Simple, sustainable swaps for your home
Progress over perfection. That’s our family’s motto as we look for ways to reduce our waste and reliance on plastics. As the owner of Boshi Botanicals, the first zero-waste refill store in Memphis, I am probably stricter than most about what we use in our house, but that doesn’t mean we are perfect.
Growing up, my family separated our glass, plastics, and paper, and brought everything to the recycling facility once every couple of weeks. This—along with lessons about the three R’s (reduce, recycle, and reuse) and a love of TV shows like Captain Planet—taught me the importance of personal action in caring for the earth. I strove to do my best, but a move overseas taught me that sustainability goes beyond recycling.
In 2015, my husband and I became expats for his job, moving to Europe, Mexico, and Asia. During our travels, I witnessed the effects of waste and pollution (trash washing up on beaches in southeast Asia and intense smog from industrial manufacturing in China), plus global innovation to combat these issues. In France, years before it was popular in the U.S., I found my first zero-waste store with bulk bins of everything from rice and noodles to laundry and hand soap. In the Philippines, I discovered un-paper towels, reusable feminine pads, and bamboo straws.
Each discovery encouraged me to think differently about the products we used and what steps I could take to further reduce my family’s waste. I’ve learned it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s about making small changes that are doable long-term, and the kitchen is a great place to start! Here are some simple, sustainable swaps to get you started.
Un-paper towels and Swedish dishcloths are family favorites because they replace one of the most wasted items in the kitchen—the paper towel. Paper towels are typically used once before they end up in the landfill. Un-paper towels roll up and work like regular paper towels, but are made of cotton and can be washed and reused for up to 10 years with good care.
Swedish dishcloths are another great paper towel swap. Made of a compostable combination of cotton, wood pulp, and/or cellulose, Swedish dishcloths offer greater absorbency than a single paper towel and can be washed and reused for nine months or longer.
When it comes to covering up food, beeswax wraps are a great and healthier alternative to plastic wrap and aluminum foil. They are made of beeswax-coated cotton fabric (or candelilla wax for vegan wraps) and can seal over food or a dish with the heat of your hands. I used my Bee’s Wrap food wraps to cover refrigerator cookies during the holidays, and they worked great! They are washable and can be reused for a year or more with proper care.
Other great food-saver alternatives are silicone bowl covers and reusable sandwich and snack bags. Silicone bowl covers fit snugly over your dish to keep the contents in and dirt and bugs out. Reusable sandwich and snack bags come in many forms. Some are made of silicone and others have a fabric outer shell and waterproof lining. We love the Re-Sacs and food wraps made locally by Kemetori.
Skipping the plastic when you clean your dishes is another great step towards a greener kitchen. Look for PVA-free dishwasher tablets or dishwasher powder. PVA, or polyvinyl alcohol, is a form of dissolvable plastic. It disintegrates into microplastics when it comes in contact with hot water, entering our waterways. We love Green Llama dishwasher tabs, as they really work— and they are made here in Tennessee!
Solid dish soap is rising in the superstar category for sustainability. Instead of pumping soap onto a sponge, you can use a dish brush or sponge to swipe the bar and then lather up your dishes. Solid dish soap lasts longer than a bottle of dish soap and doesn’t come in plastic packaging. For those who prefer liquid, refilling is a great alternative to purchasing a new plastic bottle.
Food waste makes up nearly half of what goes into our landfills, according to Clean Memphis, so we love products that keep food fresher longer, like Vejibags. These amazing organic cotton bags slow your veggies’ wilting in the fridge by keeping them lightly moist while still letting them breathe.
Composting is also a great way to reduce food waste. Investing in a compost bin, Bokashi bin, or composting service, like Compost Fairy, helps you keep food scraps out of the landfill and gifts you compost—the gold currency in gardening.
At the end of the day, progress is more important than perfection. By finding swaps that work for you and your family, you can save money and lessen the impact of waste on our planet.
Boshi Botanicals
3092 Poplar Ave. Suite #16 (Chickasaw Oaks Plaza)
Becky Beloin is the founder and CEO of Boshi Botanicals, the first zero-waste refill store in Memphis. When she’s not helping Memphis go green, she loves traveling with her family, writing, gardening, and singing off-key Broadway hits. She loves a great vegan cheese and is always up for a craft kombucha. @beckybtravels
Emma Meskovic is the digital marketing specialist at City & State, an illustrator, and a roller derby rookie who loves taking photos of everyone’s food before they can touch it. She works as creative director for Edible Memphis. @emmamesk