£2.99, ocado.com), which you can buy pod cleaner refills for, costing £1.99. Dilute the refills with 500ml water and reuse your original YOU spray bottle.
SWITCH YOUR SPONGE FOR AN E-CLOTH
Stop using single-use cloths or synthetic sponges. Go as natural as possible by using simple cotton cloths (cut up old sheets or clothing works fine) which can be cleaned in the washing machine and bleached if necessary. Super-absorbant chemical-free e-cloths are available at most supermarkets for around £3 for two.
DITCH DISHWASHER TABLETS
The ultimate in dishwasher convenience is the individually wrapped tablet of detergent.
Break your plastic habit by switching to unwrapped tablets (where the detergent is in a self-dissolving rather than plastic casing) such as Finish All-In-1 Max tablets (£8 for 31, ocado.com).
These pods are made from a non-toxic synthetic polymer that dissolves in water, breaking down into carbon dioxide and water. It’s better if you can find a brand which comes in a cardboard box rather than a large plastic pouch or container, or ideally go back to using plain old dishwasher powder instead.
Look for brands, such as Sainsbury’s dishwasher powder (£3 for 1kg, sainsburys.co.uk) which come in a box rather than a plastic bottle.
In fact, a good general rule when it comes to cleaning detergent is that solids tend to be more readily available in plastic-free packaging than liquids. Liquids, unlike powdered solids, cannot be packaged in compostable materials like paper.
When doing your laundry, buy the biggest cardboard box of simple washing powder you can find — no plastic necessary. And remember: you remove the need for fabric conditioner if you use a two-in-one brand.
Adapted by Louise Atkinson from Life Without Plastic: The Practical Step-By-Step Guide To Avoiding Plastic To Keep Your Family And The Planet Healthy by Chantal Plamondon and Jay Sinha, published by Page Street Publishing at £13.99 © Chantal Plamondon and Jay Sinha 2018.