In the kitchen
With some small changes, you can cook and clean in a way that is both climate-smart and healthy. You can also contribute to a sustainable consumption of food that supports human rights and fair working conditions.
Fridge and freezer
- Keep the correct temperature in the refrigerator and freezer: +4 degrees Celsius in the fridge, -18 degrees Celsius in the freezer.
- Defrost the freezer often.
Choose wood, glass, porcelain, cast iron and stainless steel
Non-stick coatings such as teflon often contain highly fluorinated substances that are hard to break down for the environment and are disruptive for the endocrine system in the body.
The production of these products pose a huge risk to the environment. Under some circumstances, plastic can leak chemicals into food, especially when the plastic is heated.
- Choose stainless steel or cast iron when you buy new pots, pans, and casseroles.
- Use wood, glass or stainless steel for lunch boxes, jars and tools.
- If you choose to use plastic, check to see that it is designed for cooking.
- If you use a plastic lunch box, put your food on a porcelain plate before heating it.
Water
Much energy is used to produce hot water from the tap. Hot water can contain bacteria, and some water taps may leak small doses of lead.
- Only use cold water for drinking and cooking.
- Flush out the immediate water from the tap if not used for some time, for instance, if you´ve been away on a trip.
Washing up
- Use the lowest amount of detergent when washing the dishes by hand.
- Wash and rinse the dishes in the sink with a plug instead of washing up with running water.
- Fill the dish washer completely before running it to save water and energy.
- Split the machine wash tablet in half, it is still enough for the soft water of Stockholm.
- Choose a unscented and eco-labeled detergent. Detergents scented with lemon contain a substance that is particularly allergenic. Some perfumes used in cleaning products may be difficult to break down and are therefore damaging to the environment. Even naturally produced scents can be very allergy inducing.
Fat and oil
- Don’t pour oil or fat in the sink. Fat clogs the drain. Dry out frying pans with paper and pour old oil and fat into bottles or empty milk cartons. Larger amounts can be left with the local recycling facilities; smaller amounts are best thrown among the burnable waste.