The fact that I recently moved is no surprise to anyone. That is one of the many reasons my posting schedule has been so whack, after all.
But it’s not all doom and gloom here at Anjali’s Musings. For I can now share my experiences to help you all when you have to get items for your home.
And today, we are going to talk about realistically sustainable kitchen storage and where you can get items from.
Creatively Use What You Have
To begin with, when I was moving, I took all the jars from eating jar cake I had to store spices in. If there is one thing that says you are Indian without you say you’re, it is the masala in our food, and I had to have it. My mom recommends a traditional wooden masaldani or spice-container, but I find my way works too.
Of course, it is best if you buy from either bulk stores or if there isn’t one nearby, like for me, then you can buy larger packets of items which you can clean and recycle. I had to make do with smaller ones for a while…but such is life.
Hand me downs
In the spirit of reducing consumption and using what you own, the next thing we have is of course, nani and mumma’s tiroji or treasure trove. My mom and my partner’s mom have both been super helpful in giving us extra utensils they didn’t use, stands for such, and more.
Mom even wanted me to take her extra brass matka but alas! Flights won’t allow something so heavy, and thus I had to turn to my local store and get a plastic water dispenser. Trust me, where I live? Filtered water even can kill.
And in such cases, we choose healthy imperfect sustainability. Aka like popular climate content creators say, we choose not to both about things we can’t control. Like water and microplastics. And yes, I will use that dispenser for years.
But Anjali, what about the jugs?
Well, the store takes them back and sends them to the station for a refill, so reduce, reuse, and recycle is still on baby!
But not everything you already have or can steal from your mom. In such cases, FB marketplace and thrift stores can lead to some very sustainable sprees. As well as swapping with friends and colleagues.
Thrift Stores like FreeUp, Facebook Marketplace, and Swaps
My sister had recommended Facebook marketplace, especially for sustainable furniture options. The process is simple. You just contact the seller whose items you like, chat for a bit, and pickup your piece post payment. FreeUp, which I mainly use for clothes and accessories, too had some cute household items. While you have to be careful not to accidentally end up getting new items, personally I feel they are usually supportive small local businesses so it’s all good.
I didn’t need much help in the furniture department because I rented by furniture and appliances. You can also look at stores which sell refurnished items.
Mansi Shah of GiftGreen India also helped a lot by introducing me to people who were moving and wanted to swap or sell their items. While none of their wares worked for me, swapping is always an excellent idea.
But if you must buy new like I had to for the urgent items I needed immediately on moving- looking at your dustbins- here are some options.
Local Stores
While these can help with thrifting, small local businesses often carry good items. Sure, some might be from big brands, but you still help your community by buying them. And roadside vendors can be a goldmine for sustainable storage options.
While I didn’t get a bamboo dustbin that my partner thought would be able to do the job, I did end up seeing some really sweet baskets.
Where did I finally get my bins?
A store at the mall.
It’s the cutest store and their website says they are sustainable, though that could be greenwashing, but since the items were healthy plastic which I plan on getting quite the mileage out of, I don’t feel very guilty about those last-minute purchases. After all realistic everyday sustainability is healthy and balanced sustainability.
The Mall and Stores
Malls and chain stores like DIY, Market99, Big Bazar, or D-mart are good last minute options. While sustainable items there can be a hunt and finding fair trade items is a Herculean task, as long as you actually use the items for long? You are good.
Trust me, the anxiety over VOCs and microplastics probably does more harm than the microplastics from your bin.
And like Mansi Shah of Gift Green said, sometimes- especially when it comes to wet waste- you don’t have an option but plastic. Plus, single use plastic is the enemy, otherwise fair trade, ethically made plastic that’s used for long can be quite the versatile material. And I would rather focus on reducing food waste and fast fashion in my life than stress about a bin.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments, young padawan.
But there’s another option. And that is?
Sustainable Businesses
Online sustainable stores or even physical ones- you can find some using Google or ask your neighbors- can be just what you need for your kitchen storage items. Some I looked at were GreenFootPrint, and Gift Green India. You can always see where your favourite sustainability influencers are buying from to know more. I personally follow Sonika Bhasin, Megha Ahuja, who I had the privilege to work with, ConciousChokri, and TrasySisters.
The point is regardless of what store you go to, keep an eye on your budget and certifications. Ensure your food and spices won’t go bad, as experts from Our Better Planet, where I used to work, have said that it can be difficult to find sustainable packaging for them. Also make sure metals like lead won’t leech into your food. Don’t be me. Seriously, I accidentally bought a few melamine plates, thinking they were wood, and now I exclusively use them for cold food to keep them sustainable and in use, without harming my health. Eventually, I am hoping to use them as storage or plant bases. Let’s see.
If you’ve any ideas, let me know.
And remember, stay green, stay susty but most of all, stay healthy!
Author’s Note: Hope this piece was helpful! If you would like to see some amazing thrifted finds I have, you can subscribe to The Brown Journal(s). If you wish to support the blog, a like, a share, or payment of your choice is always welcome!
