Cath Muscat
Climate change, environmental damage and other man-made issues are finally being addressed by local councils and state governments . Although these issues appear insurmountable, small changes can make a difference, s why not start making those changes at home?
Last month, Roy Morgan released a study that highlighted the importance of environmental issues to Australians. Almost half of respondents mentioned an environmental issue when asked to nominate the most important problem facing the world, and this figure has more than doubled since 2018.
Whether you’re a beginner or want to build on your eco- accomplishments, we asked a few of the Australias top chefs, lifestyle experts and Electrolux ambassadors to share their tips and advice on how they incorporate eco-friendly living practices into their home.
#1 Recycle
“Implementing a good recycling system at home is a quick and easy way to help the environment. I have a number of small bins in my kitchen and my son earns money for his piggy bank when he helps me recycle. Recycling is a big teaching moment for my kids and something I want to instill in them,” says Chef Richard Ousby.
#2 Reconsider lighting
“In my design work I try to eliminate roughly 70% of lights in a home because they’re normally unnecessary. If they’re placed correctly and positioned over workspaces, that’s all you really need. The rest don’t offer any value, they just increase your energy bill,” says Anna-Carin, Interior Designer. “I recommend choosing a large washing machine so you can get more out of just one wash, cutting down the amount of loads you need to do and therefore using less water.”
#3 Minimise waste
“Minimise your food wastage by checking what you have left in the fridge – particularly your fruit and vegetables – each morning and design recipe ideas around these ingredients,” says Stephanie Conley, Entertaining Expert. “Try and eat meat free a few nights a week – a vegetarian lifestyle is good for the waistline and the earth.”
#4 Compost
“A great way to reduce your household waste is to compost. My dad taught me to treat your compost like lasagna: the green waste from your kitchen is your sauce, and the dried leaves or newspaper is the pasta. Layer it up and give it time,” says Chef Scott Bridger. “Preserving food is also the perfect way to use up leftovers. We recently got a harvest of red plums and blended them with some of our honey, we spread it thinly on baking paper and dried it in our oven at 60c for about 7 hours and the result was preservative free fruit snacks for the kid’s lunch boxes. They were a hit!”
#5 Don’t use plastic
“Having good storage space in your freezer or refrigeration means longer lasting food and less food wastage. Always keep your fruit and vegetables in the crisper, they will stay fresh without needing to be wrapped in plastic!” says chef Massimo Mele.
This article originally appeared on Better Homes and Gardens.
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