Minding Your Plastic in the Kitchen

After the first week of becoming more mindful of plastic in your life, what did you find out about plastics in your kitchen? Suddenly it seems like plastic is everywhere! And much of it is single-use, even those items like dish sponges that you use multiple times before throwing it away. What makes something “single-use” is its ultimate destination is the landfill, not to be recycled, repurposed or composted.

Are there single-use plastic items that you could live without, especially if you had a plastic-free alternative that was just as great if not better? This week will be full of tips for finding alternatives for plastic in your pantry, at the kitchen sink and in your fridge.

Say goodbye to cling wrap, plastic sandwich bags, dish detergent bottles and say hello to beeswax wraps, reusable baggies and soap nuts.

Making the transition from a plastic-filled to a plastic-free lifestyle takes time, determination and a little bit of money. We’ll help you make the transition one step at a time.

We’ll also provide ideas for cost-effective alternatives, some of which will end up saving you money in the long run. When Mari Fox, the owner and founder of Shecology in Weaverville, told me how she got started in her business, it made the point of cost-effectiveness of going plastic-free crystal clear.

One day in 2010, Mari had run out of her favorite Seventh Generation laundry detergent, which couldn’t be found in many places at the time. She jumped in her car to drive to a market to buy the laundry detergent. While waiting at a red light, she realized how ridiculous it was to be driving all over town burning fossil fuel to purchase “eco-friendly” detergent that was mostly water, packaged in plastic and shipped long-distance by trucks to the store. Think of all the monetary and environmental costs of doing that! (Stay tuned for Mari’s solution or take a sneak peek ahead at Shecology’s website).

In the weeks ahead, you’ll hear about lots of great ideas for eliminating plastic from your life, starting with the kitchen. Please share your great ideas online on our Facebook page /goingplasticfree, and tag us on Instagram #goingplasticfree and #mindyourplasticmay.

Dawn Chavez
Executive Director
Asheville GreenWorks