I have seen some great posts such as Kaleo’s post on micro plastics and various discussions of nonstick that got me to thinking about various ways our cookware (and other) choices contribute to the wellbeing of our planet. Some ideas are entering territory yet to be fully researched and others are well established. So I’ll kick it off with a few of my own. Feel free to provide any explanatory notes, pose questions, and challenge ideas. Also, some of my ideas are not inexpensive, and we need to bear cost in mind.
Towels…cotton is a challenging crop. It consumes disproportionate chemicals and water, not to mention bleaching. I am shifting to linen. Although on a per towel basis it is expensive, they last longer and are purported to have natural antimicrobial properties.
String bags…these are my “go to” shopping bags. I can stuff them in my pocket, and they hold a huge amount. I have stopped bagging produce. I just put it in my card and wash any outer layers that will be eaten.
I have shifted to Pyrex and glass jars for food storage. No more plastic with tomato sauce stains!
Shifted to more earth friendly cleaning products.
Fortunately for me I learned several valuable cookware facts ages ago. First, buy only items you will use forever, even if it means taking years to build your batterie. Second, I bought my first carbon steel pan circa 1972. It has been my nonstick pan ever since. Teflon and other non-sticks, in addition to their chemical issues in manufacturing and degrading, are a money pit. My little carbon steel pan still knocks out fine omelettes. The other thing I learned was the importance, at least to me, of supporting the economies and economic sectors of my choice, namely my country, its neighbors and friends, and artisans. I have always been able to shop goods meeting the first criteria. Of course many goods are not made by artisans or, if they are, not by artisans I can afford (Duparquet, Brooklyn, etc.).
Ok. Correct my errors and add your own.
