.png)
The global effects of climate change are why more commercial kitchen managers and establishment owners have begun to focus on sustainability by using sustainable kitchen products.
There are over 1 million restaurants, bars, and cafes in the United States. That doesn't account for the food service kitchens in schools, hospitals, government buildings, retail shops, office complexes, etc. Each of these kitchens generates waste that contributes to the (literal) mountains of trash filling landfills (and oceanic trash piles).
Running a sustainable commercial kitchen is one significant way you can make an impact. Let's review what sustainable products to use in your eco-friendly commercial kitchen to be more sustainable.
Key Takeaways:
- Non-packaging paper waste like paper towels and napkins contributes to 3.8 million tons of waste. Changing out single-use consumables is the first step in becoming an eco-friendly kitchen.
- Roughly 79% of the plastic ends up in landfills. Plastic wrap substitutes and non-plastic food storage containers will help you reduce landfill plastics.
- Consumables are not the only food service kitchen waste. Installing faucets and fixtures that are durable and sustainably made will help you save time, money, and precious natural resources.
10 Eco-Friendly Products for a Sustainable Commercial Kitchen
Sustainability can take many forms! Here are products you should use in your eco-friendly commercial kitchen, ranging from small consumables to fixtures and fittings.
1. Paper Towel and Napkin Alternatives
One way to run an eco-friendly commercial kitchen is to get rid of disposable and single-use paper products for reusable cloth options.
In a busy kitchen, it may seem more time-efficient to use single-use towels and napkins, but these products create 3.8 million tons of waste, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
They are not as cost-effective as they seem, either. While the initial expense of purchasing disposable paper towels and napkins is less than buying reusable linens, the savings over time make up the difference.
Replacing single-use products with reusable items is the first thing every commercial kitchen should do to be more sustainable and eco-friendlier.
2. Plastic Wrap Substitutes
The use of non-reusable plastic products increased in the 1940s and '50s, just after World War II ended. People began using disposable items over reusable products more consistently in the '70s and 80s.
By the turn of the millennium, the negative impact of plastics on the environment was almost irreversible. Over 5 trillion plastics are collecting in the oceans. Plastic wrap contributes to this plastic waste.
Purchasing reusable plastic wrap substitutes for your commercial kitchen will reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills. Options for usable plastic wrap alternatives include:
- Plant-based wax paper
- Fabric bowl covers with elasticized edges
- Reusable storage bags
3. Non-Plastic Food Storage Containers
Reusable storage containers are an obvious choice for plastic-wrap and food storage solutions options. However, make sure that you are using non-plastic food storage containers in your commercial kitchen.
Jars are a logical choice, or (almost) anything that seals, made of glass, and you can sanitize will work. In the hipster capital, known as the Hawthorne District, a coffee shop in Portland, Oregon, repurposes empty glass pickle jars for storing coffee beans.
Along one wall of the cafe, you will see giant pickle jars repurposed. It serves as functional as well as decorative, and the local hipsters love the ambiance it creates.
Another way to eliminate unnecessary plastics in your commercial kitchen is to use reusable mesh bags for bread and produce. You can also opt for eco-friendly kitchen utensils for food prep and serving.
4. Stainless Steel Mesh Coffee Filter
Speaking of coffee shops...
Reducing single-use products can be challenging when you specialize in to-go food and beverage items. The world has shifted to using paper straws and compostable to-go containers and continues to look for alternatives to throwing additional waste in the trash.
One way coffee shops and cafés can do their part in running an eco-friendly commercial kitchen is to use stainless steel mesh coffee filters. They eliminate single-use filters and save you money. Not to mention they are better for the environment.
5. Non-Aerating Laminar Spray Aerator
Small consumables are not the only way commercial kitchens can be eco-friendly. The next step is to look at your fixtures and fittings to see if they create unnecessary waste. For instance, how much could you save on water consumption with the right fittings installed with your fixtures?
If you want more control over the water flow of the faucets in your commercial kitchens but do not want to replace every fixture in the facility, install non-aerating laminar spray aerators in all the faucets. They reduce the flow rate to 0.5 gallons per minute (GPM) for optimal water conservation (without sacrificing water pressure).
6. Replaceable Fittings
You don't always have to replace an entire faucet if the facility encounters a plumbing problem related to the sinks. You create significantly less waste when you replace small components versus entire fixtures.
Changing out the cartridges, aerators, transformers, and plumbing fittings will increase the lifecycle of your faucets. For this, buy quality, commercial-grade fixtures.
Low-quality faucets in high-traffic buildings are like installing disposable fixtures.
7. Commercial-Grade Fixtures (Sustainably Made)
The first two things to do to become an eco-friendly kitchen are to change out single-use items with reusable ones and eliminate the use of plastics when possible. The next is to install faucets and other fixtures that focus on durability and sustainability.
For a commercial kitchen, you will need commercial-grade fixtures. You can't go to the local hardware store and buy them out of their kitchen faucets to install in your food service kitchen.
Those models are meant for residential applications and will not withstand the wear and tear of heavy use. It's the equivalent of installing disposable faucets - not at all practical (or eco-friendly).
Longevity and Durability Equal Sustainable
Lessen the impact of climate change by running an eco-friendly kitchen. Part of sustainability is the longevity of a product. At Chicago Faucets, we do not sell fast faucets. We manufacture plumbing solutions made to last for years to come.
When it's time to upgrade the fixtures in your eco-friendly kitchen, purchase from a company with sustainable manufacturing practices for all our products.
Do you run an eco-friendly kitchen and need to replace your faucets? Contact us today to learn more about our sustainability practices.
