Tired of seeing your trash can overflow and embalm the air with its foul smell? Or simply want to make gesture for the planet while saving? You are in the right place. Here are some gestures to adopt easily for a minimalist kitchen. Even on our small scale, reducing its ecological impact is very important and it starts with adopting simple actions on a daily basis. Bathroom, kitchen… We have a lot of progress to make in reducing our waste. For a house in harmony with nature, we must rethink the way we consume. But what is a "minimalist kitchen"? The goal is to keep only the essentials. Find alternatives to avoid unnecessary plastic. The kitchen is one of the most polluting rooms. It is full of superfluous plastic, single-use packaging. Discover our 5 tips for a zero waste kitchen.
Buy in bulk
To transform your space into a minimalist kitchen, this is the first thing to do. Anyone who wants to turn to a minimalist and zero waste lifestyle knows that to remove unnecessary plastic from packaging, buying in bulk is the best solution. More and more supermarkets offer a bulk department but you can also go to organic grocery stores for more choices: olive oil, rapeseed, cleaning products … Grab glass jars and voila! You can find them in stores (Ikea…) or simply reuse your jars of jam or mayonnaise for example. Buying your products in bulk will allow you to make room in your cupboards but also significantly reduce your plastic consumption. In addition to being more environmentally friendly, this method is healthier. The plastic is not in direct contact with your food and therefore will not migrate into it. 
Equip yourself with reusable products
No more single-use products, it's time to switch to washable items. Our kitchen is full of single-use utensils and accessories. While not all of them are made of plastic, this creates waste that could be easily avoided. Here are some examples of zero waste products to adopt for a minimalist kitchen: use bulk bags and fabric tote bags. You will then no longer need plastic bags for your fruits and vegetables. Swap your usual baking paper with a washable and reusable Teflon sheet. Although this material is controversial, it is safe when heated to less than 280°C. You can replace the cling film with a cloth cap or washable cling film (which you can make yourself) to cover your food. No need to buy sponges that always end up crumbling thanks to the Tawashi sponge. What about it? It is a sponge made of fabric that you can make yourself with three times nothing. Otherwise, opt for a brush. With an interchangeable and even compostable head, this alternative is 100% zero waste. This significantly reduces your waste and your environmental footprint.
Plan your meals in advance
To adopt a zero waste lifestyle, preparing your weekly menus and making your shopping list is a good way to avoid wasting food. By anticipating meals in advance, you only buy what you need. In addition to saving money, this allows you not to consume more than you should and you will not be forced to throw away expired or rotten food for example. Always check your cupboards before making your shopping list that you don't have what you need left. Stocking up is useless (even during lockdown), buying only what you need, the planet and your wallet will say thank you. For your shopping to be as eco-friendly as possible, consume local and organic as much as possible. Thus, you support local producers while limiting pollution related to transport and pesticides that infiltrate the soil and your food.
Saying goodbye to plastic bottles
As you will have understood, plastic is omnipresent in our daily lives and is a real poison for our environment and our health. Tap water is healthy, which is why buying water packs is useless and very polluting. Each year, a French person consumes an average of 100 plastic bottles. Reducing this figure is very simple by drinking tap water. You only need a glass bottle that is wear-resistant. If the residue of tap water scares you, you can always put a stick of charcoal in your bottle. It will neutralize chlorine, make it purer and improve the taste of the water. As for fruit juices, you can simply make them by squeezing the fruit yourself! You will then fully enjoy the taste of the fruit. 
Replace your cleaning products with 3 times nothing
When you know that the inside of a house is more polluted than the outside, there is reason to be frightened. In addition to being very toxic to your health, cleaning products are hyper packaged and our cupboards contain countless of them. While we usually have one bottle per surface or room to wash, it is very simple to clean your home effectively with only four products. White vinegar is a very good descaler. By diluting it with water, you can clean your faucets and windows as effectively as with a conventional cleaning product. Even though white vinegar has a strong odor, it is not toxic like bleach. For your ceramic hobs, worktop or any other furniture, use black soap. By mixing it with hot water, you can also clean your floor. Baking soda will be used to scrub your dirtiest utensils. Sprinkle it on your burnt pans and pans and pour boiling water. Wait 15 minutes and voila. Finally, you can use Marseille soap as a stain remover before washing on your textiles or as a dishwashing liquid. All these products are biodegradable and healthy for your health and your interior. You can find them in specialized stores but also more and more in supermarkets. These alternatives make it possible not to buy these products several times during the year, declutter your cupboards and especially save money. Even switching to a "zero waste" lifestyle may seem expensive, you will find that in the long run, you will save money. In addition to being healthier for the planet, minimalist cuisine is healthier for your health. To continue this ecological transition that you have decided to undertake, discover our 5 tips for an eco-friendly beauty routine.
