Episode 1: Zero Waste in My Kitchen!

We've decided that each month we'll share some tips for adopting a green routine in your daily life.

Today's theme: "Zero Waste in My Kitchen!"

As you may know, December 8th is World Climate Day... And you're undoubtedly aware that we're heading for disaster with our habits of overconsumption and daily waste.
But let's be positive, it's not too late to act, so let's get to it, and quickly!

And even if getting started doesn't mean achieving a 100% green kitchen, but our mindset is already "green" and we're starting to feel eco-responsible, we're heading in the right direction!

Here are our tips for transitioning to a healthier daily life, for the planet, and for your health.

Step 1: The Basics

• Don't leave the water running

~ In the sink when washing dishes (and turn off taps completely when leaving).
~ In the shower when washing yourself
~ In the sink when brushing your teeth

• Try to sort your waste as optimally as possible

Okay, that was really for beginners, but it's never too late to start, so a reminder of essential actions is never too much.

So now we can move up a gear!
We're going to help you by giving you some tips that advocate for a cleaner planet and a healthier, more economical kitchen!

Step 2: Adopt the "5R" approach

1. Refuse (consume less but better)
2. Reduce (your consumption)
3. Reuse (repair, rent, buy and sell second-hand)
4. Recycle (sort waste)
5. Rot (compost)

To apply the 5R's, here are some simple, concrete steps to get started:

• Stop wasting

Every French person throws away 20 kg of household waste per year (which represents 1 meal per week!) including 7 kg of still-packaged products.
How to reduce? By rethinking your purchases according to your menus and paying attention to storage and expiration dates.
It's better to go grocery shopping several times a week if needed (unless it involves a long car journey) than to throw away half your groceries because the products have expired!

• Recycle leftovers and cook peelings!!

You're thinking "Gross"?
No, even great chefs do it!
A simple and excellent recipe: put mushroom peels and stems in a saucepan with a knob of butter, cover and let the juice come out. Perfect for flavoring a risotto or mashed potatoes!
Don't forget that all the vitamins are found in the skin of vegetables & fruits, so the ideal would be to rinse your vegetables instead of peeling them (for this, we recommend buying organic fruits & vegetables to avoid pesticides).

• Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables

Yes, let's stop with tomatoes or strawberries in winter, and buy local too.
Fewer pesticides, less fuel used for transport, no import tax so cheaper and also better because ripe... Only good things for the environment and for us!
Here is the calendar of seasonal fruits & vegetables: (no more excuses!)

                          Source: Ladilafé & co.overblog.com  

• Favor buying in bulk

Dry goods (cereals, flour, sugar, dried fruit, spices, tea, coffee…), oils and even wine and cleaning products in some stores!
And prefer products by the cut. More and more stores offer this alternative so no more excuses!
Thus, from tea to spirits, pasta and herbs, large retailers are testing or developing bulk sales in different forms.

For instance, Auchan has been offering bulk pasta, rice, and other basic products since 2005. Franprix is expanding bulk sales to spirits in some of its stores, and Bio Village, Leclerc's organic food brand, launched bulk sales in late 2017 with a wide assortment of grocery products: Rice, pasta, dried fruits and vegetables, and even sugar in bulk!

• Adjust your animal protein intake

~ No more than 4 meat meals per week
~ A maximum of 2 fish meals (and avoid endangered species: Mediterranean bluefin tuna, for example).
~ Prioritize vegetarian dishes as much as possible
→ One of the main causes of deforestation is intensive soybean cultivation, intended to feed livestock!

• Ditch plastic

Opt for glass containers to store food leftovers.
It's better for the planet and for our health. The same goes for water... If you live in a city where tap water is not too hard (and obviously potable), try filling a glass bottle instead of buying packs of water every week... It will be good for the planet, and also for your back! 😊

• Get rid of disposable bags

Down with plastic bags, but also paper ones!
We agree, they are more ecological because they are biodegradable, but their production requires a lot of water and trees...
So, for your shopping, opt for reusable fabric bags. All brands offer tote bags (free or for a very reasonable price!) so don't leave them piled up in a cupboard, use them.
We ourselves offer a lovely 100% organic cotton Tote bag, go get yours here!
And even better: it's offered for free with purchases of 50€ or more on the site!

• Stop using disposable paper towels

Yes, we can do without our "Sopalin"!
We just need one or more dishcloths, microfibers, or washable paper towels.

• Stop aluminum foil and plastic film
  

A reusable fabric cover is more effective and aesthetic for decorating your bowls.
We recommend the brand Abeego, which offers reusable hemp and cotton cloths coated with beeswax, tree resin, and jojoba oil.
In addition to allowing food to breathe, these cloths are made with raw materials that have antifungal and antibacterial properties.

According to the European Food Safety Authority, foods that come into contact with aluminum foil or containers may contain small traces of this metal, which could be dangerous to health.
When it enters the body, aluminum settles in body tissues. And it can accumulate dangerously in some of them, especially in bone tissue.
And without wanting to alarm you, some research suggests a potential link between dietary aluminum and Alzheimer's disease (it could be a factor), certain types of cancer, infertility, and for pregnant women (it could cross the placenta... In short, when in doubt, let's do without it!

• Make your own cleaning products

Quick, economical, and ecological!
Recipe for multi-purpose cleaner: fill 2/3 of a spray bottle with water, then fill the rest with white vinegar and a few drops of lemon or tea tree essential oil.

• Compost your waste

Now, you might think we're going too far. Great for those who live in the countryside (some town halls even provide compost bins for free), but impossible for city dwellers?
But yes, there are apartment composters (without worms!). You can compost fruit and vegetable peels, green waste from your plants, ashes, tea, coffee grounds, broken eggshells, vegetarian meal leftovers...

• Repair your household appliances

There are "Repair Cafes" where volunteers repair broken items you bring in for free. This encourages you to buy quality products that last a long time and helps fight against "planned obsolescence".
What is it? It refers to all the techniques adopted by a manufacturer to limit the lifespan of its appliance.
Why? The reason is simple: the less it lasts, the more we buy it again...
The consequences?
~ Ecological disaster: In France, nearly 40 million appliances break down and are not repaired but replaced...
~ Social impact: Fewer repairs = elimination of many repair jobs...
Go check out the list of Repair Cafes: https://repaircafe.org/fr/

And finally, if you want to go further, or for those more advanced in the zero-waste journey, measure your ecological footprint with this well-designed questionnaire from WWF, and reduce your consumption with their advice to change your lifestyle.
(Small drawback: the amounts are in Swiss francs, so convert: 1€ = 0.88 Swiss francs 😊)

There you go, we hope this helps those who are behind (no shame in that), and that it will contribute to helping the more informed!

After the zero waste in the kitchen goal, feel free to check out our "zero waste goals" articles for the bathroom and the office!