Your guide to setting up an eco-friendly cooking space

Small steps toward a more sustainable kitchen.

Explore easy ways to upgrade the heart of your home.

Making your kitchen a more eco-friendly space does not require a big renovation. In fact, just a few product swaps of your most-used tools and storage can make a huge difference for the health of your family and the planet. Keep reading for easy tweaks to make your cooking space more sustainable.

The first quick kitchen swap

Treat yourself to new, sustainable cookware

Nonstick pans are popular for a reason, but many are made with PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances), a group of chemicals that has been linked to serious health concerns. [1] Our advice? Look for ceramic-coated or stainless steel cookware instead. Both alternative materials are durable, long-lasting, and free from harmful coatings. Plus, they’re easy to treat like nonstick with the correct prep!

Find high quality cookware free of PFAS and Teflon.

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Next up on the list

Choose better bakeware and accessories

Consider tossing your old cookie sheets and pans, and look for new pieces made from uncoated stainless steel, tempered glass, or food grade silicone. These alternative materials tend to be longer lasting, plastic-free, and made without hormone-disrupting chemicals like BPA and phthalates. [2]

Shop sustainable, plastic-free bakeware.

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Another easy swap

Invest in longer-lasting utensils and serveware

We know plastic utensils and serveware are convenient options for entertaining, but they’re also notorious for breaking down into microplastics that can make their way into our food and water. When it comes to stoveside tools, look for sustainable, durable materials like FSC-certified wood, naturally antimicrobial bamboo, silicone, or stainless steel. For shorter-term use, we like utensils derived from cornstarch or sugarcane, aka bioplastics that break down naturally without leaching chemicals.

Discover utensils and serveware made from sustainable materials.

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Don’t forget storage

Stock your pantry and cabinets with plastic-free containers

Plastic containers can shed microplastics into food, and in turn, and our bodies.[4] Instead, opt for refillable glass jars, stackable canisters, reusable food wraps, and silicone storage bags. We love the idea of creating refillable systems for your baking needs like flours and sugars, as well as common bulk-bin finds like rice, legumes, and pastas.

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The Bottom Line

Small kitchen swaps can make a big impact

But remember: Creating a more sustainable kitchen doesn’t mean replacing everything in one fell swoop. Start with what you use most, whether it’s your favorite pan, or your go-to lunch containers, and upgrade when it’s time for a replacement. Every swap helps reduce waste, limits exposure to harmful chemicals, and gets you closer to a healthier home and planet.

Sources

  1. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) — Information on perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and their impact on health and the environment.
    https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc/index.cfm
  2. Environmental Working Group (EWG) — The Dirty Dozen list of endocrine disruptors and their potential effects on human health.
    https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/ewgs-dirty-dozen-list-hormone-disrupting-chemicals
  3. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) — Research on BPA exposure and associated health risks.
    https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/sya-bpa/index.cfm
  4. Home Planet by Grove Collaborative — Articles on plastic alternatives, human health, and sustainable living.
    https://homeplanet.grove.co