Eco Kitchen Equipment

Greening Your Kitchen - Part 5

Second hand kitchen equipment

What does eco kitchen equipment and second hand shops have in common? Well, charity shops are ideal for finding used kitchen equipment, cookware, dining ware glassware, crockery and cutlery. This is a great way of reusing somebody's old products again, a very effective form of recycling that reduces the demand on landfill sites. If you replace the dinner ware, crockery and equipment in your kitchen cupboards, don't throw anything away - donate as much as you can to charity shops to keep durable products in the recycling loop.

Eco kitchen equipment - Materials

Bamboo

View my article on bamboo as a rapidly renewable and sustainable alternative to timber.

Engineered bamboo

Uses: draining board, bowls, salad bowl, crumb board, chopping board, plates, cooking spoons &amp; salad servers. Finished with natural oil, however not dishwasher or microwave safe.

Bamboo fibre plastic

Uses: Bowls, plates &amp; cups

A polished finish appearance using processed bamboo fibres to create biodegradable products which have a lifespan of approximately 5 years.Suitable for dishwasher use.

Bear in mind that both of these bamboo derivatives require manufacturing and processing. They are from a natural and renewable material, however check with the retailer/manufacturer as to the types of resins combined with the bamboo.

Rubberwood

View my article on rubberwood as a rapidly renewable substitute for timber.
Uses: sushi board, chopping board, cheese tray
Another fast growing timber alternative which can be used for various pieces of kitchen equipment. Ensure the finish is 100% natural without chemical or synthetic ingredients.

Recycled content

Coasters: Made from post consumer non biodegradable plastic/foil juice cartons that are otherwise bound for landfill. These products contain synthetics and chemical substances.
Aluminium oven foil: Made from 100% recycled aluminium. This recycling process uses a minimal amount of energy compared to processing of aluminium from raw materials. This benefits the natural environment by reducing the demand on fossil fuel to produce energy for processing. . Look for packaging that is made out of recycled paper with vegetable ink.
Metal bowls: Hand made from recycled aluminium with a variety of finishes e.g. polished. These products are also recyclable after use - closing the loop on the production cycle.

Recycled glass

Uses: dining ware, glasses, jugs, containers, bowls

Glass used for dinnerware does not contain lead and is fully recyclable once the lifespan has been reached.

Most recycled glass products are suitable for dishwasher and microwave use, however please check with the manufacturer.

Eco kitchen equipment - Cook/bake ware

Porcelain enamel coated cast iron

Uses: casserole dish, baking dish, saucepans, pots

Durable, simple to clean and will not scratch. This thick material is non stick and good at conducting heat which cooks food at an even temperature without burning.

Enamel coated copper

Uses: casserole dish, baking dish, saucepans, pots

The same characteristics as porcelain enamelled cast iron, except copper is much lighter in weight.

Cast iron Uses: casserole dish, baking dish, saucepans, pots Durable with a non stick surface and good at conducting heat which cooks food at an even temperature without burning.

Clay

Uses: casserole dish, baking dish, saucepans, pots, oven tray, baking pans. A lead free and lightweight material compared to cast iron. Suitable for microwave, hob and oven use.

Stainless steel

Uses: saut&eacute; pan, pots, saucepans
100% stainless steel or with a sandwiched aluminium core/base. Lighter in weight than cast iron.

Avoid non stick labels on your cookware and products with Teflon
A chemical substance to give a non stick surface on your cookware &ndash; this has toxic associations as a carcinogen which is hazardous to human &amp; animal health as well as contaminating the surround environment (water and earth).