Top 50 Zero Waste Kitchen Products (2024)

September 22, 2024
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Discover the top 50 Zero Waste Kitchen Products available in 2024! These innovative products will help you to make some easy swaps to reduce waste in your kitchen (and they look pretty great too!).

The core principle of zero waste isn’t about achieving perfection – it’s about making conscious choices to minimise waste wherever we can.

With the growing array of innovative eco friendly and zero waste kitchen products available today, the kitchen is a perfect place to begin your journey toward a more sustainable lifestyle.

Many brands are now prioritising eco-friendly materials and thoughtful design, resulting in products that not only last longer but are also stylish and functional.

In this guide, you’ll discover the Top 50 Eco-Friendly, Low Waste and Zero Waste Kitchen Products for 2024, making it easier than ever to embrace simple, impactful swaps to help you reduce and eliminate waste in your kitchen.

Keep reading to discover our Zero Waste Starter Kit, with 5 Kitchen Essentials to get you started with reducing waste in your kitchen!

Quick Links:

If you’d like to learn more about ‘zero waste’, check out our article ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Zero Waste (Tips + Benefits)‘.  Written by a literal zero-waste beginner (me!), I hope you will find it informative, straightforward and judgement-free.

This blog includes eco-friendly, low waste and zero waste products that can help to reduce other forms of waste (these are affiliate links).  Please see the additional information section below for more details.

Zero Waste Baking Products

These eco-friendly, low or zero waste baking products help to reduce the need for single-use materials such as paper cupcake liners and parchment paper during baking.

Silicone Baking Mat

A silicone baking mat is great for lining trays when baking or cooking. It offers a reusable, non-stick, and generally easy-to-clean alternative to parchment paper and aluminium foil.

Silicone baking mats are ideal for tasks such as baking cookies or roasting vegetables, and because silicone is recyclable, they’re an eco-friendly choice.

Individual Silicone Muffin Cases

Use these individual silicone muffin cases as an alternative to single use paper cases. Silicone muffin cases are flexible and low-stick, making it easier to pop the baked muffins out of the cases than a paper alternative.

We also use ours to separate different lunch box snacks!

12 Hole Silicone Muffin Pan

A 12 hole silicone muffin pan is a great alternative to using disposable paper liners.

Place your muffin pan on a baking sheet for added stability and then pour the cake batter into each cup; the flexible non-stick silicone makes it easier to remove the cupcakes than from some of the paper and metal alternatives.

Like to bake in smaller batches?  Try this 6 Hole Silicone Muffin Pan instead.

Silicone bakeware

Zero Waste Cooking Essentials

Try some of these low waste, zero waste or environmentally friendly kitchen products to help you reduce waste in your kitchen.

Bamboo Chopping Board

Bamboo is a fast-growing wood, making it a great option for a renewable board.

This large Deer and Oak Organic Bamboo Chopping Board is water resistant, durable and non-porous making it more resistant to knife scars.

Plant Based Non-Stick Prestige Frying Pan

This Prestige frying pan is advertised as non-toxic and non-stick.  Made with plant-based recycled materials, they’re also fully recyclable and come with a 5-year guarantee.

They come in a range of sizes and are suitable for induction use. Prestige has also partnered with Tree Aid so they plant one tree for every pan they sell.

We’ve had a range of these pans for over 3 years now and they still perform wonderfully! The Prestige saucepans are equally as good!

A bamboo chopping board and a green non-stick frying pan
Photos: Deer & Oak (left) and Prestige (right)

Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

A decent cast iron skillet can quite literally last a lifetime if it’s treated well, and can be recycled when it reaches the end of it’s useable life. With even heat distribution, it’s easy to see why this traditional cooking method is so popular.

Did you know? Cooking in a cast iron pan can increase the iron content of food! In one study, 90% of foods cooked in an iron skillet “contained significantly more iron” vs when cooked in a non-iron pan (source).

Stainless Steel Frying Pan

A high-quality stainless steel frying pan can be a durable and long-lasting choice, that is often a favourite of home cooks and professional chefs alike.

Stainless steel pans also offer versatility, with many brands being suitable for use from hob to oven, in the dishwasher and on any hob (induction included). Should you manage to wear it out in your lifetime, stainless steel is also recyclable!

Opting for a cast iron or stainless steel pan provides a more durable option than many non-stick pans, some of which can also release harmful chemicals.

Zero Waste Kitchen Utensils

Try these eco-friendly, low or zero-waste kitchen utensils made from sustainable materials like recyclable stainless steel and bamboo. Try plastic free kitchen utensils as an eco-friendly alternative for reducing waste in your kitchen.

Set of Bamboo Cooking Utensils

If you’re looking for plastic free kitchen utensils, try bamboo cooking utensils as a durable and eco-friendly alternative. Wooden utensils also tend to be gentler on non-stick pans compared to metal options, which can help to prevent scratches.

Bamboo is a fast-growing, sustainable and recyclable material, making it an easy swap and a great choice for environmentally conscious kitchen tools.

Set of Stainless Steel Cooking Utensils

Stainless steel cooking utensils are a long-lasting and eco-friendly alternative to plastic, known for their strength and durability.

Additionally, stainless steel is recyclable, making it a great choice for more sustainable kitchen tools.

Silicone Pastry Brush

A silicone pastry brush is one of our must-have kitchen products!

They’re perfect for evenly spreading glazes, oils, or sauces, without the fear of bristles shedding and sticking to your food (unlike traditional pastry brushes which shed bristles for a past time!).

A silicone pastry brush and a stack of four glass food storage containers
Photo: Innoteck (right)

Zero Waste Food Storage Products

Switching to waste-reducing and zero waste food storage products is a simple yet impactful way to reduce kitchen waste.

From glass and stainless steel containers to reusable food wraps and produce bags, there are plenty of eco-friendly options to help you store food without relying on single use plastics.

Glass Food Storage Containers

Reusable glass food storage containers are a durable alternative to plastic containers and Tupperware for storing and warming leftovers, meal prep and more. You can usually use them in the freezer too, so they also serve as an alternative to using single-use plastic freezer bags.

Glass containers do typically come with plastic lids, so that is something to be aware if you’re looking for a completely plastic free solution. However, they’re one of our top used kitchen items and we’ve had the same set in our kitchen for years!

Stainless Steel Food Storage Containers

Reusable stainless steel food storage containers are another great alternative to plastic food containers, offering a tough, yet lightweight option.

This set of Moonmoon Stainless Steel Food Storage Containers with leakproof silicone lids come in three handy sizes, perfect for leftover sauces, yoghurt and lunch box snacks.

Looking for a silicone free version?  This set of three stainless steel snack containers from A Slice of Green are plastic and silicone free.

Stainless steel snack containers
Photo: Moonmoon (left) A Slice of Green / Green Tulip (right)

Silicone Freezer Bags

If you’re looking for a zero waste alternative to freezer bags, reusable and recyclable silicone freezer bags could be the perfect solution.

These reusable silicone freezer bags from Moonmoon can be used again and again to store frozen food, replacing the need for single-use plastic bags and providing great reduced-waste or zero waste alternatives to Ziploc bags.  They can also be used as a reusable silicone sandwich bag.

Silicone Stretch Bowl Lids

Silicone stretch bowl lids are a great low-waste or zero waste alternative to plastic wrap, providing a reusable solution to covering bowls and containers. We’ve had ours for years and they’re still going strong!

Three silicone freezer bags and a bowl with a silicone bowl cover on top
Photo: Moonmoon (left)

Glass Dry Goods Jars

Refillable glass dry goods jars are the ideal zero waste food storage containers. Perfect for storing grains, pasta and nuts, these clip-top glass dry goods jars with rubber seals reduce packaging waste by allowing you to buy in bulk and utilise refill shops.

They come in a range of different sizes and look rather pretty too!  Kilner also sells mason jars with screw top lids for jams and chutneys.

Glass Spice Jars

Refillable glass spice jars allow you to reduce packaging waste by buying your most used herbs and spices in bulk, or filling up at your local refill shop or grocery store.

These Kilner Clip Top Glass Spice Jars are 100% recyclable and are the exact ones we’ve used in our kitchen for over 10 years!

Glass spice jars displayed on a spice rack
Photo: Kilner (left)

Reusable Bread Bag

If you like to make your own bread at home, a reusable bread bag offers a great alternative to single-use plastic bread bags.

Reusable bread bags are often plastic lined to preserve the freshness of the bread, however, if you are looking for a plastic free alternative, try these cotton storage bags instead.

Reusable Food Wraps

These Tala reusable food wraps are a vegan alternative to beeswax wraps and make an excellent zero waste alternative to cling film or foil. Use them to cover bowls, wrap sandwiches and store leftovers.

They’re made from 100% natural materials and are biodegradable!

Cotton Storage Bags

Cotton produce bags are a great plastic-free option for storing fruits, vegetables and bulk dry goods. These Leafico Organic Cotton Storage Bags are plastic-free and biodegradable.

We use cotton bags to hold onions and potatoes in the fridge, which reduces the mess from the flaky onion skins!

Food being wrapped in vegan reusable food wraps and a cotton bag filled with onions
Photo: Tala (left)

At Home Drinks

From reusable straws to eco-friendly tea and coffee accessories, these eco-friendly, low and zero waste drink products help cut down on single-use plastics and packaging waste, while still offering convenience and style.

Reusable Stainless Steel Straws

Switching to reusable straws, like these stainless steel straws, is a simple and effective zero waste alternative to plastic straws. A durable, easy-to-clean stainless steel straw is perfect for at-home drinks and can be reused for years before recycling, reducing plastic waste and single-use products.

Out and about? Try these collapsible travel straws.

Stainless Steel Tea Infuser

Like these ones:

A stainless steel tea infuser is a simple, zero waste solution for enjoying loose-leaf tea without the need for disposable tea bags, many of which are made of plastic or contain microplastics.

Did you know? Even paper tea bags often use plastic fibres in the sealant!

This article in the National Library of Medicine online library states “People who drink tea frequently are continually dosing themselves with billions of plastic particles, some of which may be tiny enough to enter human cells”.

Yikes, that’s enough to put me off tea bags!

Stainless steel straws and a stainless steel tea infuser ball

Stainless Steel Coffee Filter

A stainless steel coffee filter offers a great alternative to single use paper filters. They’re reusable, long-lasting, easy to clean and provide a sustainable way to brew coffee without contributing to landfill waste.

At-Home Coffee Grinder

Like these:

Using your own coffee grinder enables you to minimise packaging waste by allowing you to buy whole coffee beans in bulk.

The addition of a coffee grinder to your kitchen also provides fresher, often more flavoursome coffee and a cost-effective alternative to pre-packaged ground coffee.

Reusable Kids Straw Cups

Like these:

If you’ve got a little one learning to use a cup, these Elk and Friends kids’ straw cups are a durable and eco-friendly alternative to the many plastic versions on the market.

The cups themselves are made of either glass or stainless steel, the straws from food grade silicone and lids are BPA, phthalate and PVC free.

We’ve got the glass version at home and they’re beautiful, durable and very much loved by my little one!

Stainless steel and glass kids straw cups
Photos: Elk and Friends

Lunch Boxes and On-The-Go

With so many innovative and beautiful zero waste ‘on-the-go’ products, this is one of our favourite sections!

From reusable snack bags to stainless steel lunch boxes and bottles, these eco-friendly alternatives keep your food fresh whilst reducing waste.

Stainless Steel Lunch Box

A stainless steel lunch box is a durable, reusable option for lunch on the go. Pack meals and snacks to reduce the need to buy takeaway options packed in excess single-use plastic.  This stainless steel lunch box by Blockhütte comes with moveable dividers and a silicone seal to prevent leaks.

Looking for a silicone free option?  Our daughter has this two-tier stainless steel lunch box from A Slice of Green and we all love it, I can see it lasting her for years!  The compact size makes it perfect for kids and it comes with a snack container that is so handy for keeping small snacks such as berries or dried fruit separate in the lunch box.  

Two stainless steel lunch boxes
Photo: Blockhutte (left) A Slice of Green / Green Tulip (right)

Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Reusable water bottles are a zero-waste ‘must’ to help you ditch single-use plastic bottles and this stainless steel water bottle is a fantastic option! Stainless steel is a fantastic option for a reusable bottle because it is durable, resistant to holding flavours and can keep drinks hot or cold.

Unlike some plastics, good quality stainless steel is long-lasting, won’t leach harmful chemicals and is recyclable, making it a safer, eco-friendly choice for staying hydrated on the go.

Collapsible Travel Straws

What a great idea! If you like to enjoy your drinks with a straw, but hate the waste, these stainless steel collapsible travel straws from Kynup are a convenient, portable solution.

They’ve got a silicone tip to help protect your teeth, while the collapsible design, aluminium case and keyring clip makes them easy to carry, providing a low or zero waste alternative to plastic straws.

Stainless Steel Travel Coffee Mug

Enjoy your coffee on-the-go without the waste by using a stainless steel travel coffee mug.

The Circular & Co Stainless Steel Travel Mug is recyclable and made from recycled materials. It’s the perfect zero-waste alternative to disposable coffee cups, keeping your drinks hot for ages!

Reusable Sandwich Wrap

A reusable sandwich wrap is an eco-friendly replacement for plastic wrap, foil or sandwich bags. Designed to be reused over and over, it keeps your sandwiches secure and fresh while helping to reduce single-use plastic waste. It’s also much less bulky than packing a lunchbox in your bag!

Looking for a plastic free option? Many reusable sandwich bag wraps contain plastic to provide some water resistance therefore, if you’re looking for a plastic free option, consider a stainless steel lunch box like this one from A Slice of Green or the Tala reusable food wrap which is made from organic cotton sheets coated in plant wax and tree resin.

A stainless steel travel coffee mug and a reusable sandwich wrap
Photos: Circular & Co (left) and Roll’eat (right)

Stainless Steel Snack Pots

These stainless steel snack pots have silicone lids, making them perfect for storing small snacks, sauces or leftovers. The reusable design makes them a great zero waste option that offers durability and freshness without the need for disposable containers.

Looking for a silicone free option? Try these snack pots from A Slice of Green, which are 100% stainless steel.

Reusable Snack Bag

A reusable snack bag is a more sustainable option for packing snacks on the go and reducing plastic waste from snacks purchased out and about. There are so many fun designs available, we love these cute coconut print snack bags from Roll’eat.

My daughter LOVES her snack bag which has a cute flamingo print on it, and she is always keen to eat from it (a battle in itself when you’ve got a toddler!).

Looking for a plastic free option? Many of these reusable snack bags contain plastic therefore, if you’re looking for a plastic free option, consider stainless steel reusable containers instead like these ones from A Slice of Green (they sell some of the best zero waste products!).

Reusable Baby Food Pouch

A reusable baby food pouch is a great zero waste alternative to disposable baby food packaging.  This silicone version from Haakaa is washable, durable and perfect for purees and smoothies, helping parents to reduce single-use plastic waste.

A coconut print reusable snack bag and some silicone reusable baby food pouches
Photos: Roll’eat (left) and Haakaa (right)

Zero Waste Cleaning Products

There are some great eco friendly kitchen cleaning products on the market, such as ‘unpaper’ towels, bamboo brushes and refillable soap dispensers, providing sustainable, effective and beautiful cleaning solutions for your home.

Biodegradable Swedish Dishcloth

These biodegradable Swedish dishcloths from Green Dodo are highly absorbent and washable, making them a versatile alternative to single-use paper towels and sponges. Made from natural ingredients and no plastic; they’re perfect for everyday cleaning without contributing to landfill waste or releasing micro-plastics.

Cotton Dishcloth

These organic cotton dishcloths from Wild & Stone come in a range of gorgeous colours. They’re soft, durable and machine washable, making them a sustainable alternative to synthetic cloths since natural fibres like cotton and hemp are biodegradable.

Biodegradable swedish dishcloths and a green cotton dishcloth, displaying two zero waste kitchen products used for cleaning
Photos: Green Dodo (left) and Wild & Stone (right)

Compostable Dish Sponge

This compostable dish sponge is made from sustainable wood cellulose with a coconut fibre scouring pad, making it great for cleaning dishes and scrubbing pans!

Reusable Kitchen Towels

Reusable paper towels, sometimes called ‘unpaper’ towels, offer a zero waste alternative to single-use paper towels. Made from washable fabric, such as bamboo, these reusable towels are absorbent and can be used over and over again.

We use the reusable cotton wipes from A Slice of Green at home to clean up after messy toddler mealtimes!

Copper Scourer

Copper and stainless steel scourers provide a reusable and recyclable option for tackling tough cleaning jobs. These copper scourers from SEEP come in recyclable cardboard packaging.

Bamboo Dish Brush

A bamboo dish brush is a durable and eco-friendly alternative to plastic dish brushes, which can shed microplastics. This bamboo dish brush from Vove features a Scandinavian design with a sturdy bamboo handle and replaceable brush head with natural bristles.

Refillable Glass Soap Dispensers

Refillable glass soap dispensers offer an elegant cleaning solution for your kitchen. Buy your dish soap and hand soap in bulk, or refill your jars at your local refill shop to help you reduce plastic packaging.

We’ve had our amber refill jars for over a year now and not only do they look smart but they significantly cut down on plastic use.

A bamboo dish brush and a three amber glass soap dispensers sat on a wooden tray
Photo: Vove (left)

Composting Products

Composting is an easy way to reduce kitchen waste and turn food scraps into valuable nutrient-rich soil compost for your garden. Here are two countertop compost bins to get you started on your composting journey:

Joseph Joseph Compost Caddy

This 4 litre Joseph Joseph compost caddy has a replaceable odour filter, stainless steel carry handle and sleek design.  Be sure to pick compostable bin bags when using this caddy.

KitchenCraft Metal Compost Bin

If you’d prefer a metal compost bin, this 3 litre Kitchencraft Metal Compost Bin has a vintage-style painted metal body that comes in cream, grey or duck egg blue. It has a built-in carbon filter to absorb food waste odours and has a removable lid and swing handle, making it easy to carry and empty.

Two compost bins for indoor use, one way to reduce and reuse kitchen waste
Photo: Joseph & Joseph (left) and KitchenCraft/Lifetime Brands (right)

Zero Waste Starter Kit: 5 Kitchen Essentials To Start

With so many innovative products available, it can feel overwhelming to know where to begin your zero waste journey. The key is to start with what feels manageable—focus on one area, make small changes and build from there.

To help you take the first step, here are our top 5 zero waste kitchen essentials to create your very own zero waste kitchen starter kit:

  1. Glass Food Storage Containers – One of the most used items in our kitchen, glass food storage containers replace plastic tupperware and reduce the need for single-use plastic freezer bags.
  2. Silicone Stretch Bowl Lids – We’ve saved many rolls of plastic wrap and aluminium foil by using these versatile, reusable lids on bowls and containers!
  3. Refillable Glass Soap Dispensers – We love our refillable amber glass soap dispensers, they look stylish and mean we can buy our dish soap and hand soap in bulk, reducing plastic waste.
  4. Bamboo Dish Brush – A sustainable cleaning tool that replaces plastic brushes and sponges, making it one of our top zero waste products.
  5. Compost Caddy – A convenient way to collect food scraps, making composting easier and reducing kitchen waste.

Essentials for ‘On-The-Go’

Don’t miss these two must-have items for reducing single-use plastic waste when out and about:

  1. Stainless Steel Water Bottle – Pop this stylish reusable bottle in your bag and make it a habit to take it with you wherever you go, reducing the need to buy single-use plastic bottles when out and about.
  2. Stainless Steel Travel Coffee Mug – If you like to grab a coffee on the go, not only will this reduce waste from single use cups, but it also looks great and keeps your coffee hotter for longer!

I hope you have enjoyed this article on zero waste kitchen products including our zero-waste essentials! It has been such an eye-opening experience to research for this article and I am personally excited to make use of some of the innovative products mentioned above to reduce waste in my kitchen. A stainless steel tea infuser is one of the next zero waste swaps on my list!

If you’d like to learn more about ‘zero waste’, check out our article ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Zero Waste (Tips + Benefits)‘.  Written by a literal zero-waste beginner (me!), I hope you will find it informative, straightforward and judgement-free.

Additional Information

Are all of these products 100% zero waste?

This article features a range of innovative kitchen products, and while we strive to highlight fully zero waste options that are plastic-free and 100% recyclable, local recycling guidelines can vary. As a result, some items may not be fully recyclable depending on your local council.

We’ve included some low-waste and eco-friendly products that may contain plastic or may not be entirely zero waste, but they’re worth considering for their ability to significantly reduce single-use items and other forms of waste. Be sure to read product descriptions carefully before purchasing to ensure you’re comfortable with the materials, their recyclability and environmental impact.

Read this before making any purchases:

This post was last updated on 24th September 2024. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we cannot guarantee that all details in this article are correct. Products may change over time, so please review product descriptions carefully before making any purchases to ensure they meet your needs. Do not rely solely on the information provided in this article. The Amazon links included in this article are for products from Amazon.co.uk, therefore if you are reading this article in another country, please bear in mind that the link may redirect to your country and thus display an alternative product to the one linked in the original post.

Is this a sponsored post or does it include affiliate links?

This is not a sponsored post. We own a range of the products mentioned, or similar items, all of which have been bought and paid for us. This post does, however, contain affiliate links for zero waste products online, which means that I may make a small commission off of items you purchase via one of these links, at no additional cost to you. I greatly appreciate everyone who chooses to use one of these links to make a purchase, it helps to support this blog and means that I can continue to create free content for you.  Please read the policy page for more information. This article links to 50+ low waste, eco-friendly and zero waste kitchen products (not all of them under their own separate heading).

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Tara

Hi, I’m Tara! I’m taking you on a trip around the world in vegan cuisine and bringing the world’s most delicious dishes to your kitchen.