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Way back when I first moved to New York City (in 2004!), I worked for a Jewish environmental organization called Hazon. I was 22, a hopeful idealist, and passionate about the ways that Jewish tradition could inspire more sustainability within and beyond the Jewish community.
My work bestie Anna Hanau (now of Grow & Behold, pictured above) and I regularly rode our bikes from Brooklyn to Manhattan to get to the office. We also ate a *lot* of sautéed kale at pot luck Shabbat dinners, and eagerly studied Jewish texts that framed Judaism as an earth-based tradition, and humans as stewards of, rather than masters over, creation. It was a really fun time.
I didn’t yet know that I would become a professional food writer. And I didn’t know that my primary focus would shift away from the intersection of ecology and Jewish tradition, and towards a deeper exploration of Jewish history, culture, and cuisine. What I did know was that, whatever I ended up doing with my life, a desire to protect the natural world I love so deeply would be central.
Over the years, I have tried a LOT of eco-friendly products in an attempt to create a home that reflects my values. And I’m sorry to say some of them don’t work that well - many don’t really work at all. But along the way, I have discovered some tried-and-true products that get the job done while using less/no plastic, paper, and toxic chemicals. Here are some of my favorite cleaner, greener kitchen products. What are yours?
If you are going to make one change…
Swap standard paper towels for 100% recycled paper towels.
I’ve tried, but I just can’t quit paper towels. I love a good tea towel, but for certain spills, paper towels are just so unbeatably convenient. And yet…producing those towels, which I use for 2 minutes and then throw away, means cutting down ancient trees in the boreal forest of northern Canada and/or the Amazon rainforest which is, terrifyingly, on the brink of collapse. Fortunately, there are 100% recycled paper towels on the market that do the job well, without the baggage. If you are thinking about making just one switch in your kitchen, this one will have a big impact. My favorite brand is Seventh Generation.
(On the tree-saving front, the toilet paper from Trader Joe’s is soft and made from 80% recycled fibers.)
At the market…
Embrace that #totebaglife. If you are still getting plastic bags at the grocery store check out, now’s a great time to switch to reusable totes. Why? Because single use plastic bags, along with a staggering 8 million tons of other plastic garbage, are literally clogging the world’s oceans. If you’re like me and have trouble remembering to bring your tote with you, follow my mom’s trick: Keep a bunch in the trunk or backseat of your car. Or, store a couple super lightweight, foldable Baggu totes in your purse or backpack so your shopping bag is there when you need it. Let’s normalize saying, “Oh no thanks, I don’t need a bag today.”
Try reusable produce bags.
Ready for the next step after tote bags become second nature? Add in reusable produce bags. I love the nylon mesh bags from Naturally Sensible. (Cheesy name, but a great product.) They are breathable, which keeps produce fresher than plastic bags, have a drawstring so your cherry tomatoes don’t spill everywhere, and are easy to clean. I keep them *inside* my tote bags, so I don’t forget them at the market.
In the kitchen…
Ditch your plastic Tupperware for glass
A few years ago, while visiting my bestie in Seattle, I noticed that she didn’t have any plastic Tupperware in her kitchen. Instead, her leftovers were neatly tucked away into glass storage containers. Inspired to cut down on my own plastic habit, I began replacing my messy Tupperware collection with Pyrex containers. I love them because they let you see exactly what’s inside, freeze well, and they are easy to clean. (Ever had trouble getting the lingering smell of marinara or curry out of your plastic Tupperware? It’s not an issue with Pyrex.)
Upgrade your dish soap
The majority of commercially available dish soaps contain phosphates, chlorine, and other toxic ingredients that can leach into the water stream, impacting drinking water and harming marine life. Unfortunately, eco-friendly dish soaps don’t always have the best reputation for getting dishes sparkling clean. I have found a happy medium in Seventh Generation’s dish soaps, which are made with biodegradable materials. (The bottles are also made from 100% recycled plastic - bonus!) They clean effectively, and I love all of their essential oil-based scents, especially chamomile & lemon. Doing dishes is never *fun,* but at least it can smell like a spa day?
Upgrade your laundry soap too!
Okay, okay, this is not a kitchen-focused product, but I love it too much not to share! Earth Breeze paraben and phosphate-free laundry detergent takes regular liquid detergent and transforms it into sheets that instantly dissolve in your washing machine. The sheets clean clothes nicely, have a wonderful scent, and - here’s my favorite part - are super light weight. No more lugging a heavy plastic bottle of laundry soap down to our building’s machines. I just tuck the thin, lightweight (fully biodegradable) package into my laundry cart, and off I go.
Go for greener trash bags
I recently discovered these recycled trash bags by GreenPolly, and am already a fan. They are made from 90% recycled plastic and 10% bioplastic (from sugarcane), which means they contain no new hydrocarbon-based plastic. Are they the world’s absolute toughest trash bags? Nah, but they are durable enough to tote my family’s garbage between our kitchen and the trash compactor. And really, what more do you need a garbage bag to do?
On the go…
Pack lunches in a Bento box
I have a soft spot for the brown paper bag, which is how I brought my Fluffernutter sandwiches and bell pepper slices to school throughout my childhood. But these days, I pack my kids’ lunches in reusable bento boxes. The kids love the different compartments inside to hold their sandwich, clementine, and Goldfish crackers. I love that they are reusable. Okay, I don’t always love the mornings when I forgot to wash them out the night before - but it’s a net positive. There are a million options out there. I like anything from Bentgo.
Joy is a stainless steel straw
With all apologies to the plastic-clogged oceans, there is no joy to be found in a paper straw that begins to disintegrate while you sip your lemonade. But! Reusable stainless steel straws are legitimately amazing - one of the few eco-friendly products that performs not just as well, but *better* than the plastic original. Stainless steel straws are sleek and durable, and make cold drinks taste frostier and more refreshing. Beatrice drinks her morning cup of milk from these Our Table straws, and I carry one in my bag for impromptu iced coffee runs. I’m still on the lookout for a reusable coffee cup that I truly love. (I’m open to suggestions if you’ve got a fave!) But meanwhile, I have my straw situation sorted.
Recommendations from The Jewish Table Readers
Paid subscribers to The Jewish Table get to connect and share ideas with one another every week in our Friday Kibbitz chat thread. The threads cover everything from our best “secret ingredients,” and the cookbooks that taught us how to cook, to our most cringe-worthy kitchen fails.
A few weeks ago, in anticipation of this newsletter, I asked the question: “What is Your Favorite Green Kitchen Product?” There were lots of awesome suggestions! Here are a few reader-suggested products that I am psyched to try:
Jan K recommended: Sheets Laundry Club dishwasher soap pods
Mitchell Davis recommended: Kind loofah sponges from Casabella
Leslie DR recommended: French terry cloth produce bags, which keep veggies fresh for ages
Jane recommended: Compostable paper sandwich bags for packing lunches
Arlene recommended: The vegan dish block from No Tox Life for dishes, cleaning counters, and removing clothing stains
Be a part of future Friday Kibbitz conversations, by becoming a paid subscriber to The Jewish Table!
8 Steps To A Cleaner, Greener Kitchen
If I would have known how you were using the information, I would have suggested several other things -- Sheets Laundry Club also has fantastic hard soap for dishes and detergent sheets for your clothes (and many other products) that arrive in recycled paper packaging. Those don't require that massive amounts of water (bulky and heavy) be shipped in plastic packaging (which is the story of your Seventh Generation products. People mistakenly feel those are environmental, when they are really only marginally better, if at all, then other corporate products. If anything, S.C.Johnson, which produces with a substantial amount of renewable energy and does other environmentally responsible things, is at least as good.) Don't let marketing fool you, think these things through for yourself. And, try using washcloths to sop up spills instead of paper towels. They are designed to be absorbent and are easily washed.
I think any discussion that recommends eco-friendly ways to live is worthwhile. Thanks for your effort and suggestions. Personally, I think eco-friendly discussions need to include some element of vegan living...whether it's full on vegan or part-time - say a few times per week. I'm interested in your thoughts - personally, one huge advantage for a Jewish person is not having to keep a separate kitchen to remain kosher since there is inherently no conflict between dairy and meat.