The Best Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Kitchen Roll
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Looking for eco-friendly alternatives to kitchen roll? Read on – I’ve got heaps of ideas on how to ditch the single-use kitchen roll.
When it comes to the kitchen I’ve already covered eco-friendly alternatives to cling film. However, what about
Whilst kitchen roll may be a staple product that is undeniably very useful, it’s not the greenest option. It’s a single-use and disposable product. Many brands still package their kitchen roll in plastic. Plus, contrary to popular belief, dirty kitchen roll is not recyclable.
You may be wondering what to use instead. Worry not. I’ve got five eco-friendly alternatives that are kind to the planet, yet still pull their weight in the kitchen.
The Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Kitchen Roll To Try
If you’re looking to make the switch away from single-use products, then I’ve got some great zero-waste and eco-friendly alternatives to kitchen roll up my sleeve for you!
If you’re not ready, pop back later when you’re ready. There is zero pressure! When it comes to green living my all-time number one tip is to make one small green switch at a time. It’s much less overwhelming. And it’s so much easier to find a starting point to work from, rather than trying to green all the things at the same time:
- Opt For Reusable Cloths
- Make Your Own Reusable Kitchen Roll
- Buy Reusable Kitchen Roll
- Use A Plate
- Opt For Reusable Napkins
Opt For Reusable Cloths
One of my easiest eco-friendly alternatives to kitchen roll is to keep a drawer or basket filled with
My working mum’s budget doesn’t stretch to having a basket full of organic cloths. As such, I buy cheap as chips cotton cloths from the supermarket when I find them minimally packaged. Anything that’s not single-use is a big positive in my eyes, so I don’t feel guilty about it. If it’s what you can afford then don’t feel guilty either.
For an even more frugal and green
If you’ve got a sewing machine you might want to stitch the edges with a simple and quick running stitch to prevent fraying. If you’re not into sewing then I find old cotton t-shirts don’t tend to fray so much, so don’t need stitching.
To use, I just grab a cloth when I need to wipe a spill. I then pop the dirty cloth in the washing machine when I’m done. Job done.
Make Your Own Kitchen Roll
A random pile of
The good news is that there are heaps of reusable kitchen roll tutorials out there. This handy DIY, from A Beautiful Mess, is pretty comprehensive.
Buy Reusable Kitchen Roll
If you aren’t particularly crafty or are too time-poor (me, on both counts!), then thankfully you can buy a reusable kitchen roll on Etsy.
This reusable set, from
Use A Plate
When I was growing up in the 1980s my mum often served us food on a piece of kitchen roll. A sandwich, toasted cheese, or a bit of cake. If it was finger food, it was always served up on a piece of kitchen roll.
My mum worked full time and didn’t have time to be doing a constant stream of dishes that three kids create. We didn’t have a dishwasher back then. Kitchen roll plates it was.
So much so, that I honestly thought serving food was the MAIN use of kitchen roll! Therefore, it took me a long time to break this one. Now I always serve food on a plate. We have a dishwasher. It helps immensely.
Opt For Reusable Napkins
This one is another throwback from my childhood.
When it came to packed
I do this for my own kid’s packed lunches now. But with washable napkins instead of disposable kitchen roll. Pro tip: dark-coloured napkins are king at hiding food/grease stains!
Have you found any other eco-friendly alternatives to kitchen roll? As always do let me know in the comments below!
I’ve also got loads of other eco-friendly kitchen hacks. From plastic-free dishwasher detergent to making your own beeswax wraps, to my guide to natural cleaning products to DIY, and more, have an explore of my archives!
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