The Forgotten R: Reducing consumption in the kitchen

Reduce, reuse and recycle: the three R’s of minimising our carbon footprint. These days there is definite media frenzy around the third R. There is nothing wrong with this, but we cannot get away from the simple fact that any recycling process involves energy consumption in some form. Focusing on the first R [Reduce] lessens the need for the other two: if we reduce our consumption of goods and energy in the first place, there is less to reuse and recycle.

In the first of a series, here are some easy-to-implement ideas to reduce our carbon footprint in the kitchen.

• Some fruit and vegetables don’t strictly need to be kept in the fridge. Onions, avocados, bananas etc can be stored in a cupboard. Having a partially full fridge uses up less electricity than a full one.
• Avoid pre-packaged fruit and vegetables when shopping.
• Buy your fruit and vegetables from a market. As well as reducing unnecessary packaging, you are more likely to be supporting locally sourced produce. An apple from a local farm uses less air miles than a Granny Smith from half way around the world. (It will also be more nutritious as fruit and vegetables start to lose vitamins the minute they are picked. The sooner after harvesting they are eaten, the better.)
• Cook in bulk and freeze left over portions. It could be argued that freezing food and reheating it may use up a little more electricity than eating freshly cooked meals. However, if your home-made soups, quiches, chillis etc replace ready meals, you are still saving energy because you avoid the packaging.
• Buy a composter. Separate your kitchen waste and save fruit and vegetable peelings for your new tubby green friend in the garden. Over the long run, you could make a sizeable impact on landfill. The compost produced might also inspire you to plant your own vegetables, which will be free, organic and without packaging.
• Avoid half loads in the washing machine. They use more than half the water of a full load.

17^th October 2007

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