Blacklisted Green.list.ed: In the kitchen

I love to cook - or at least pretend I can cook. Perhaps it is all the speciality tools and gadgets that I find appealing... or the fact that I like to eat. The downside is the kitchen produces most of our household waste - BUT - it also provides ample opportunity to rethink the approach and make it more ecological. Today's topic is environmentally friendly kitchen products.

• Reusable straws
  I love straws and often use them at home. But for a grown-up version of the reusable straw (unless you want to use your loop-de-loop straw) then check out the aluminum version of the classic form. I have also seen champagne straws in real silver that cost a small fortune, but for daily use my money is on these bad boys.
  
  

• Cloth napkins
  The transition to cloth napkins happened a while back in our household. Maybe I just wanted to be bourgie or maybe it was for the environmental considerations. Either way, it is better than disposable napkins from a landfill standpoint.

• Non-disposable coffee cups
  Okay, so non-disposable coffee cups are called mugs and every kitchen has one. But if you want to be cheeky about it, check out these mugs that are made to look like its disposable counterpart*. The same can be said for disposable cutlery and plates - just use the real deal and hold off on the waste.

• Cloth shopping bags
  Someday I am going to remember to take all the cloth shopping bags to the store and actually use them. Until that time, I will prompt everyone else to do so and I can feel a little better about myself for spreading the good word.

• Green(er) cleaning products
  The green movement is a hard sell because it ultimately hinges on consumers paying more for green products. With easy-to-find green product lines coming out from manufacturers like Method, 7th Generation and even Clorox - a little can go a long way. So dedicate yourself to one or two eco-friendly products and perhaps work your way up. I am loving Method handsoaps (Hollyberry scent is awesome), Method granite cleaner and 7th Generation counter spray and dishwashing soap (in Lavender floral and Mint).
  


• Bamboo
  Bamboo products are showing up by the dozens in kitchen products - from cutting boards, picnic ware to knife blocks (see picture). This sustainable material has a naturally stylish grain that designers are really taking to, which makes bamboo products easy-to-find, very diverse and oh so chic. I went too far with the "oh so chic" part, didn't I?




• Compost pail
  This was at the top of my wish list last Christmas (twisted, I know) - but my best gift-giver got it for me and it has been awesome. Although it is not necessary for maintaining a compost pile - it allows you to be lazy about composting. You can throw the compostable goods into the pail and take it to the compost pile when the desire strikes or the compost pail is jam-packed, without the smell.

• Food
  Making good food choices can also make a huge impact - when possible, select local items that haven't had to make the boat/plane/truck/train ride to your part of the world. Also buying organic can be about more than what you are ingesting - many times it is said that you don't need to buy organic if the fruit is peeled, since the pesticides won't be in the fruit; however, chemicals were still sprayed on those peelable fruits that may affect the workers or environment where they were grown (my sister, Alyse, made me aware of this after she witnessed the affects in Nicaragua). Can/do I always get organic? No - but concessions here and there.

*The great debate rages on - is 'being green' really better for the environment: According to this report you need to use said ceramic cup for 3-4 years for it to be more green than the disposable polystyrene option (production, transport and water to clean the mug offset the option to recycle the disposable cup). So find yourself a favorite mug and tuck in.