Eco-Friendly and Budget Friendly Food Storage

Maybe Eco-friendly and budget-friendly food storage have never entered your mind. I have never been extremely concerned about the amount of trash we accumulate either, until recently.

Trash has become a real problem in America. Not only does trash consume a lot of space in our world, it also cost a lot.

The U.S. produces more than 30 percent of the planet’s total waste, though it is home to only 4 percent of the world’s population. 

Frontier Group: Trash in America

The statistics are staggering and quite frankly, sad. So when you look at the big picture and think about how we are contributing to it, you may want to change the way you do things too.

Just think about how many times you take our your garbage. It is just my husband and me now in our home, yet we still take out the garbage almost daily. When my children were home I must have taken the garbage out twice a day.

The packaging is probably most of what we are throwing away. Not only the packaging our things come in, but also some of the things we have stored our own food in. Every time we throw something that is plastic or aluminum foil away we add to the non-compostable items tossed into our landfills.

What Is Eco-Friendly Food Storage?

Have you ever considered those amazing zip lock storage bags you use? I love a zip lock storage bag, but I do not like to think about how many I have thrown away over the years. It is a thought that I do not like to consider. The zip lock bags are actually what got me started on this search. I used them for travel, for the refrigerator, downstairs in my sewing room, really everywhere. I also threw a lot of them away.

Eco-friendly storage is about using non-disposable storage items for your cabinets and refrigerator. Why did we get away from using glass containers for storage in our homes? I have no idea why, but I have learned that I love opening my fridge and seeing leftovers in glass jars.

If you don’t want to buy a lot of glass jars, use ones from items you have purchased and emptied out. You save the environment and you save money. Glass jars can be eco-friendly and budget-friendly. They are a win, win.

What Are Some Eco-Friendly and Budget-Friendly Food Storage Items?

Mason Jars or Any Jars

If you have a jar with a lid, it can become a food storage container. I love mason jars. They can hold soup, nuts, dried fruit, baking powder, leftovers. Mason jars can hold just about anything. The wide mouth jars are easy to fill. I put leftovers from just about any meal in a jar. Mason jars are a name brand. So we use that name kind of generically, but there are all kinds of jars you can use for this like, pickle jars, jelly jars, etc.

I find jars at yard sales all the time. I wrote about how Yard Sailing Can Save You Money here. If you would like to read that post just click on it, but buying mason jars at yard sales will not only help your budget but will also decrease your footprint on the world. They can be used over and over and over. Just pop them in the dishwasher and reuse them.

Reusable Plastic Storage Bags

Have you ever used ziplock bags for storage? I used to use them constantly. Then I kind of started thinking about how wasteful they can be, so I started washing them in the dishwasher. Well, they did not last long doing that. So, I started searching for an alternative.

I love these storage bags. They are thick, can stand independently on the counter, which makes it super easy to fill. You can put them in the dishwasher, which I don’t. I prefer to hand wash them. Full Circle sells multiple sizes, but the gallon size is the one I like. The seal at the top is super easy to close.

Glass Food Storage Containers

My husband likes to take his lunch to work. I do sometimes, but not as much as he does. He also likes to heat things up in the microwave. Glass containers last forever. I don’t have to worry about the safety of heating leftovers in the microwave if he uses any type of Styrofoam, plus he can use these containers over and over. The longer you can keep something and use it the better it is.

Glass food storage comes in multiple price points and does not have to be expensive. You can buy them at many many stores. They are definitely eco-friendly and budget-friendly.

Silicone Stretch Lids

These are awesome. I really hate plastic stretch wrap. It never works real well for me and you have to use so much. Just think about the fact that it never ever disintegrates. It is in the landfill forever and it can not be reused. So just think about a replacement for plastic wraps!!

How Much Money Can You Save If You Never Bought Aluminum Foil or Plastic Wrap Again?

You not only save money but you will also be helping the environment by buying Eco-friendly and Budget-friendly products. I just believe we need to consider what we are wasting and how much.

Large Canisters

I recently decided to switch to all Glass Canisters. I have transferred rice, flour, and sugar to them. They are attractive and easy to access. They are handy in the laundry room for powders and great for candy.

The Cost Of Throwing Everything Away

Just think about the waste we all have done over a lifetime. Think of the money you will save when you decide to consider Eco-friendly and budget-friendly food storage container. Not only would you be organized but also contributing to the environment.

Set A Goal

Zero waste is a large goal, but I tell my patients if you NEVER set a goal then you will never achieve one. Taking the time to consider your own home and a goal that could be taken can make a big difference.

You may have never even thought about all the paper products we toss out or the rolls of plastic wrap that your family sent to the landfill. No one has, and that is how waste has become such a problem.

Now you can change that. You can make a small difference in your circle of the world. Take baby steps and try to consider the mess we have created. Make just 1 change. Honestly, Janet

Tell me in the comments, what change will you make?

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