There’s a surprising amount of plastic in the average kitchen, and I don’t just mean food packaging and cling film. Chopping boards, utensils, storage containers and mixing bowls are just some of the items commonly made of plastic.
I don’t recommend throwing away perfectly good plastic utensils for the sake of ridding your home of plastic. However, if something’s seen better days and you’re planning to replace it anyway, now’s the time to choose an alternative material.
To prove just how stylish, innovative and downright good for the environment alternative materials can be, I’ve rounded up some of my favourite plastic-free kitchen wares.
John Lewis & Partners Stainless Steel Kitchen Utensils in Rose Gold, £25
Metal or wood utensils are much better for the environment than plastic. I prefer metal because it’s easier to clean and maintain. Also you can’t accidentally melt or set fire to metal.
These rose gold utensils from John Lewis are beautiful and practical. At £25 for a set of four, they’re not cheap but they will last a lifetime if you look after them. They are also available in standard gold.
Hokan Bowls, from £23.95
Hokan bowls are an innovative way to reduce both plastic and food waste in the kitchen. The stackable stoneware range is designed for multiple uses. The idea is that the bowl can go from oven to table, table to fridge (to store leftovers), and fridge to oven. They totally eliminate the need for plastic Tupperware or cling film. Oh, and Nigella Lawson loves them!
IKEA 365+ Glass Jar with Bamboo Lid, £6
These glass jars by IKEA are mostly plastic free (there’s a silicone seal around the lid to keep things fresh) and have a multitude of practical uses. They’re great for storing dry foods but can also be used for leftovers, growing herbs, making cold brew coffee and anything else you can think of. Pictured is the 3.3 litre jar, but there are other sizes and shapes in the 365+ food storage collection.
‘Wood for Food’ Wooden Chopping Board, Paul Hodgkiss Designs, from £105
This wooden chopping board is handmade in Scotland using responsibly sourced local timber. It’s basically ticking all the eco-friendly boxes and it looks incredible to boot, so it’s great for prepping and serving food. If you look after wooden chopping boards (don’t put them in the dishwasher; do oil regularly), they last a very long time which makes the cost of this board more than worthwhile.
