5 Simple Swaps to Start Your Plastic Free Kitchen

We’re all aware of the dangers of plastic both on the environment and on our health. We see compostable to-go boxes and cardboard straws at restaurants. There’s a well known, global push for reusable bottles in exchange for single-use plastic water bottles. Big business is aware of the plastic crisis around the world and many companies are taking the initiative in eliminating as much plastic product as possible. And that’s great! We are all on board for protecting our bodies and our earth from the dangers of plastic. But what are we doing as individuals? In our own homes? Quitting plastic instantly and fully can be a little daunting. We suggest beginning with one plastic-free place in your home. The kitchen is a great place to start- if plastic is bad for our health, having plastic constantly touch the food we ingest surely can’t be a good thing! In this blog, we’re dishing up 5 simple swaps to kick start your plastic-free kitchen. Here we go!

Plastic Baggies 

Remember those fold top sandwich baggies that mom would pack your pb&j in for lunch every day of grade school? They practically defined bag lunches in the ’90s. They were (and still are) convenient, cheap, and easily accessible. What’s not to love? Well. Plenty, actually. Plastic sandwich bags put you and your family at risk to chemicals, pests, and bacteria. You can’t just go putting fresh, made-with-love sandwiches into lunch boxes unprotected, we get that. Enter Stasher Silicone Reusable Food Bags. These phenomenal bags are made of 100% pure non-toxic platinum silicone, contain a pinch-lock + air-tight seal, and they’re even dishwasher and microwave safe. On top of all that, the Stasher Silicone Reusable Food Bags are available in a variety of different sizes, including half gallon, sandwich size, snack size, pocket size and stand up size. There is literally no downside to these plastic-free winners!

Plastic Wrap 

Plastic wrap. Cling wrap. Saran wrap. It doesn’t really matter what you call it, what matters is that it needs to go! As of 2006, nearly all plastic wraps made in the US became phthalate-free. Crisis averted, right? Wrong. Plastic wrap is now made with LDPE or PCDV, which don’t ‘cling’ as well as plastic wraps made with PVC. Not only that, but LDPE also contains DEHA- yet another endocrine disruptor. AND (as if this can get any worse) manufacturers aren’t required to list their chemical makeup...Bye Felicia! Instead of continuing to put yourself at risk, start swapping traditional plastic wrap for reusable beeswax food wraps, like these from Bees Wrap. These multipurpose wraps are washable, reusable and compostable. They come in 3 different sizes and seal + store food naturally as they cool. It doesn’t get more eco-friendly than this!  

Plastic Food Storage Containers

Have you ever microwaved spaghetti in a plastic, Tupperware-style food container? If you have, you know first hand that the plastic container is now sauce stained for all eternity...not to mention it has potentially released toxic chemicals into your reheated lunch. Yes, yes, we know most plastic food storage these days has been branded ‘BPA Free’. So what’s the big deal? Well, the BPA previously used had to be replaced with something...and that something is BPS. Ready to have your mind blown? “Nearly 81% of Americans have detectable levels of BPS in their system.” If that’s not enough to make you sick (literally), you can (and should) read more about the dangers of the BPA replacement here. Fear, not friends! A safer, all-around-better alternative will soon be just a click away! In just a few short weeks (August 5th!!) Penguinni is launching their highly anticipated Silicone Steel Snack Container Set, which is perfect for all your plastic-free food storage needs. The set includes four different sized containers, all of which nest within themselves, making for space-saving, functional storage every mom can get behind. *Psst* I'll let you in on a little secret...you can sign up today and receive 25% off at Penguinni once the containers launch in August! #winning

Plastic Cooking Utensils 

Up until this point, we’ve discussed kitchen items that package up your already prepared food for later use. We can officially check that box! Perhaps we should have posted this simple swap first, as it comes into play long before storing food does. We the people…need eco-friendly cooking utensils. Not want, NEED. The endocrine disruptors leaked by plastics are intensified with heat, and cooking utensils are manufactured specifically as being high-heat compatible. Not convinced to make the simple swap to plastic-free? Maybe this will convince you: plastic cooking utensils (particularly black colored) are made from recycled computer parts that were previously treated with flame retardants. When tested, PVC, chlorine, mercury, lead and other substances unsafe for human consumption were detected in this same plastic utensil. 🤯 The simple solution to saving yourself and your family from this absolutely horrific risk is a simple swap to a wood + silicone utensil set like these from Deceny CB. This ultra chic, ultra functional set includes 9 pieces, all of which will prevent your cookware from being scratched or damaged in any way. Added bonus: each set is handmade. Add these to: “things I wish I’d added to my wedding registry”.

Plastic Cups

Countless people have countless plastic cups from countless occasions in their cabinets, which is a little silly, right? A plastic cup as a sentimental momento? Jim + Sandy’s Wedding, Sigma Phi Rush Week, your favorite burger spot in college, you get the idea. If a commemorative cup is needed, let’s at least upgrade to an etched pint glass, am I right?! And what’s worse, is after being used once, even just for water, these flimsy, toxin-loaded plastic cups go straight into the dishwasher, where they’re all but cooked in high temp water, which in turn causes them to leach chemicals even faster. We review serious claims regarding the dangers of plastic in this article, but trust me, there’s more you need to know. Landfills are literally bursting at the seams, courtesy of excessive plastic disposal. Yes, many plastics can be recycled, but were you aware that plastic takes over 100 years to break down? As in, the plastic cup you toss today will be on this planet long after you will. The plastic epidemic plaguing us will still be affecting future generations to come with that kind of lifespan. Clear up some cabinet space and choose plastic-free cups for the whole family. Penguinni’s Stainless Steel Sippy Cups are the perfect choice for all ages. With an optional lid and zero rivets, these cups are one-size-fits-all and an absolute cinch to keep clean. No cracks and no crevices means no room for mold or mildew. Pop on the silicone lid for a leak-proof solution when on the go. Once your box arrives, you’ll be happily surprised with a totally cute pack of penguinni-themed stickers! Fun and eco-friendly? Yes, please!

Do something over nothing

Ditching the commonplace conveniences of plastics cold turkey may seem overwhelming, and we totally get that! You don’t have to do EVERYTHING. You just have to do SOMETHING! Starting in one area of your home, one area of your life makes the effort to eliminate plastic effective, practical, and extremely worthwhile. Starting in the kitchen makes for a seriously strong start, we all gotta eat! What tips and suggestions do you have for eliminating plastics in your kitchen? What about in other areas of your home? Share with us! Leave us a comment or email me! We are better together! ❤️

Written by:
Jess from The Penguinni Family 
Email me! jess@penguinni.com  

    

Buy your no-plastic, leak-proof, easy-to-clean, Stainless Steel Silicone Sippy Cups now! 
www.penguinni.com

Sources

https://oureverydaylife.com/what-are-the-dangers-of-plastic-bags-for-food-storage-5078382.html 

https://www.amazon.com/Stasher-Reusable-Silicone-Sandwich-Storage/dp/B01DZQT99I/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1Q3BUQ3OBKV99&keywords=stasher+reusable+silicone+food+bag&qid=1563830239&s=gateway&sprefix=stasher%2Caps%2C362&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/balanced-living/healthy-living/is-plastic-wrap-safe/

https://www.amazon.com/Bees-Wrap-Assorted-Sustainable-Honeycomb/dp/B0126LMDFK/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2AAWSS97SNIGG&keywords=bees+wax+paper+wrap&qid=1563830768&s=gateway&sprefix=bees+wax%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-4

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bpa-free-plastic-containers-may-be-just-as-hazardous/ 

https://penguinni.com/blogs/news/3-reasons-to-choose-non-toxic-sippy-cups 

https://www.mamavation.com/health/plastic-cooking-utensils-dangerous.html

https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/are-plastic-cups-dangerous-12201900.html