Plastic-Free Kitchen Series: A Plastic-Free Morning

A series of blog posts dedicated to providing you with tips, tricks and products to help make your life in the kitchen eco-friendly. So be sure to check back in as the series really gets cooking!

A Plastic-Free Morning

The rooster crows. You brew your morning cup of Joe. Everyone has their own morning routine. But there’s one thing your routine definitely doesn’t need: plastic.

The thing is, it’s probably already there. It’s actually shocking how many sneaky ways plastic can slide into your morning. And that’s not good for you, or our planet. So, to make sure you and mother earth both wake up on the right side of the bed here’s a list of easy swaps to make your morning bright, cheery, and green

1. Reusable Coffee Filters

Coffee is an essential for many people to get their days going. Single-use coffee filters and coffee maker cups, however, are definitely not. Luckily, there are reusable cotton filters and refillable K-cups out there to get your morning percolating. Just make your morning Joe, compost the grounds, rinse out the filter, or throw the K-cups in the dishwasher! Then sit back, sip, and enjoy knowing that your morning brew is fine for the planet too!

And if you want to take a deep dive into making your mug as sustainable as it can be, check out: Your Guide To A Sustainable Cup Of Coffee

2. Plastic-Free Cup Of Tea

If you’re not a coffee drinker, and instead opt for tea, not to worry! There are plenty of ways to keep your tea plastic-free too! Some tea bags are made of plastic, and when they are steeped they actually release tiny plastic particles into your tea! You can avoid drinking plastic and cut down on all types of packaging by using a reusable tea steeper or infuser with loose-leaf tea. Stash tea makes a variety of stainless steel tea tools — so you can say goodbye to teabags forever!

3. Refillable Containers for Milk, Juices, Yogurt, And Other Drinks

Most of our food containers (bottles, aluminum cans, wraps, and cartons) are made using polycarbonate plastics, some of which have bioactive chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. These man-made chemicals can leach from the containers or wrappings into the food and drinks they’re holding, especially when heated.

That means refillable containers for dairy products, juices, creamers, and other drinks are a must. So rescue your beverages and look into refillable milk pitchers, or jars for yogurt and fruits on the go! These containers remove the plastic from your fridge, limit your food’s exposure (especially if the original packaging is paper or cardboard), and if you live near a farmer’s market or independent grocery store, might help you cut plastic out of the morning equation entirely!

4. Grab + Go Mugs

If you’re headed out the door or you’re just moving around the house, to-go mugs and reusable water bottles are perfect companions for your plastic-free morning routine. Stainless steel mugs and water bottles not only help to eliminate the 50 billion plastic water bottles that are sold each year. They also help keep your beverages at the perfect temperature for your whole morning. Some of our favorites are from Byta and Corkcicle!

5. Kids’ Tableware

This one’s for all the families in the blog! And all the families know this fact of life with children: there’s a lot of plastic involved. It’s cheap, durable, easy to wash and reuse, and no one is sad if it breaks or gets lost. But when it comes to your plastic-free morning, those sippy cups and plastic plates are not your friends. What is your friend, however, is a highly durable kids’ plate set like the ones over at Enamelware. They are sturdy porcelain that can be dropped, washed, and chipped, and will always be safe for the little ones and for mother (earth)!

Extra Credit: Local produce, eggs, and meat!

Check-in with your community to see if there are any local farmers, butchers, or store owners from whom you can pick up eggs, meats, and produce in your own refillable containers. If you can cut store-bought packaging out of the equation, then you’re really cookin’!

Learn more about cleaning up your kitchen with no single-use plastic!