Plastic No More: in the kitchen without plastic

We are awash in plastic (Romei RePlastics, 2021). This multifaceted material has now invaded every natural environment, going as far as being detected in the snow of glaciers as in the lava released by the eruption of volcanoes (Bergmann et al., 2017). The plastics we use every day are composed of long molecular chains that are derived from petroleum. These stable synthetic chains make it a non-biodegradable material; therefore, it is not susceptible to the action of microbial enzymes. Therefore, the degradation of these compounds occurs only by abiotic degradation, through processes such as photodegradation or hydrolysis. Although plastics are useful in many everyday applications, if dispersed, they are not an environmentally friendly material. It will take hundreds of years to degrade and will still do so by decomposing, fragmenting into nanoparticles that will remain in ecosystems forever. In fact, plastic is like diamonds: it “lasts forever. All the plastic produced, somewhere on this planet, still exists” (Greco, 2020).

Estimates tell us that the accumulation of plastics is so pronounced that it covers 80 percent of recorded marine litter (Bergmann et al., 2015), and when it enters the oceans, plastics never degrade. By now, there are no biological compartments that are not impacted by this alien presence. Therefore, we can say that this is no longer alarmism: the dispersal of plastics into natural habitats is changing ecosystems, leaving traces-often invisible to the naked eye-in the form of microplastics and nanoplastics. The latter are also found in the human body, having definitely become part of the food chain (Ragusa et al., 2021). Research tells us that we have come to ingest 5 grams of plastic per week, the equivalent of a credit card (Wit & Bigaud, 2019). A rampant environmental problem that takes on consequences we still know little about because the effects and interactions of these phenomena remain to be studied.

In 2016, according to World Bank data, municipal solid waste generation reached 2 billion tons. These estimates are set to double by 2025, with half of the waste consisting of plastics and metals. This becomes even more dramatic when we discover that only 9 percent of the plastic that has come to the end of its use has actually been recycled. In fact, a 2017 study calculated the total amount of all plastics produced since the 1950s-the period of birth and development of the first plastic forms-to the present, analyzing their final destination (Geyer, Jambeck & Law, 2017). We know the problem by now, thanks to continued public awareness, yet we still find it difficult to separate ourselves from it. We are so used to plastic that we don’t even notice it anymore; it is the norm in our homes, even going so far as to be present in the food we eat and the water we drink (Greco, 2020).

The European Union wanted to remedy this problem by taking regulatory action with the SUP Directive – Single Use Plastic. The European Union’s EU Directive 2019/904 on single-use plastics came into force on July 3, 2019 with the aim of combating the creation of plastic waste. The regulatory intervention, in particular, bans from 2021 the use of certain single-use plastic products for which alternatives exist, including plates, cutlery, and straws.

Clearly engaging in proper recycling collection if it is packaging (unsorted/residual waste if it is non-packaging plastic), is the starting point but, how can we take action to reduce or drastically eliminate plastic from our pantries?

Find out with us 10 good tips:

1. Aim for prolonged reuse of grocery bags.

In 2010 alone, more than 8 billion plastic bags became waste. It is estimated that each European citizen used 198 plastic bags in the same year (European Parliament, 2021). For grocery shopping, use reusable bags (such as fabric) or, if you buy bulk products, opt for glass containers with screw or pressure caps, or even airtight steel cans.

2. Drink water from the tap or in glass bottles (returnable vacuum).

Water in plastic bottles produces about 280 thousand tons of waste per year in Italy alone (Legambiente, 2018). “Mayor’s water” is a completely safe alternative for human consumption being subjected to daily analyses certifying more than 35 chemical and bacteriological parameters (Altroconsumo, 2020). Possibly, you can install home filters to improve the composition of your home water in case you are unsure of the quality of the pipes that bring it to your faucet. An additional alternative, is to opt for water in glass bottles by relying on a home delivery service. In this case, the “life” of glass bottles is significantly longer than “disposable” water in plastic bottles, and in addition, glass at “end of life” is 100% recyclable, countless times.

3. Plastic bags for food storage

can take up to eight times longer to decompose in landfills than reusable ones, such as those impregnated with beeswax (Frank, 2020). Avoid using them or reuse them several times. The bag you use to store leftovers or frozen foods can be easily rinsed, dried and used again. Follow this behavior even once per bag and you will have reduced your waste by half.

4. Take care in choosing the right dishwasher detergent.

In whatever format they come in, dishwasher detergents certainly cannot be considered “green.” Detergent ingredients are not harmless substances: fragrances are very toxic to the aquatic world as are polycarboxylates and phosphates, which are used to neutralize limescale in washing water (source Altroconsumo, CLEAN project, European Union Consumer Porgramme, 2021). The wrapper of single-dose capsules also tends to be water-soluble, but if it does not dissolve well, it could cause the consistent release of microplastics. Choose those who give you guarantees on this!

5. Give preference to loose vegetables and fruits, not wrapped in plastic or other materials.

If packaging is unavoidable, choosing cardboard packaging will limit your impact on the environment. In general, it also pays to limit the purchase and consumption of single-serving foods, favoring packs and packages of a size appropriate to your family’s needs and possibly consisting of only one material or easily disassembled.

6. If you buy products contained in packaging, choose those with packaging consisting of only one material; this aspect facilitates proper recycling collection.

We must all strive to collect each type of material separately in order to optimize recycling. Recycling waste, preventing it from going to landfill or incineration, is necessary to slow the continued extraction of resources from our (already vastly overexploited) Planet. Commercial plastics, which characterize much of the packaging we take home, can all be collected together as long as they are packaging (bottles, tubs, jars, lids, films, etc.), excluding those marked with the number 7 (Corepla, 2021). Plastic items that are not identifiable as packaging-for example, kitchen utensils, bowls, buckets, etc.-must be placed in the unsorted waste or taken to the waste collection center if bulky.

7. Get convenient, roomy, easy-to-clean containers for organizing weekly bulk groceries or managing them in the refrigerator.

Food-grade stainless steel or glass containers are preferred, all of which are available in different sizes that are practical, washable, and will not release unwanted substances when in contact with food.

8. Avoid clear plastic wrap to cover food.

If you have not yet equipped yourself with useful containers for food storage (see point 7), you can make up for it, for example, with alternatives that exist on the market, such as organic cotton films impregnated with beeswax or soy wax, with aromatic substances and oils that combine elasticizing and antibacterial properties. In addition to being reusable for multiple times, these wrappers soften with the heat of your hands and can also be used in the freezer. They are washable in cold water and their breathable properties allow longer food storage, preventing the appearance of mold.

9. Avoid plastic cleaning tools in the kitchen.

Often the sponges we use in the kitchen are made of various types of plastic polymers that as they love being used, they release microplastics. There are environmentally friendly alternatives such as loofah sponges (derived from the drying of the eponymous vegetable belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, which is very similar to a common zucchini and in Italy is grown in Sicily and Sardinia), or sponge cloths made from natural and renewable raw materials such as wood cellulose and cotton, or even brushes with plant-based bristles.

10. Avoid disposable plastic coffee capsules.

Preferably choose biodegradable and compostable or, even better, refillable and reusable stainless steel capsules. In addition, opting for the timeless and durable mocha generally cuts the impact caused by all kinds of packaging considerably by letting us store bulk coffee in reusable tin or glass jars. Further alternative, get a machine that directly uses coffee beans or powder.