The kitchen often symbolises the heart of the home, a bustling hub of activity, culinary creativity and family gatherings.
For all its warmth and utility, it’s also known as a significant source of waste. Food scraps, plastic containers, and plenty of traditional paper products cycle through everyday kitchen activities and then wind up in the rubbish bin.
Positive change is possible, dare we say, even satisfying to planet-conscious consumers. By making simple swaps to eco-friendly kitchen products, you’ll reduce your environmental footprint, conserve precious resources and contribute to a healthier planet for everyone.
We have a few ideas to get you started…
Bring a sustainable mindset to the kitchen
Before diving into specific recommendations, let's explore the core philosophy behind an eco-friendly kitchen.
To truly embrace a conservational mindset, think beyond just individual items and consider your overall habits. The key to more sustainable living in this space lies in choosing products that are inherently reusable, durable, and built to last — all of which are significant in reducing disposables.
This approach boils down to a few key principles:
Reduce: Do you genuinely need it?
The most impactful step is to minimise consumption altogether. If another item already serves a similar purpose, there’s no need to double down.
Reuse or upcycle
Give items a second life. Think reusable containers, cloths, and bags that replace their single-use counterparts.
Recycle and compost
For remaining items that aren’t reduced or reused, divert waste from landfills by recycling or composting what you can.
Review secondhand sources first
When identifying a genuine need, consider acquiring the item secondhand through local social media groups, secondhand shops or online marketplaces.
Share this ethos with the whole family to teach children about sustainability and their role in protecting the planet. It’s never too early to start the conversation.
Swap traditional kitchen items for eco-friendly alternatives
At Who Gives A Crap, we believe that making sustainable choices should be easy and accessible, extending our commitment to positive impact from your bathroom to every room of your home.
Check out these eco-friendly kitchen alternatives to add to your shopping list.
1. Ditch virgin paper products for 100% recycled
Traditional paper towels from virgin wood pulp contribute to deforestation and habitat loss.
But a switch to 100% recycled paper towels – made from post-consumer and post-industrial paper waste — means no new trees are harmed. They're strong, absorbent, and just as effective as traditional rolls but have a much lighter environmental footprint.
Take it a step further and try bamboo for another strong and sustainable option. Our 100% bamboo paper towels are available to customers in Australia if you’re interested in adding a renewable, plastic-free product to your cleaning supplies.
2. Say goodbye to sponges and hello to reusable cloths
Conventional plastic sponges shed microplastics with every use and are often disposed of after a short lifespan (when they start to smell ripe), ending up in landfills.
We’ll choose Swedish dishcloths over sponges any day. Our version, aptly named Dream Cloths, are made from cellulose and recycled cotton. These plant-based cloths are a dream for their super absorbent, washable and long-lasting qualities. Don’t sleep on swapping these out for paper towels and sponges.
3. Harsh cleaning chemicals? Heck, no.
Conventional cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that harm your health and pollute waterways. Their plastic packaging also contributes significantly to landfill waste.
Consider making your cleaning solutions with simple ingredients like vinegar and baking soda to keep grime at bay.
Alternatively, you can opt for brands that offer plant-based, natural formulas in refillable or concentrated packaging. For instance, switching to dish soap concentrates or solid dish soap bars significantly reduces plastic bottle waste.
4. Mind your beeswax
No, seriously. Traditional cling film is a single-use plastic that's notoriously difficult to recycle and persists in the environment for hundreds of years.
Beeswax wraps are a natural alternative to plastic wrap. Made from cotton infused with beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin, these wraps are moldable and breathable. They’re also washable and last for years — perfect for covering bowls, wrapping sandwiches or packing snacks.
5. Rely on durable food storage containers
Traditional plastic food containers and bags contribute to plastic pollution and leach harmful chemicals into your food, especially when heated.
Swap these out for glass or stainless steel containers instead. They are more durable and safer for meal prep, leftovers, and freezing foods, without the risk of chemical contamination or environmental harm.
Additionally, silicone bags are a durable, flexible, reusable alternative to single-use plastic bags. For everything from freezing berries to marinating meat, you’ll find them easy to clean and incredibly versatile.
6. Add a compost bin
When food waste ends up in landfills, it decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen) and produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas contributing significantly to climate change.
Diverting food waste from landfills is crucial for reducing methane emissions. Keep a small countertop compost bin for scraps. Line your bin with these compostable food scrap bags for easy, mess-free collection.
7. Choose kitchenware made from bamboo
Plastic kitchen utensils are prone to breaking, melting, and leaking toxic byproducts.
Opt for kitchen utensils, cutting boards, and dish racks made from sustainable bamboo instead of plastic. Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and durable.
8. Invest in high quality pots and pans
Many conventional non-stick pans contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals," which are released into your food and the environment, posing potential health risks.
While an investment, cast iron pans are incredibly durable and far more effective cookware than harmful non-stick pans. Bonus: With proper care, a cast iron pan lasts generations.
9. Caffeinate with a conscious
Single-use coffee filters and tea bags contribute to unnecessary waste and often contain plastics or bleaches that impact the environment.
If you're a coffee or tea enthusiast, switch from single-use paper filters and tea bags to reusable options made from stainless steel, cloth or permanent filters built into your machine.
By embracing reusable products, opting for sustainable materials, and adopting mindful habits, your kitchen can become a powerful force for good, reducing waste and conserving resources one conscious choice at a time.
Conclusion – Minimising kitchen waste is only the beginning
Today, you’re exploring ways to lower your kitchen’s carbon footprint with more sustainable products. Who knows which household waste reduction tactics you’ll be ready for tomorrow.
We’ve shown how small, intentional swaps create health and environmental benefits. Easy, peasy. Not to mention, most of these products do a far superior job than their traditional counterparts.
Who Gives A Crap is committed to making sustainability accessible and easy for busy people like you. Caring for Mama Earth shouldn't be a chore, but a natural extension of your daily life.
Explore our full collection of kitchen essentials and make every meal, mess and moment a step towards a healthier planet.
P.S. When you shop with us, you're not just getting premium, sustainable products. You’re also contributing to our mission of achieving global sanitation, an initiative that drives us to donate 50% of our profits.