Take Care of Your Family's Health and Do Your Bit for the Environment: Discover Great Plastic-Free Kitchen Storage Options and Why Junking Plastic is Imperative for Your Existence (2021)

Plastic storage units for your kitchen are easily available in all shapes and sizes and these are pretty convenient too. Naturally almost all kitchens use a whole range of plastic containers for all kinds of use, whether its for storing snacks or storing the leftovers in the fridge.

On the other hand, if you go for glass or a storage of any other material then at times it becomes challenging. They are difficult to manage and have high breakage. However, with the convenience and ease of use, plastic boxes also have an adverse effect on the environment as well as your health. In most households, plastic is mostly used in the kitchen and cutting out the consumption there will go a long way in protecting the environment.

When it comes to storage of food items, glass serves as one of the best and safest options to do so. Owing to its durability, some glass containers have dual use for both cooking and storing food. Also, food can be heated repeatedly without any container distortion or any harmful chemicals or residues leaching into the food. Additionally, food remains odour-free for a longer time and is safe for both hot and cold food. The best thing about glass containers is that they are recyclable making them eco-friendly.

In these modern times, Silicon can be termed as the star of any kitchen. It can be popped in almost anywhere like a refrigerator, broiler, oven, microwave, dishwasher, etc. which makes it extremely useful and multipurpose. Unlike plastic, silicon does not release harmful chemicals into the food when burnt or on being used extensively. Moreover, silicon containers are easily recyclable and hence environment-friendly.

Likewise, ceramic cookware is known for its versatility as this too can be used almost everywhere from stove to oven. Pop it in the microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, etc. and it will work just fine. Not only an addition to kitchen aesthetics, ceramic cookware can withstand extreme temperatures too. Unlike plastic, it is safe to store and cook just about everything without adding any toxicity, odour or foul taste into the food when burnt or used extensively. Again, it is 100% recyclable and eco-friendly.

Reusable wraps like beeswax food wraps, linen food wraps, etc. can be used to store food in an eco-friendly way. These can be washed and reused making them very affordable and multipurpose to be used extensively to store a variety of food. As these are made of naturally sourced materials, the properties of various elements like beeswax or coconut oil make it antifungal and antibacterial, thereby keeping the food fresh for longer intervals and thus preventing the food from turning stale.

As most of you strive for an eco-friendly living, using cloth and jute bags is one of the best alternatives to its poly counterparts. Jute is made from natural fibres obtained from plant stems which makes it reusable and affordable for one and all. Jute or cloth bags are renewable, durable and can be used to carry relatively more weight. Jute is also known to have moderate moisture retaining abilities. As these can be made and customized in numerous ways using different colours, dyes, textures, embellishments, etc. they are ideal for use by all age and gender groups.

Using earth-friendly cookware and serving dishes is a healthy and sustainable way to cook and eat. While cooking or even storing hot food, there is little probability of any toxicity or contamination, thereby ensuring health safety as well as climate and environment preservation. Using earth-friendly cookware and serve-ware helps you to reduce your footprint on the environment, as well as these are extremely affordable due to the fact that they are made of natural materials which are renewable and do not require heavy manufacturing.

This set includes 6 airtight glass jars of 750 ml capacity each with wooden lids making each of these jars completely eco-friendly in its entirety. Their unique design makes this perfect for any kitchen, large or small. Their easily stackable design uses less spaces on counters. These jars are dishwasher safe and can be found on Home Centre for a discounted price of just ₹ 959.00.

This 2 litre gourmet cook and serve dish is microwave, dishwasher and oven safe. It can easily withstand temperatures up to 300°C. Made of superior borosilicate glass, it does not contaminate food with chemicals during the process of cooking or serving even at high temperatures. It is break-resistant to sudden temperature changes and easy to clean. This doubles up as a high quality beautiful serving dish, with a glass lid to keep the food hot and safe. Buy this Borosil – Gourmet Cook and Serve dish on Amazon at a discounted price of ₹ 1,378.00

This mixing bowl comes in various sizes and is extremely kitchen-friendly. It can be used in a microwave, dishwasher, freezer and oven without having to worry about any wear and tear. Made of high quality borosilicate glass, it can withstand temperatures up to 300°C. This mixing bowl easily doubles up as a baking pan for cakes as well as to boil rice and potatoes. Buy this on Amazon at a discounted price of ₹ 424.00.

This iron kettle is a quirky and earthy addition to any kitchen. Available in off-white colour, medium size with a handle and lid to keep your “chai” warm and safe. The colour, style and the design of the kettle matches perfectly with the style and decoration of any modern kitchen. You can buy this classic kettle from Tata CLiQ for just ₹ 799.00 and make a worthy addition to your kitchen.

This trio of a tawa, skillet and kadai serves as a great cooking set for any kitchen catering to all your needs and can replace non-stick cookware that use a whole lot of chemicals. This cast iron set is pre-seasoned and ready-to-use. Cast iron cookware is known to use less oil while cooking, retain heat for longer periods and cook the food evenly. It not only improves the taste of the food cooked in it but also adds nutritional value in terms of iron content. Cast iron cookware is made of natural and non-toxic materials, is completely safe for cooking any and all types of food at high temperatures as well as for outdoor cooking during camping, etc. The cookware is easy to clean and gets better with every use. Buy this exclusive set on The Indus Valley for just ₹ 2,999.00.

This spoon set is made of mango wood and consists of 3 pieces. Be assured that these spoons are washable and easy to clean and maintain. Handcrafted to perfection these pair perfectly with any and all types of serve-ware, bowls, plates, etc. Wood has been used in making utensils for centuries for it various properties, one of them being safe and free from toxic elements. Take a step towards making your kitchen plastic-free with this set of mango wood spoons. You can grab this set at Ellementry for just ₹ 1,790.00.

Wooden spice boxes are in currently and this exquisite wooden spice box is air-tight and consists of nine compartments to hold different spices of your choice. The box has a fibre lid to keep the contents safe and adds a great look to this traditional and natural piece. Owing to its splendid design, this can also be used to serve and store other condiments. This spice box comes with a wooden spoon that compliments the box perfectly. Buy this combo at IGP for just ₹ 825.00.

This starter set consists of 6 starter spoons and 6 starter forks in a box. The green and silver cutlery is made of stainless steel and is plated with titanium. These can also be doubled up as soup spoons and come with a box for easy and safe storage. Buy this luxurious set at The Decor Circle for ₹ 5,699.00.

This porcelain dinnerware set consists of various serving dishes which can be purchased as per your choice and need. Made of high quality ceramic, this serve-ware is safe to use in a microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator. This set is versatile to accommodate and serve a variety of foods. Buy this range of multipurpose and exquisite serve-ware at Wish for ₹ 1,883.00.

Just like any other utensil, you tend to use plastic chopping boards as well for ease of availability and maintenance. However, many of you are more aware now than ever before and doing everything you can to live a sustainable life and protect the environment. In the comprehensive list of plastic-free items, the last addition is the chopping board. The Proppmätt Wooden Chopping Board has just the right thickness, weight and anti-slip mechanism. The wooden board is durable and gentle on your knives and can even double up as a serving tray for cheese and cold cuts. Buy this chopping board from Ikea at just ₹ 599.00.

If you are looking for non-plastic kitchen storage containers then this set of 6 storage jars from Siattle is what you need. The storage jars score on convenience, design, look and of course being toxic-free. You can use these containers for storing spices, dry fruits, candies, pasta, cereals, etc. The set contains a total of 6 jars which are cylindrical in shape and airtight. A little bit of care while washing these containers will ensure that you maintain the look and gloss of these contemporary containers while taking a step towards a plastic free storage. Buy this set of 6 non-plastic storage containers from Home Centre for just ₹ 2,099.00.

We had quite a discussion over non-plastic kitchen storage containers and how it adds to the value and safety in your kitchen. Let's also talk about the reasons why plastic is actually bad for storage.

Plastics contain an extremely toxic compound called bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA. When you reheat food in plastic containers, this chemical start to seep into the food overtime making it unfit for consumption. The toxicity can cause various health problems like cancer, heart issues, reproductive problems and even infertility. Some plastic companies claim not to use BPA, however, it is usually replaced with BPS which shares BPA’s hazardous nature, making it equally unhealthy, if not more.

Research studies have shown that plastic causes hormonal imbalances which is one of the primary causes for reproductive problems and can ultimately lead to infertility in both men and women. The BPA found in plastics is known to cause problems during conception, pregnancy term and even leads to miscarriages. Researches have been able to establish a domino effect between plastic use leading to birth defects and child growth and development issues.

All living things need the Earth to live and thrive. You are constantly made aware of the harmful effects of plastic on your body. However, it is imperative to understand the effects of plastic manufacturing, use and disposal on the environment. When it comes to manufacturing, plastic is made of petrochemicals, which renders immense amounts of waste both to be filled in landfills and spilled into the oceans, resulting in both land and water pollution.

These chemicals and wastes result in toxification thereby leading to the death and extinction of marine life and species. Even when you are trying to get rid of plastic from your life, its disposal is not as simple. As plastic is non-biodegradable it is either dropped into landfills or dumped into oceans where it takes more than 400 years to degrade and decompose. This results in barren lands unfit for productive use or killing marine life due to its toxicity.