This is a sponsored post with Grundig and also contains gifted items
Since it’s plastic-free July, I wanted to create several blog posts about my efforts to be more sustainable. Since having Jude in May, this is an area I’ve become more and more interested in; since I’m so conscious about the sheer amount of waste I was producing with things like nappies, wipes and ready meals when I’m too tired to cook! I’m planning a separate post about my attempts to be more sustainable as a mom (including how I’ve got on with eco-friendly nappies!) but today I thought I’d talk about being eco-friendly and sustainable in the kitchen…
1.Look into your home appliances
Of course, we can’t simply go out and change our whole kitchen, but if you’re due an upgrade then it’s worth looking into the eco-credentials of any new kitchen appliances you do select. Grundig, who I’ve teamed up with for this post, combine stylish appliances that are also good for our environment. For example, its multi-functional ovens have great energy ratings whilst their washer-dryer tub is actually partially made from recycled plastic bottles. It’s also created a great campaign about food waste too (it’s called Respect Food ) with lots of recipes to help you reuse every last scrap of what’s in your fridge drawer!
2. Ditch the cling film and sandwich bags
Whilst it’s great to batch cook and not throw away leftovers, food storage in plastic containers or using cling film isn’t great so get creative! In my Christmas gift guide, I talked about these metal tiffin lunchboxes I was gifted from Vaya and they’re a great alternative to plastic tubs! I’ve also recently got some beeswax wraps and would love some tips on using them? And of course, an obvious one is to use a reusable coffee cup each time you get takeaway coffee!
2. Shop imperfectly
Don’t ditch a perfectly good piece of fruit because of a blemish or chuck away a box of cereal because it’s a day past the best before date! I’ll be honest, I’ve been guilty of this in the past especially when I was pregnant and paranoid-but there’s no need!
A big shoutout to ODDBOX here who recently sent me one of their fruit boxes to try. Oddbox basically takes fruit and veg the supermarkets reject due to being the wrong size, shape, colour, being surplus or having blemishes on them. The box came with a leaflet that explained why each piece of fruit was rejected and it was shocking to read! None of the produce I received even looked anything more than slightly blemished which just goes to show how wasteful supermarkets are! So I’d definitely recommend rescuing some of this fruit and veg by signing up! Some supermarkets do have a wonky box scheme which is worth looking into also!
4. Shop seasonally
This weekend, we went to a restaurant that only used ingredients from within a 100 hundred mile radius. It was a really interesting concept and one I’d not really thought about before! But it makes sense to try to shop on our high street and only buy fruit and veg when its actually in season. I’ve recently been purchasing as much as I can from my local butcher and fruit and veg shop when I can!
5. Do some reading!
Finally, since looking to sustainable living I thought I’d share some resources I’ve come across which might help! First up, Pebble Magazine is a great online publication all about sustainability. If you’re on twitter, Ethical Hour is a great weekly chat for discovering more ethical and sustainable brands. In terms of blogs, I’d recommend Bethany Paige Austin and Natimacchato.
Great article to read. Thanks for your tips!