Adopting a sustainable lifestyle may seem difficult. Some people also consider this lifestyle is not comfortable if being applied in everyday lives. However, the key point to being able to achieve an environmentally friendly and sustainable lifestyle is to do it every day until it becomes a habit.
The smart way to apply an environmentally friendly lifestyle is in a gradual way. We simply choose where we want or are able to start. We can start from the smallest part of our lives, such as from home. Even at home, there is no need to directly apply it in all aspects. Can be from anywhere, one of them from the kitchen.
Simply do the following 5 ways, then the habit of applying an environmentally friendly lifestyle can be achieved.
1. Buy groceries at the local market
It is better to cook your food yourself at home every day. This would contribute to reducing the packaging waste from the delivery of foods or drinks. However, we have to also choose the ingredients in an eco-friendly way. It is recommended to always buy fresh groceries at the local market. As well as choose more organic food ingredients as they are produced in a more environmentally friendly way and of course, better for our health.
2. Finish our food
Food waste is, in fact, the biggest contributor to household waste. So, make sure to always finish your food as much as possible. If there is too much food waste in the house, when it rots, it will cause the air quality in the house to worsen. Don’t forget that food and food ingredients waste are classified as organic waste. So, it must be separated from inorganic waste. Organic waste can also be reused for compost or organic fertilizer for plants.
3. Reduce the use of single-use products
Consciously or not, we use a lot of disposable products in the kitchen. One of them is the use of tissue paper while cooking. We can replace them with a kitchen cloth which is currently also available with good quality and a variety of choices. We can also use bamboo tissue, 100% recyclable tissue, or disposable kitchen towels.
Single-use plastic is also often used in the kitchen, especially to wrap food or cooking leftovers. We can switch to using stainless steel or glass containers, or we can use environmentally friendly wrappers, such as Beeswax Wraps. Also, stop using disposable plastic/latex gloves while cooking. Simply wash your hands thoroughly before and after cooking to reduce plastic waste.
One more thing is the consumption of one-time consumption sachet products. For examples are one-time brewed tea and one-time instant coffee. If you still want to consume products in sachets, you should choose packaging that can be recycled or will not contribute to environmental pollution.
4. Replacing kitchen utensils
While buying cutlery, cooking utensils, and even dishwashing tools, replace them with the ones made of natural materials. For eating or cooking utensils (according to their function), it is recommended to use wooden ones. Products made of wood are easier to wash, thus reducing the use of water and washing liquid. For dishwashing tools, a washing sponge made of synthetic fiber or plastic can be replaced with a loofah or dishwashing coir made of natural materials.
5. Energy Saving
Limit the use of electronic kitchen appliances, such as blenders, mixers, ovens, microwaves, and coffee machines. Even better if you switch to those with low electrical power. In addition, try not to cook too many types of food to save the use gas or electricity if you use an electric stove.