Simply stroll once around the cheapest supermarket, throw the tried-and-tested favorite products into your shopping cart, and at home prepare one of your standard dishes with as few moves as possible, preferably in a short amount of time – this or something similar was the everyday kitchen routine for many people for a long time. In times of climate change and growing awareness for sustainability, more and more people wish to live increasingly consciously, environmentally friendly, and sustainably. This means: less consumption, quality instead of quantity, and conserving resources whenever possible. In this article, we explain how the topic of sustainability can easily find its way into your kitchen, and we summarize the best tips and tricks for sustainable cooking for you. 

Seasonal, regional and organic

If you want to shop in a climate-friendly manner, the following rule of thumb will serve you well: regional, seasonal, little meat and preferably from organic origin. Organic labels make it easier for you to recognize ecologically sound products. Particularly with animal products as well as vegetables and fruit, it is advisable to opt for ecological quality.

Reducing plastic & single-use packaging

When choosing the right foods in the supermarket, it is important to also select those with the right packaging or even better, without packaging. Although Germany is considered a global recycling pioneer, only a portion of the plastic waste generated here is recycled. The rest is incinerated or ends up in huge landfills, from there eventually in nature, such as the ocean - or finds its way back into our food cycle. Reducing plastic already begins with your shopping. These tips will help you:

• Bring a jute or fabric bag with you
• Buy goods preferably loose and unpackaged
• Avoid fruit and vegetable bags
• Avoid food packaged in plastic (such as shrink-wrapped cucumbers)
• Avoid black plastic packaging, as these generally cannot be recycled at all
• Avoid convenience meals as these are almost always packed multiple times in different materials
• Prefer glass bottles and reusable bottles over single-use ones
• Buy jars instead of cans

Freeze instead of throwing away

Did you mistakenly buy too much and now can't manage to use up all fresh ingredients in time? No problem - simply freeze them!

• Fresh bread freezes beautifully when sliced and can be made crispy again by toasting.
• Ripe bananas simply peel, slice and into the freezer - the perfect base for banana bread and Nicecream (vegan ice cream).
• Berries freeze wonderfully and can easily be thawed later and blended with other fruits into smoothies.
• Vegetables freeze easily when diced.
• Soups, chili and stews freeze in individual portions - often taste even more flavorful after thawing.

If you want to store your food sustainably, we recommend avoiding the use of cling film and aluminum foil when packaging your food. Reusable lunch boxes, wax cloths or jars are ideal for packaging the foods you want to store.

Modern kitchen appliances are an important factor for efficient energy consumption. These should absolutely be fully functional. Energy labels for kitchen appliances can also provide guidance when purchasing energy-efficient kitchen appliances.

When cooking, always choose the pot or pan that fits ideally in size onto the hob and has a perfectly fitting lid.

Waste sorting and composting organic waste
If you want to cook and live sustainably, waste separation is essential. Whether plastic, paper, organic or residual waste: each material has its own bin. Use them for the sake of the environment.

What can go into compost?
The general rule is: Anything that happens "before cooking" can go into compost. Already cooked or fried dishes and sauces belong in residual waste, as they attract rats and other pests to compost.

Recycling kitchen appliances
Don't just throw your broken kitchen appliances into the garbage, as they still contain significant quantities of valuable and scarce metals that can be recovered. In addition, it is important to dispose of hazardous substances safely, which otherwise quickly end up in our air, soil, and ultimately our bodies. If the manufacturer does not take back your appliance for disposal, then the correct solution is: electronic scrap collection. Valuable materials can still be recovered from old devices there, and unnecessary harm to the environment can be avoided.