Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Kitchen Roll To Try
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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.
If you’re looking to reduce waste in the kitchen, then one good place to start is to look at the single-use items you use most often. There are often sustainable alternatives or ways of doing things – including eco-friendly alternatives to cling film and sustainable alternatives to freezer bags.
The same holds true for kitchen roll. 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. And contrary to popular belief, dirty kitchen roll is not recyclable.
You may be wondering what to use instead. Worry not. I’ve got six plastic-free and 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 sustainable alternatives up my sleeve for you. Use the quick links to jump to a particular tip, or keep scrolling for the full guide:
- Opt For Reusable Cloths
- Make Your Own Reusable Kitchen Roll
- Buy Reusable Kitchen Roll
- Try Recycled & Plastic-Free Options
- 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 cloths.
My working mum’s budget doesn’t stretch to having a basket full of organic cloths. As such, I tend to buy cheap 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 approach, you can also cut up old clothes or towels that are way past their best, and use them as kitchen roll alternatives too.
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 they don’t need stitching.
I then just grab a cloth when I need to wipe a spill, before popping it in the washing machine when I’m done. Job done. Zero waste.
Make Your Own Kitchen Roll
A random pile of cloths stacked up in your kitchen may not be the aesthetic you are going for. Or perhaps you want an eco-friendly alternative that still looks like kitchen roll. I understand this. Sometimes it is easier to make the leap to reusables if things look the same.
If you know your way around a sewing machine, then the good news is that there are heaps of reusable kitchen roll tutorials out there. This handy unpaper towel DIY, from A Beautiful Mess, is pretty comprehensive, and you’ll be able to whip up a full set in no time.
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 Earth Kind Creations on Etsy, is pretty, practical, and sustainable. This set costs from £12 for 4 sheets. With average household spending on disposable kitchen rolls coming in at around £104 a year, you’ll recoup the upfront cost in no time.
Try Recycled & Plastic-Free Options
If conventional kitchen roll is something that you just can’t bear to give up, then don’t worry. A sustainable and eco-friendly option is to opt for recycled kitchen roll packaged in plastic-free packaging.
Serious Tissues offers one of the most sustainable options I’ve found. Its kitchen roll is made entirely from 100% recycled paper sourced within the UK. This ensures that no trees are cut down and reduces the environmental impact of transportation. Plus it’s made in the UK in its factory that’s powered by renewable energy.
The rolls are also packaged sustainably and without plastic. The six-pack includes individually paper-wrapped rolls, while the twelve-pack eliminates paper altogether, cutting down on unnecessary waste. Plus Serious Tissues plants a tree with every order.
Use A Plate
If you use kitchen roll to serve food on then I fully get this. When I was growing up in the 1980s my mum often served us food on a piece of kitchen roll. A sandwich, toasted cheese, crackers, or a bit of cake. If it was finger food, it was always served up on a piece of this paper.
My mum worked full time and didn’t have time to do 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.
If you don’t have a dishwasher and also like to serve food on kitchen roll, try opting for reusable and washable options.
Opt For Reusable Napkins
If you use kitchen roll to store food, then I also get this. When it came to school packed lunches, my mum wrapped my sandwiches in kitchen roll. Sometimes she even popped a bit of folded-up kitchen roll in my lunchbox to act as a napkin.
I do this for my own kid’s packed lunches now as it avoids using cling film. But to make it sustainable I use washable napkins instead of disposable kitchen roll. Pro tip: dark-coloured napkins are king at hiding food/grease stains!
More Eco-Friendly Kitchen Hacks
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 sustainable and zero-waste kitchen hacks here on the blog. From plastic-free dishwasher detergent to making your own beeswax wraps, to my guide to natural cleaning products to DIY, and more, it’s all here!
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My biggest issue is using kitchen roll for patting salad dry. That’s where most of our roll usage goes. What would be the best alternative to that please?
I use a clean dry tea towel for this purpose Claire, and just use it like you would with kitchen roll.
I use bamboo washable cloths for wiping surfaces, which was the main use of the kitchen towels before I switched. Plates for serving food and silicone reusable plate covers for left overs…
This post is lovely because sometimes I feel that when we use certain things without thinking, such as kitchen roll, it is a little bit hard to think about alternatives.
Have a nice day!
Thanks Carolina! It can be hard, can’t it? There are lots of things I struggle with!
You can buy rolls of reusable kitchen towel made from bamboo fabric. The sheets tear off like paper towels, but can then be washed and reused many times.
That looks interesting and will investigate. Not keen on poppers on reusable kitchen roll I must say.
I have cut up old, past their best t-shirts and put them under the sink as they aren’t aesthetically pleasing 😂 x
For some reason, using kitchen roll is one of the habits I find it most difficult to kick in the kitchen. I’m not sure why but it’s probably just the convenience! I’m trying to keep clean cloths in a basket ready for use. These are great suggestions, I’ll keep them in mind!
It’s been one of our hardest swaps too, Hannah, I think it’s definitely the convenience factor, and it took us a long time to break the habit. A basket, a drawer, a bag, anything that you have will do the job – good luck!
Wendy, am curious as to whether the Wilko cloths you’ve mentioned would be OK to use for washing up as well. Am determined to stop using j-cloths in the kitchen and bathroom so need something that will withstand being regularly put in the washing machine. Thanks!
I just use dishcloths from Wilko which are white, edged with red or blue stitching. Use once for washing up, clean off the worktop, then put in the wash. Ensure you put it onto something plastic to dry out, so you don’t have to replace a wicker washing basket…
I’m trying to replace my usual go to wet wipes in the house, for kids faces at meal times, and to replace my quick anti bac wipes in each of the bathrooms. I had started to use kitchen towel, but that’s just as bad general waste as wet wipes (and bigger!). I really don’t want a basket of flannels in the kitchen and I’d be loathe to use the washable bamboo ones on kids faces, can anyone recommend a kitchen towel brand that uses recycled paper and is biodegradable so I can compost after use?