Kate's Top 10 Essentials for a Low-Waste Kitchen

Kate's Top 10 Essentials for a Low-Waste Kitchen

Nowadays more people are thinking about switching over to a low-waste or zero-waste lifestyle in order to help the environment, but it can be daunting to find alternatives for all of our daily essentials, especially for areas like the kitchen and bathroom. We contacted Kate at @my_plastic_free_home on Instagram to help us out! 


A British mum living a low-waste lifestyle herself while supporting small UK businesses, her page is the place to go to inspire us all to live more sustainably. We asked Kate to introduce some essentials for the kitchen to help us reduce waste. Read on to learn how beautiful living a low waste lifestyle can be! 
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Kate Bamber
Low Waste Blogger

Kate is a low waste advocate who focuses on simple changes that you can make around your home that will help you live with less waste. Living a more eco-frie... See More

  • ecoLiving Compostable Sponge Cleaning Cloths translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：boobalou.co.uk

    ecoLiving
    Compostable Sponge Cleaning Cloths

    Kate Bamber

    When making the switch away from plastic products in my kitchen, I really struggled to find an alternative to the generic plastic sponge. These are perfect! They last so long and are really durable, and they never fall to pieces like a plastic sponge does. 

    Another great thing about them is that they can be reused by popping them in the washing machine or the top rack of the dishwasher. I also love that they are different colours and I can use them all around the home for different jobs! Of course, being plant-based they can also be composted when you have finished using them.
    £5.50
  • EcoCoconut Kitchen Cleaning Brush translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：ecococonut.com

    EcoCoconut
    Kitchen Cleaning Brush

    Kate Bamber

    This, paired with those compostable sponge cloths, are the A team for all of your dishwashing needs! They are made from FSC accredited timber and sustainably sourced coconut husks and are completely biodegradable after you've finished using them. They are so durable, though, that they will last a long time before you need to think about that! 

    Such a fantastic and hardwearing product to add to your kitchen sink, and they look fantastic too. A perk of finding plastic-free alternatives for your kitchen is that they look SO good too!
    £5.49
  • Bower Collective Grapefruit Washing Up Liquid Refill translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：bowercollective.com

    Bower Collective
    Grapefruit Washing Up Liquid Refill

    Kate Bamber

    I love this idea from Bower collective! Their small business focusses on providing you with products that you would usually buy in a single-use bottle, but with Bower, you send the packaging back. 

    All you do is order your washing up liquid from them and it gets sent through the post in a refillable pouch. Fill your own bottle up with the washing up liquid and send the pouch back to be refilled! Obviously, they have more than just washing up liquid - another favourite I have from them is refillable hand sanitiser
    £3.99
  • NeatClean Anti-Bac Multi Surface Cleaner Refill Starter Pack translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：neatclean.com

    NeatClean
    Anti-Bac Multi Surface Cleaner Refill Starter Pack

    Kate Bamber

    The idea is that you buy a bottle for life (it's aluminium, sturdy and so aesthetically pleasing) and you refill it with one of the concentrate cleaners. The cleaner itself comes in a little glass bottle. 

    You simply empty it into your bottle for life, add water and voila! You have yourself a plastic-free multi-surface cleaner. The multi-surface cleaner is suitable for most surfaces and the bottle is so pretty I guarantee you'll have it displayed on your kitchen counter.
    £9.00
  • Elephant Box Elephant Box translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：elephantbox.co.uk
    Elephant Box Elephant Box translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：elephantbox.co.uk
    Elephant Box Elephant Box translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：elephantbox.co.uk

    Elephant Box
    Elephant Box

    Kate Bamber

    I absolutely love these tiffin style stainless steel lunch boxes and the elephant box has to be the best one I have seen. You can buy them in various styles and they will hold a hearty lunch. It really is the only lunch box you'll ever need and will last you forever. 

    One of my favourite mottos is 'buy less, choose well, make it last' and this lunch box is exactly that. Who knew I could love a lunch box so much!
    £29.50
  • Elephant Box Stainless Steel Pint Cup translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：elephantbox.co.uk
    Elephant Box Stainless Steel Pint Cup translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：elephantbox.co.uk
    Elephant Box Stainless Steel Pint Cup translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：elephantbox.co.uk

    Elephant Box
    Stainless Steel Pint Cup

    Kate Bamber

    Ok, so, glassware definitely has its place in the kitchen, but for everyday use I just love these stainless steel pint cups. If you have a house that is prone to breakages (hello children and tiled floors) I am sure you will love these too. 

    I also love that they are basically unbreakable and you can just throw them in your bag when you're going out and about. Festival? No problem, you have got yourself a reusable pint cup! Ice cream? Yes please! Hold the ice cream tub and pop it in here!
    £10.00
  • KeepCup Press Brew Cork translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：uk.keepcup.com

    KeepCup
    Press Brew Cork

    Kate Bamber

    In case you didn't know, this little reusable coffee cup has a cult following and its easy to see why; it's probably the most beautiful coffee cup you'll ever see. It's made from fully tempered glass and has a natural cork band which is made from using waste product from the wine cork manufacture. 

    It is beautiful to look at, beautiful to hold and is my favourite way to enjoy coffee when I'm on the go. It's actually quite a nice way to enjoy coffee at home too!
    £22.00
  • ecoLiving Bamboo Charcoal Water Filters translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：boobalou.co.uk
    ecoLiving Bamboo Charcoal Water Filters translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：boobalou.co.uk
    ecoLiving Bamboo Charcoal Water Filters translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：boobalou.co.uk

    ecoLiving
    Bamboo Charcoal Water Filters

    Kate Bamber

    These are essential in my house as I drink so much water but really don't like the taste of tap water. These charcoal filters are made from bamboo and purify your water by soaking up the impurities. All you need to do is boil them once a week and they are ready to reuse.

    Your water will not taste like charcoal I promise. It will taste amazing though! If you have been looking to make the move away from those plastic water filters then this is the swap that you need to make!
    £4.40
  • smol Dishwash Tablets translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：smolproducts.com
    smol Dishwash Tablets translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：smolproducts.com

    smol
    Dishwash Tablets

    Kate Bamber

    I absolutely love smol products. I am all about finding plastic-free products that rival favourite brands and these do just that. I get both dishwashing tablets and laundry cleaning pods sent to me through the post in cardboard packaging. 

    It works as a subscription service whereby you let them know how often you do the washing and they work out exactly when you'll need your cleaning products delivered. It really helps to make plastic-free cleaning more easy and accessible to all.
    £4.60
  • ecoLiving Reusable Baking Liner translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：boobalou.co.uk
    ecoLiving Reusable Baking Liner translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：boobalou.co.uk
    ecoLiving Reusable Baking Liner translation missing: en-GB.activerecord.decorators.item_part_image/alt
    Source：boobalou.co.uk

    ecoLiving
    Reusable Baking Liner

    Kate Bamber

    Sometimes making your home low waste means finding products that you can reuse over and over again rather than relying on single-use items. This baking mat is made from silicone, is certified food safe and is reusable over and over. 

    It's so easy to clean and means that I never have to buy baking paper again. Another super easy and simple swap that just makes sense. If you have a keen eye you'll notice that these types of mats are also used on tv by all of the top chefs, so they must be good!
    £12.99

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