By Courtney Han

Believe it or not, the kitchen can be one of the most eco-unfriendly places for the Earth. Kitchens have multiple appliances that suck up electricity, cleaners and soaps tend to have lots of chemicals and food contains dangerous pesticides. But don’t worry—with some small changes, your kitchen can become a green machine! Read on to learn about the best brands for your kitchen.

Tableware

VerTerra
Both eco-friendly and stylish, VerTerra dinnerware is made out of leaves and water. The process is very simple: leaves that have fallen to the ground on plantations are collected, sprayed with water and steamed until they become hardened. The plates are completely compostable and the production process only uses 10 percent of the energy that recycling does. VerTerra products do not contain any chemicals and they are very durable. They can be used with hot and cold foods, in the fridge, baked in the oven and even in the microwave. However, it is recommended that they be used once.

Recycled Glassworks by Lauren Becker
Plates made out of windows? Sounds crazy, but that is what you will find at Recycled Glassworks, where none of the materials used in the creation of the products are new. All dinnerware is made out of recycled glass, with many unique designs.

Appliances

Solar Oven
Great for barbecues, picnics and everyday cooking, the solar oven is an excellent green cooking device. The oven does not require electricity, wood, coal, gas or any other fuels. Just put it in a sunny area and the food will bake! This eliminates smoke pollution and the amount of carbon dioxide we release each year. According to Solar Ovens, more than 50 percent of the trees cut down globally are used for cooking fires, and a family that cooks with wood will release 7.2 tons of carbon dioxide each year! The solar oven can withstand the elements, and your food will never burn.

GE ENERGY STAR Efficient Appliances
If you are in the market for purchasing a new refrigerator, dishwasher or oven, check out GE ENERGY STAR appliances at your local Home Depot or Sears. These appliances will save you hundreds of dollars on your electric bill and help the earth by using less energy. Also, visit the ENERGY STAR website for a complete list of energy efficient appliances.

Cookware

Biochef
Biochef pots and pans are made out of renewable resources like algae, corn and sugar, which come from surplus food supplies. These materials are made into bioplastic, which is 70 percent renewable resources and 30 percent plastic. All products are biodegradable. Biochef will meet all your cooking utensil needs, from mixing bowls to potato peelers.

Cleaning

Mrs. Meyers
Clean without the chemicals! Mrs. Meyers’ household cleaners and detergents use all natural oils that smell fresh. The products contain less than one percent of synthetic cleaners, and they are never tested on animals.

Food

From the most energy-efficient appliances to eco-friendly cookware, you now know what to do to make your kitchen green. Did you know that your food can also be eco-friendly? It’s true! Here are a few tips on how to buy and prepare green food.

Don’t use the oven. Try to find more recipes that do not require an oven, like salads.  You can also make food that use crock pots, microwaves, or solar ovens. Visit Tree Hugger for more information about green food.

Purchase organic food. By buying organic products, you are buying food that have been grown naturally, without pesticides and artificial fertilizers.

Buy local. Go to your local farmers market to buy food. It is fresh, and reduces the amount of fossil fuels used to transport produce.

Grow your own. Start a garden—it can be as big as a farm or as small as your windowsill. This way, you know for sure that there are no preservatives or chemicals in your food. It can’t get any fresher than home grown!

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