From using local produce to avoiding food waste, there are many ways to be more sustainable in the kitchen. Sustainable thinking can also be applied to kitchen design: whether you are looking to plan a completely new kitchen or are looking for ways to upgrade your old kitchen, we have some tips and ideas to make it more sustainable.
Materials
Could you upcycle your existing furniture to create a fresh new look? Sometimes the existing cabinetry can be reused and you could just replace the doors for a fresh new look. You can also integrate sustainable materials in your kitchen by using for example local renewable wood or recycled materials. In our Sustainable Kitchen you see here, we have reused existing steel cabinetry and added fronts made from a combination of birch plywood and an ash face veneer, two woods that originate in Europe, where this particular kitchen was photographed. The use of quality wood gives a well-loved and well-used kitchen much needed longevity.
Energy consumption
When planning a new kitchen and you are including new appliances, look out for energy ratings of the appliances in question. The good news is that appliances have been getting more and more efficient in recent years. In addition to energy ratings, it also pays off to look at the functions of your new appliances.