Eco Friendly Gift Guide for the Kitchen

Get Sharon’s expert, eco-friendly gift guide for the kitchen, which includes a kitchen gear shopping guide for 20 kitchen items that will lighten one’s environmental footprint on the planet. Perfect for gift giving for your friends, family, and yourself!

Protecting our planet is on everybody’s mind, yet it can seem overwhelming when we look at the big picture issues of climate change, pollution, and sustainability. We all want to help, but how can just one person make an impact? You might be surprised to know that each one of us can make positive change without even leaving our homes—especially in the kitchen. In my blog, Green Up Your Kitchen Practices for a Healthier Planet, I call out the big impact we all have with every meal we prepare, from the foods we purchase and how we store and prepare it, to the way we clean up after each meal and package it up for lunch the next day. Simple switches like ditching disposables for reusable bags, storage containers, and even straws may seem small, but each one helps reduce your environmental footprint. You can give the gift of sustainability too with eco-friendly kitchen gifts. Check out 20 of my favorite eco-friendly kitchen tool essentials, perfect for gift giving. You’re just a click away from a greener kitchen and a healthier planet!

Eco Friendly Gift Guide for the Kitchen

1. Reusable Cloth Sandwich/Snack Bags

Reusable sandwich bags are perfect when you’re on the go—travel, school, work, anywhere! This snack bag is specially designed to safely keep your goods fresh. Unlike paper or disposable plastic, this bag can be washed and reused over and over again, which is great for the environment and your wallet. No sending pounds of plastic to the landfill! Eco-friendly, reusable, certified food safe, easy to clean, and multi-purpose—these bags check all the boxes.

Price: 5-Pack for $19.99*

2. Sharon’s I AM Plant-Powered Organic Farmers Market Bag

Designed by Sharon herself, this bag is perfect to take to the farmers market, grocery store, work, school, even a picnic. This adorable tote was designed with the Earth in mind—made of 100% organic cotton in natural colors with “I AM Plant-Powered” lettered in green. It folds small enough to tuck into a purse or pocket and is washable so you’ll use it over and over, keeping plastic bags out of landfills.

Price: 1 bag for $15

3. Bamboo Reusable Cutlery Set with Portable Case

This cutlery set is perfect for picnics, travel, hiking, camping, backyard fun, or in the breakroom at work. The set includes a fork, knife, spoon, chopsticks, bamboo straw, charcoal toothbrush, and a water bottle holder—all in a portable case. I love that this set is made from natural, sustainable bamboo, and it helps prevent the use of throw-away, plastic cutlery. Fun Fact: Did you know that bamboo has a higher tensile strength than steel?!

Price: 7-Piece Set for $9.89*

4. Reusable Stainless Steel Straws with Case

Imagine enjoying your favorite drink with the sleek, sophisticated style of a metal straw with its respectful nod to the environment. These stainless steel straws deliver by eliminating the use of plastic straws, which reduces plastic pollution and helps protect our beloved planet. This set comes with 12 straws and 2 brush cleaners in a case. Smooth and easy to clean, these straws are ideal for travel.

Price: 12-Piece Set with Case for $8.99*

5. Farmhouse Kitchen Compost Bin

If you’re composting (which you should be!), the convenience of a kitchen compost bin can come in handy. And when it’s this cute, you’ll love to see it on your countertop! Ideal for meal prep and clean-up, toss food scraps into bin, replace the cover, and forget about it until it’s full. Then take it outside to your compost pile or bin, give it a quick clean, and start again. Doing your part to reduce landfill waste and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers just got easier.

Price: 1.3-Gallon Container for $39.99*

6. Reusable Vegan Food Wrap

Plastic food wrap is one of the most common types of plastic waste found in the environment and landfills, so cutting back on plastic wrap in your kitchen is a great way to reduce it. These non-plastic reusable food wraps are 100% garden compostable, cruelty-free, and washable so they can be used again and again. All you need is the warmth of your hands to enable these wraps to cover foods.

Price: Assorted 3-Pack for $18.99*

7. Pour Over Coffee Dripper Stainless Steel Reusable Drip Cone Coffee Filter

Say goodbye to paper coffee filters! Make the switch to an eco-friendly go-anywhere, zero-waste, reusable drip cone coffee filter and you’ll not only continue to enjoy your favorite handcrafted brew, you’ll also reduce your environmental footprint. This stainless steel coffee filter holder has a universal fit for most coffee makers too.

Price: 1 Filter for $19.89*

8. Hydro Flask Water Bottle 

What I love about Hydro Flask water bottles is that they are not only sustainable metal water bottles, they also come in lots of fun colors and different sizes, and they’re lightweight and insulated, so you can tote them anywhere to enjoy your favorite hot or cold drink. Plus, they are durable and can be accompanied on hiking trips, camping, travel and more. Why would anyone want to rely on disposable plastic bottles knowing that Americans are doing so at a rate of 70 million bottles each day! Be planet wise by choosing reusable.

Price: 20-Ounce Flask for $27.97*

9. Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1

Get energy efficient and make use of the Instant Pot. An instant pot can save up to 70 percent of the electricity used by ovens, steamers, and stoves, which means fewer harmful greenhouse gas emissions released into the environment. This one product can replace up to 10 common kitchen appliances, including a sterilizer, warmer, and rice cooker to name just a few. Convenient, versatile, and quick, there’s everything to love about this very cool way to cook.

Price: 6-Quart Instant Pot for $139.99*

10. Programmable Slow Cooker with Black Ceramic Insert and Glass Lid

No kitchen should be without a slow cooker. It’s energy efficient, easy to use, and produces meals that taste like you’ve slaved over them all day. The ceramic insert is a ready to serve or travel vessel for meals at home or to enjoy at a potluck or picnic, so there’s no need for single-use plastic or aluminum containers bound for the landfill—a zero-waste win! This is my favorite, heavy duty slow cooker, which I turn to regularly to produce energy-efficient meals.

Price: 6.5-Quart Slow Cooker for $279.95*

11. Reusable Produce Bags

Did you know Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year? Plus, only 1% of plastic bags are returned for recycling, meaning the rest end up in landfills or as litter. Using reusable produce bags, such as these 100% organic cotton mesh bags, for fresh fruits and vegetables, we can help reduce these high numbers. I always tote these along with me to my farmers market and say “no” to plastic bags. Then I just toss them in my laundry with my other linens for my weekly wash.

Price: 9 Bags for $21.99*

12. Insulated Cups with Lid

Just like Hydro Flasks (#8), these Yeti insulated stainless steel cups come in many different colors and sizes and are ideal for at-home or on-the-go sipping, keeping your cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot. Say no to coffee shop throw-away cups and have them pour your brew in your Yeti! These cups even have a lid, so they’re great for the car. There’s no need to keep wasting time and energy reheating your hot tea or adding ice to your cold brew—this cup delivers. You can even use it for toting along hot soups and chili for portable meals.

Price: 10-Ounce Cup for $34.99*

13. Eco Lunch Box

Stainless steel is the way of lunch boxes these days. This eco-friendly alternative to unrecyclable plastic lunch boxes and bags, which ultimately get tossed into the trash, is made from longer-lasting, high-quality stainless steel to keep food fresh and last for generations. Perfect for work, school, or travel, it’s also leak-proof and dishwasher safe.

Price: 50-Ounce for $31.95*

14. Reusable Bamboo Kitchen Towels

The average household paper towel consumption of 80 rolls per person per year = a lot of waste and dead trees. Put an end to your contribution by swapping paper towels out for these reusable and durable organic kitchen towels. They’re versatile and perfect for cleaning up spills, wiping, drying, cleaning kitchen appliances, and can even be used as napkins. Plus, they’re pretty cute too!

Price: 10-Pack for $18.95

15. Bamboo Cleaning Dish Cloths

Go green with these reusable and cost-effective natural bamboo dish cleaning cloths, which can reduce the use of paper towels in your kitchen. Made with sustainable, natural bamboo, this product supports crops that are good for the planet. These dishcloths are soft to the touch yet strong and durable when they need to be. The natural bamboo properties of these dishcloths enhance absorption to wash dishes efficiently and dry them fast.

Price: 12-Pack for $14.24*

16. Glass Food Storage Containers
A recipe for the perfect eco-friendly food storage containers: absolutely no plastic, turns leftovers into lunch, and nearly unbreakable, reusable, and long-lasting. I love this set because it is made with eco-friendly bamboo lids. These are great for meal prepping also!
 
Price: 4-Piece Set for $38.97*

17. SodaStream
This is a great way to help reduce plastic and waste in your home. While I don’t recommend using a SodaStream to create sugary beverages, I do recommend it for making sparling waters that replace the transportation of sparkling water bottles around the world! One reusable SodaStream bottle can save a household up to 3,000 disposable bottles every year. It’s also energy-efficient—a win-win for the planet.

Price: Bundle with 2 60-Liter Bottles for $279.99*

18. Natural Bamboo Dish Scrub Brush Set

Sponges take hundreds of years to decompose. It’s time to say goodbye to yours! Biodegradable and eco-friendly (this won’t clog up a landfill!), this dish scrub brush set is plastic-free, and made with sustainably harvested and renewable bamboo. The set also comes with two stainless steel straws and a cleaning brush for them. This set is great for cleaning pans, pots, bottles, fruits, and vegetables.

Price: 4-Piece Set for $24.98*

19. Mason Jars with Lids and Bands

These 16-ounce mason jars are one of the original earth-friendly products. Generations have used these all-purpose glass gems over and over to preserve salsas, sauces, syrups, fruits, vegetables, or anything you can think of. Freezer-safe, BPA-free, and recyclable, they also make clever beverage glasses, flower vases, dried beans holders—there’s no limit to what they can do. Use them to replace plastic and disposables in food storage, food transportation, and beyond.

Price: 18 16-Ounce Jars for $34.99*

20. Misto Brushed Aluminum Oil Sprayer

Misto is a reusable oil sprayer and mister bottle that gives you the health benefits and convenience of a typical aerosol sprayer, but in a more economical and environmental way—it’s refillable, so no more throwing away cans that end up in landfills. You just fill Misto with your favorite oils, vinegars, wine, or lime/lemon juice and dress salads, bread, or use while cooking.

Price: 1 Sprayer for $11.00*

 

*Prices subject to change and availability, based upon vendor changes.

Learn more about sustainable living at sharonpalmer.com/live/.

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