Plastic-Free in the Kitchen: Ideas to Try

By using less plastic, you help protect the environment and reduce the enormous amounts of packaging waste. We explain to you what options there are for keeping your kitchen plastic-free.

Plastic-free alternatives for the kitchen

Many conventional packaging and kitchen items are made of plastic. We will therefore show you some alternatives.

• When you buy vegetables, fruit, or other groceries, they are often wrapped in plastic. You can shop plastic-free by consciously paying attention to buying unpackaged products in supermarkets. But it is even easier to buy in bulk shops or from the weekly market, where you can fill your containers with food.
• There are also alternatives to using plastic bottles or cups. Numerous suppliers offer metal or glass products with which you can fill your drink. The same applies to plastic cans. Instead of transporting food in these, there are variants made of metal or glass.
• The plastic cling film that is often used in the kitchen can also be easily replaced. To wrap and cover food, you can use an oilcloth instead. These are natural and can even be reused multiple times. Silicone lids are also a versatile reusable alternative to cling film that can help you reduce your plastic waste.
• Plastic freezer bags can also be easily replaced with glasses or boxes.
• In addition to packaging and storage products, many kitchen appliances are also made of plastic. Plastic chopping boards, for example, can easily be replaced with versions made of glass or wood.

DIY ideas

You can easily make some of the alternatives to plastic products or products that would be wrapped in plastic in the supermarket. We explain what they are and how to do it.

• A universal cleaner for the kitchen can be easily replaced with a product that everyone in the kitchen has at hand anyway: vinegar. This has a lime-dissolving effect and kills bacteria. You can use it to clean surfaces or wipe out the fridge, for example. The resulting smell of vinegar will dissipate after a short time.
• You can also make the oilcloth yourself as an alternative to cling film. All you have to do is heat the wax and a piece of fabric in the oven at 90 degrees Celsius until the wax has completely melted, then spread it evenly and then allow it to cool.
• You can also easily make your washing-up liquid, which is usually packaged in plastic, with just three ingredients. You need 10g of grated curd soap, 4 teaspoons of baking soda, and half a liter of water. First, the water is heated, then the curd soap is dissolved in it. After cooling, the baking soda powder is mixed in and the plastic-free detergent is ready.