Sustainability in the kitchen industry – doing our bit for the planet

In July, BBC News reported on our world’s largest study regarding climate change. According to the report – it’s not good news.

The kitchen industry is already addressing their effects on the environment. Read more to find out how the industry is training to help our planet.

Right to repair rules changed in July 2021

Electrical appliances including dishwashers, ovens, hobs, coffee machines and fridge freezers should become easier to repair under new rules that came into force in the UK in July.

Manufacturers like our preferred kitchen appliance manufacturer, Bosch, are now legally required to make spare parts available to people buying electrical appliances.

The objective of the changes is to extend the lifespan of electrical appliances by up to 10 years and reduce landfill.

Read the full BBC article here

Bosch appliances save energy, water, and extend the life of your fresh food

You may have seen the #LikeABosch TV adverts that have been running over recent months? German manufacturer Bosch has been making strides in reducing its carbon footprint and helping us live more sustainably.

– Innovative technologies save water and energy

A Bosch dishwasher uses 9.5 litres of water per rinse cycle. When you use the eco option this further reduces, because the clever machine retain water from the last cycle and reuses for the next rinse [if machine used within 48 hours].

The i-Dos functionality on certain ranges of Bosch washing machines helps to save both water and energy. Integrated sensors measure the volume of washing, identifies the types of fabrics in the load, determines the level of dirt and ensures the right amount of detergent and water is used for the load – clever stuff!

– Vitafresh – keeping food fresh for longer

In one of our recent blogs, we covered Vitafresh [read it here] A staggering 45% of fruit and vegetables get wasted worldwide! Think about how much food you throw away from your fridge every week. What if your fresh food could stay fresh up to 3x longer? Well, it can with the magic of VitaFresh that comes as standard in Bosch’s fridges and fridge freezer combinations.

Mereway teams up with the Used Kitchen Company to recycling customers old kitchens

Every kitchen that is not recycled contributes to more than 1.2 tonnes of landfill waste. The Used Kitchen Company has saved nearly 18,000 tonnes of waste from landfill since it was established in 2005.

Mereway Kitchens is encouraging their partners like Thatcham Kitchens to promote The Used Kitchen Company to new customers and help reduce the levels of landfill.

Read the full article in the KBB review here.

Sustainable worktops from Consentino

Silestone is a heavy duty, long-life kitchen work surface which is resistant to stain and scratches, easy to clean and maintain and through Consentino’s HybriQ technology is now even more sustainable.

Watch the Hybriq video to find out more about how Consentino has reduced its impact on our environment.

10 things you can do in your kitchen to support our lovely planet

Buy loose vegetables or do a neighbourhood swap – rather than purchasing a whole bag of carrots buy them loose. Or, why not set-up a community food swap with your neighbours. One of your buys the carrots for the week, the other the potatoes and then share out what you need. Buying loose can also help you substantially reduce your single-use plastic use
Batch cook – if you don’t have neighbours who you can swap with and your local supermarket has limited loose veg, why not batch cook? It means you can reduce your food waste and your energy costs too.
Make your own jams and chutney– blackberry, plum and apple season is nearly here, so why not have a go at making your own jam or chutneys? Save up old jam jars and then just refill with your own delights. Fruit picking can also be lots of fun and it’s completely free! Find out more here.
Food waste – we are super lucky in Berkshire to have a food waste collection, so if you’re not already, make the most of it.
Recycling – here’s a link to West Berkshire’s Recycling flyer all about what you can recycle. Look and remind yourself of the rules.
Use plant-based cleaners – here are a few companies to check out if you’d like to reduce the number of harsh chemicals you use in your home

https://thatchamrefillable.co.uk/

https://smolproducts.com/

https://www.ecoverdirect.com (available in Thatcham Waitrose)

https://methodproducts.co.uk/ (available in Thatcham Waitrose)

https://www.lakeland.co.uk/21400/E-cloth-Deep-Clean-Mop – super mop ideal for Karndean and Amtico flooring – just uses water.
Use reusable cloths to clean rather than single use or kitchen towel
Ditch clingfilm and plastic bags in favour of multi-use alternatives – https://goodtobee.co.uk/
Use eco-settings on your dishwashers and washing machines – if you have a Smart Meter watch the difference to your energy bills by making this swap.
Self-cleaning ovens mean you don’t have to use nasty chemicals to clean your ovens. Bosch’s pyrolytic oven setting costs less than 35p to clean your oven (energy costs) and takes all the hard scrubbing out for you.

If you are looking for a more sustainable kitchen then talk to us about how we can help you on your eco-journey.