Sustainability in the kitchen

The kitchen table and counter are often the heart of our home. We spend a lot of time here. We eat, cook, do homework, read newspapers, play, do arts and crafts, celebrate and thus spend a lot of shared time here. Our kitchen is a place where life happens – and unfortunately also where much consumption or waste occurs.

Cooking creates a lot of waste and often uses excessive amounts of water, electricity and plastic. To reduce this significant environmental impact and conserve valuable resources, sustainability in the kitchen is becoming increasingly important.

If you make your kitchen sustainable, you

• automatically reduce your ecological footprint,
• save money through a few simple measures,
• can spend your valuable saved time on other things,
• and feel good because you've made our planet a little bit better.

Sustainability begins in the kitchen. The following 10 tips will help you make your kitchen more environmentally friendly and resource-efficient.

Directly connected to the topic of sustainability is waste avoidance. Ideally, buy only what you can actually store to prevent unnecessary disposal. Targeted shopping and menu planning, along with maintaining a shopping list, will help you buy only what you can entirely use afterwards.

And if there is something left over, the internet offers numerous recipe ideas for using up leftover food. Consider also that some items can still be consumed long after the expiration date. Assess these items less by their expiration date and more by their appearance and smell.

How you store your food also plays an important role. Replace cling film and aluminum foil with a lunch box or glass container. These can be washed and reused.

The topic of organic waste is also an important aspect of a sustainable kitchen: Some people pack their organic waste in plastic bags to throw them into the container afterwards. This is a fatal decision, as the fact is that these cannot decompose and must be removed at the composting plant. It is better to switch to paper bags or ideally dispose of your compost completely loose.

A sustainable kitchen should be designed to consume as little energy as possible and use renewable energy sources to meet energy needs. Here are several ways you can make your kitchen more energy-efficient:

• Energy-saving appliances: Use energy-saving appliances such as induction cooktops, refrigeration and freezing units with high energy efficiency ratings, and water-saving dishwashers to reduce energy consumption in the kitchen.
• Renewable energy sources: Use renewable energy sources such as solar power or wind energy to power your kitchen. Install solar panels on the roof of your house or obtain green electricity from a provider that uses renewable energy sources.
• LED lighting: Use energy-efficient LED lights in your kitchen to reduce electricity consumption.
• Insulation: Ensure your kitchen is well-insulated to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling.
• Cooking habits: Use cooking methods that consume little energy, such as steaming or cooking on a stove with a low setting.
• Composting: Compost organic kitchen waste to reduce waste and fertilize your garden or plants.

Sustainable kitchens should also be cleaned with biodegradable cleaning agents to reduce environmental impact. Here are some examples of biodegradable cleaning agents:

• Vinegar is an effective cleaning agent that can be used in many areas of the kitchen. Mix vinegar with water and use it as an all-purpose cleaner or as a cleaning agent for windows and mirrors.
• Lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent and can be used to remove stains and discolorations. Mix lemon juice with water and use it as a cleaning agent for kitchen countertops or as an odor neutralizer.
• Baking powder can be used as a scouring agent to remove greasy residues or encrustations. Mix baking powder with water and use it as a cleaning agent for ovens or as a scouring agent for pots and pans.
• Baking soda can be used as an odor neutralizer and can help remove odors from the kitchen. Sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the refrigerator or trash can to eliminate unpleasant odors.
• Essential oils can be used as fragrances to create a pleasant atmosphere in the kitchen. Add a few drops of essential oil to your homemade cleaning agent to produce a fresh fragrance.
• Bio-cleaning agents: There are also special bio-cleaning agents available on the market, which are manufactured from natural ingredients and are biodegradable. When purchasing cleaning agents, pay attention to the ingredients and choose products that are environmentally friendly.

If you would like to delve even deeper into the topic of "Sustainability in the kitchen" and create more sustainable eating habits, we recommend the following 3 sources to expand your knowledge:

1. Our Nolte Blog: Here we regularly provide you with up-to-date information and tips on how you can make your kitchen and habits more sustainable.
2. "Nachhaltig kochen und essen" by Petra Wenzel and Monika Götze: The book offers practical advice on sustainable meal preparation and food shopping, and also introduces sustainable kitchen utensils and cleaning products.
3. "Green Kitchen at Home" by David Frenkiel and Luise Vindahl: The book offers recipes for healthy, sustainable meals based on seasonal and regional ingredients. It also provides tips on sustainable kitchen organization and avoiding food waste.

We wish you much enjoyment and success in creating your sustainable kitchen!