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Dear Readers,
As we move into Earth Month, I’ve been reflecting on how I approach sustainability. One memory, in particular, makes me cringe.
Sometime in the ’90s, when I was in elementary school, I stood in the kitchen watching my dad wash plastic zip-top bags and prop them on the drying rack. For reasons I can’t explain, I decided that this was deeply uncool and I told him so, insisting that the bags were supposed to be thrown out after every use.
My dad told me that washing the bags saved money and prevented waste, and kept at it. He understood that disposable habits add up.
What neither of us knew then was how plastic behaves over time, and that scrubbing those bags with hot water likely caused the material to degrade and shed microplastics. Now we know that microplastics are almost everywhere: in our water, our soil, and our bodies.
Saving the bag was a good instinct, but rethinking the material itself may matter even more. Our main goal shouldn't just be to reuse plastic, but to reduce our reliance on it altogether.
Here are a few swaps to help you kick plastic — both obvious and invisible — out of your kitchen.
Happy cooking, happy shopping, and happy (almost) Earth Month!
– Elizabeth Weinstein, Marketplace Editor |
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Better Boiling
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Many electric kettles place plastic in direct contact with boiling water, where repeated heat exposure can accelerate wear and increase the potential for microplastics or trace compounds to leach over time. The Saki Luna Electric Kettle Pro avoids that concern with a fully stainless steel interior, so water only touches steel from start to finish. Precise temperature controls and preset options make it easy to dial in the ideal heat for green tea, black tea, oolong, coffee, and more, while its streamlined design brings a refined, countertop-worthy look to the kitchen. ($155.95) |
| Upgrade Your Kettle |
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Our Favorite Cooking Tools
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Earlywood crafts its cooking tools from solid hardwoods shaped for serious kitchen work. The innovative flat profiles flip, stir, scrape, and slide with precision, yet take up remarkably little space in a utensil crock or drawer. They also double as salad tongs, bench scrapers, and more. (from $11) |
| Upgrade Your Utensils |
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Fastidious Filtration
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What comes out of your tap matters. Epic Water Filters remove bacteria, lead, chlorine, PFAS, and microplastics, as well as improving taste, while addressing contaminants that standard carbon filters may miss. Choose a durable, BPA-free Tritan plastic pitcher or an easily installed under-sink system for even more peace of mind. They even offer a portable filter that's compatible with most name-brand, wide-mouth bottles. (from $60) |
| Drink Better Water |
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Smarter Disinfecting
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It’s not hard to create your own disinfectant wipes, but actually getting around to it is something else altogether. This Reusable Disinfectant Wipes DIY Kit includes 18 washable cloths and a glass jar with the disinfectant recipe printed on the side, so you can ditch disposable wipes and plastic containers for good. ($42.99) |
| Do It Yourself (Sort of) |
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Imagine if all packaging disappeared — either composted, dissolved, or eaten …
In this episode of our podcast, cohosts Janet Kraus and Cleo Carney sit down with Pierre-Yves Paslier, co-founder of Notpla, the Earthshot Prize–winning company that makes biodegradable plastic-free packaging from seaweed.
Pierre went from designing plastic bottles at L’Oréal to building a company that addresses the plastics crisis, and it all started in his kitchen.
Watch the Episode and Get Inspired Here
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For just $5/month, you can become a Bluedot Living member — investing in a healthier planet while unlocking real, everyday benefits for yourself. You'll enjoy 10% off every purchase from Bluedot Living Collection, our editor-curated marketplace of planet-friendly brands and products and you'll receive additional member-only store discounts each month. Many members recoup the cost of membership in just a handful of purchases from our store. From there, the savings continue — making sustainable living more accessible, affordable, and impactful.
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Want to get in touch? I’d love to hear from you. Tell me about your favorite sustainable products and anything else that’s on your mind — email marketplace@bluedotliving.com. I’ll see you again Monday after next.
– Elizabeth Weinstein |
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Elizabeth Weinstein, Bluedot’s Marketplace Editor, lives in Manhattan with her husband; papillon Finley; and cats SanDeE* and Modell. When she’s not asking the folks at Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom to try on their most sustainable sneakers in a size 9½, she can be found at the Union Square Greenmarket or gardening on her rooftop terrace. |
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Our audience is informed, intentional, and tuned in to sustainable living. Reach our 300,000 readers by advertising here, or contact adsales@bluedotliving.com to reserve your space. |
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This season’s issue is all about cooking with intention, using what you have, and setting the tone for a more thoughtful spring. We’re sharing waste-not soup and a closer look at planet-conscious chocolate. You’ll also find guidance on raising backyard chickens, what to know about amla powder, and ideas to help you cook seasonally while we head into spring. Subscribe now to read the latest issue of Bluedot Living Kitchen and get a full year of low-waste recipes, sustainable kitchen tips, and mindful cooking inspiration for every season.
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