10 Eco-Friendly Food Storage Ideas for a Waste Free Kitchen

We all want to preserve our food and waste less…..We need to invest in good Food Storage Containers to preserve our food and protect it from pests!

The amount of money I have invested in food storage over the years is staggering… I usually baulk at the price of the really good stuff and end up buying shitty plastic containers that are good for maybe two or three years before splitting so they end up in landfill – and that’s not good enough!

So I’m slowly replacing my shitty containers with eco-friendly and sustainable food storage containers.  Sure – it is a long term project – but one that I’m really happy to be doing.  But what eco-friendly and sustainable options are there for food storage containers?

Well – I’ve done the research so you don’t have to!  Read on!

The Pantry Starter Kit from The Container Store

1. Glass Containers for Food Storage

There is no other more eco-friendly way to store food in the kitchen than storing food in glass containers. Glass containers are non-toxic. It checks all three R’s for reduce, reuse and recycle. The only downside is, since it is glass and accidents happen in the kitchen, you might break them! Just be a little careful in handling these babies since they’re also more expensive than if you use plastic (which is generally not eco-friendly too).

Glass jars are perfect for storing fruit such as grapes and raspberries – it makes them last and last and last!

We love the huge range from The Container Store.

The Pantry Organisation Starter Kit from The Container Store

2. Glass Mason Jars

Mason Jars are made of glass too so this is technically under that category. Thing is, mason jars serve a specific purpose these days. Eco-friendly ways to store food in the kitchen is befitting a healthy lifestyle! Power food is our thing now! There’s quinoa, oats, yogurt, you name it. And an efficient way to store this is by using mason jars.

Mason jars come in loads of different sizes!

We love the range of Mason Jars from The Container Store

3. Stainless Steel Food Storage Canisters

Restaurants often use stainless steel to store food because they’re more durable and they last a long time. Who says you can’t use the same for your kitchen? For an eco-friendly way of storing food, you can opt to use stainless steel, there are several online stores selling stainless steel containers.

The only downside is that compared to glass, you can’t see what’s inside of the stainless steel containers.

We love the Onyx Stainless Steel Containers from Biome Eco Store

4.  Bees Wax Wraps

Bees Wax Wraps are an eco-friendly replacement for plastic wrap.  The wraps are made from organic cotton that is infused with beeswax – the wraps are naturally anti-bacterial and are reusable.  Perfect for the school lunch box or fridge storage.

Beeswax wraps can be used to:

• Cover salad bowls in the fridge
• Wrap cheeses in the fridge
• Sandwiches for School Lunches
• Wrap around plates of leftovers

We love these WRAPPA Bees Wax Wraps from Biome Eco Store 

5. Ceramic Canisters

First, make sure your ceramic container is lead-free. Much like glass and steel containers, ceramic containers are also eco-friendly since you can wash and reuse them. Ceramic containers can also serve as pretty display pieces depending on their style. Marie Kondo (the organisation Queen) has a range of ceramic canisters that are so pretty!

The Marie Kondo Cloud White Ceramic Bulk Canisters from The Container Store

6. Silicone Storage Bags

A simple eco-friendly way to store food in the kitchen is by using Silicon Storage Bags. You can store fruits, vegetables, crackers, nuts, anything really! The best part is, it doesn’t take up much space.

Ecopocket Silicone Pouch from Biome Eco Stores

7. Food Huggers

There’s nothing better for breakfast than a good ol’ avo toast. You take half of the avo, what do you do with the other half when you want to save it for the next day? Try using a food hugger as an eco-friendly way to store food in your kitchen. This will also prevent its spoilage.

8. Produce Bags

We like our produce fresh. From the market to our kitchen, one eco-friendly way of storing it is by using produce bags. Make sure you have this ready during grocery shopping.

Organic Cotton Close Weave Muslin Produce Bags

9. Souper Cubes

Souper cubes are basically containers where you store soups. You can make vegetable or chicken stock ahead of time and just store it in the fridge for future use.

10. Plastic

Yes, yes. We hate the word plastic! When we hear plastic, eco-friendly is the last thing on our minds. BUT, hear us out. Plastic containers, as long as it’s recycled plastic or recyclable plastic (they do make one), you can still use it to store food in the kitchen. Plastic is cheap, it doesn’t take up space and it doesn’t break. However, if possible, plastic should be your last resort.

Recycled Plastic Bowls

Those are ideas we would like for you to try! But if you already have it in your kitchen, good on ya!

Ask yourself when you start using eco-friendly ways to store food in the kitchen, “Does it spark joy?” You can Marie Kondo your kitchen the eco-friendly way!