9 Sustainable Eco Friendly Kitchen Renovation Ideas 

Climate change is becoming a more prominent issue circulating through the public sphere. Consider a warm, eco-friendly kitchen design when considering self-build or renovation projects. Starting from the selection of timber. For the cabinet, think about tiles and flooring made of recycled materials. You can do many things to protect the environment during the kitchen remodeling process. But how can you be confident that your kitchen is more efficient regarding energy and its environmental impact? If sustainability is important to you, here are seven key questions you must ask before considering a new green kitchen. Modern design and technology mean that there’s no reason why environmentally friendly choices have to inhibit either design or functionality. Take a look at these 9 sustainable eco-friendly kitchen renovation ideas.

Sustainable kitchen ideas

There are two ways to consider a sustainable kitchen. There are some of us who prefer to suspend our specifications when it comes to our kitchens, by which we mean loads of reclaimed and organic materials, which not only tick the boxes for the environment, but appear to be in harmony with it too.

I. Modern vs. Traditional

Modern kitchen ideas elsewhere draw on sleeker and more contemporary spaces within the engine room of their home, safe in the knowledge that they have not polluted the world with their on-trend design.

II. Easy Improvements

Installing a sustainable kitchen is one of the easiest and biggest eco home improvements you can do. Here’s how to implement these 9 sustainable, eco-friendly kitchen renovation ideas.

1. Do your research

To start with, the best thing is to ensure that you have identified a kitchen retailer who deals in green products that are ecological.

I. Focus on Durability

We suggest focusing your search on durable goods that will last longer; these items are usually on the higher end in the beginning, but it’ll be very beneficial in the future. They can also help you increase the value of your property if you decide to sell the property in future.

II. Certified Materials

You also need to ensure that you look for wood that has been certified FSC/PEFC; this shows that it was gotten right for the right moral standards. Confirm that it follows The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 and The Environmental Management Standards.

III. Brand Responsibility

There may also be an interest to discover how brands manage their stores, for instance, all the stores in the United Kingdom mainland are fully powered by renewable energy. All of these things can and should impact your decision to purchase more sustainably.

2. Dispose of your old kitchen responsibly

If you are planning to carry out a renovation of your old kitchen, why not look for a way to give the old kitchen a new look?

I. Recycling Options

Pay a visit to your local household recycling waste center; most of the items with a plug or a battery (fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, oven, etc.) can be recycled along with wooden kitchen units and wooden cabinets.

II. Donation Opportunities

On the other hand, if your old kitchen is in good condition and sturdy, you could donate it so that it does not end up as part of the increasing heaps of waste that goes to the landfill.

III. Local Classifieds

Free Classified Ads sites like Gumtree, Freecycle Network & Facebook Marketplace, or local papers are good ways where people give new life to the unwanted items. If you want to purchase a new kitchen from us. Then we will be glad to help you deal with waste from your old kitchen in the right manner. Learn more about how sustainability is an important concept to Magnet kitchens. 

3. Invest in eco-friendly kitchen products

While it is always advisable to incur a certain amount of money and buy smart, sustainable kitchen appliances, you spend less on energy and carbon emissions.

I. Efficiency of Appliances

It can also translate to they do not require frequent replacement once good appliances have been purchased. Interesting to know that induction hobs are 90% more efficient in comparison with the gas hobs used at 60% of their power.

II. Sustainable Practices

They offer sustainable kitchen appliances and manage to use +400 metric tons of recycled plastic in its products in 2020. It is also moving more towards using sustainable packaging solutions and increasing availability of spare parts to push its customers to fix products they already own.

III. Advanced Technology

AEG washer dryers have built-in ProSense technology which saves time, water, and energy during every cycle. For more ways to make your appliances last longer, take a look at our piece on the life expectancy of kitchen appliances.

4. Think carefully about lighting

Another element that can have a big impact on your kitchen’s efficiency is lighting.

I. Choosing Bulbs

The type of bulb is not the only consideration – find out where to place your bulbs to get the brightest light online as well. Instead, we suggest LED bulbs, spotlights, or strips – they use way less energy, last longer, and still look sleek and modern.

II. Task vs. Mood Lighting

When designing an eco-friendly kitchen, split it into two parts, task and mood lighting. Task lighting is a useful thing and does illuminate a particular area; mood lighting adds a certain mood.

III. Save Electricity

By using light only when you need it most, you’re simply saving on electricity.

5. Sustainable materials

If opting for timber for flooring or cabinets, look for FSC-certified wood or plywood.

I. Recycled Options

If made from recycled materials, Melamine Faced Chipboard (MFC) and Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) can be eco-friendly, and Ecoboard is even better since it is manufactured from compressed agricultural products.

II. Fast-Growing Alternatives

Another great sustainable product is bamboo as it is so fast-growing. In the recycled content stakes for work surface and splashback options, we have glass, terrazzo, and many sintered stone or mineral-based quartzes that score well.

III. Innovative Products

EcoStone by Lochanna is made from 93% quarry stone waste, while AluSplash creates splashbacks made from reused aluminum that’s 100% recyclable and Foresso timber terrazzo is made from a minimum of 65% waste material.

6. Eco-friendly flooring

Timber or stone sourced responsibly and bamboo fast-growing will cause minimal environmental impact.

I. Cork and Mycelium

As for an eco-friendly kitchen, cork is also well worth considering as the bark from the cork oak regrows naturally and can be harvested every nine years. Part of Matter of Stuff’s offering of bio-based materials are mycelium plank floor tiles made from fungus filaments, corn crops, rice straw, spent coffee grounds, discarded seaweed, and clam shells.

II. Biodegradable Options

Don’t forget biodegradable linoleum, too. Resin can be used to create flooring in a different way than concrete with the environmentally unfriendly processes and huge usage of water and chemicals to make cement.

III. Certification Labels

Cradle to Cradle certification is another good label to look for and you can even get EU Ecolabel certified floor or board laminate flooring too.

7. Green-tech

A lot of the modern advances in kitchen appliances are not only geared towards streamlining tasks but also making these tasks more energy-efficient.

I. Boiling Water Taps

A boiling water tap, for example, not only provides hot water on demand but also aims to tackle the £68 million a year the UK wastes in electricity boiling kettles. Consider eco-taps, too, which have built-in flow limiters to reduce water use.

II. Energy Ratings

Cooking and cooling appliances are reducing the power consumption needed to run them, while innovations in cleaning appliances also seek to use less water. Each appliance will come with an energy rating label to help you calculate its cost and how much estimated energy it will use.

III. Cost Savings

You’ll normally save about £200 on energy over the life of the product by choosing an A+++ fridge freezer over an A+ model. The new E label is being phased in that ratings energy efficiency and performance – this one runs from A – G, but hobs without an integral extractor aren’t rated. Induction hobs use very little electricity, being only heated when a pan is placed on top. 

8. Shop local

By choosing cabinets made in the UK and using UK-sourced materials, our carbon emissions are reduced for transportation further afield.

I. Minimize Carbon Footprint

To minimize your project’s carbon footprint, ideally, buy from kitchen suppliers located nearby your home that use local and sustainably sourced materials.

II. Ethical Sourcing

If shopping locally isn’t an option for your eco-friendly kitchen, find out you’re sourcing from an ethical and eco company yourself. Sustainable Kitchens seek to be that ‘business that respects environmental limits, is sustainable and does not degenerate the use of resources, recognizing the link between a healthy economy, society, and environment’.

III. Reclaimed Materials

The Main Company creates gorgeous kitchens out of new, salvaged, and reclaimed materials while Rotpunkt gives customers the opportunity to create a 100% carbon-neutral kitchen.

9. Low or no VOC content

VOCs are emitted when the solution is released and then forms fine particle pollution by reacting with nitrogen oxides in the air.

I. Health Risks

VOCs can be found in many building materials, flooring, composite wood products, and adhesives, and some paints. VOCs, when released gradually over a period of time, do not only harm the environment surrounding but they also pose threats to health.

II. Choosing Materials

Choosing materials with low or no VOC content is key for healthy homes, so ensure this is part of your brief.

III. Ventilation Considerations

Also, be able to think about how your home can be ventilated so as to reduce the risks where products that emit VOCs are needed. Products containing formaldehyde, including MDF and plywood graded E1, should be avoided, as emissions will be low. Low chemical and particle emission products are also certified by Greenguard Gold. Also, it is considered one of the important parts of our list of 9 sustainable, eco-friendly kitchen renovation ideas.

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Conclusion

There you have it our list of the 9 Sustainable Eco Friendly Kitchen Renovation Ideas. Not only is renovating your kitchen from an environmental perspective good for the environment, but it can also improve the comfort and efficiency of your home! With the help of these eco-friendly ideas, you can make a kitchen in which you follow your principles and at the same time look trendy and practical. Take that, just every small step makes a difference when working towards a positive effect on the planet! 

FAQs

1. What are eco-friendly kitchen products? 

These eco-friendly kitchen products include products which have energy efficient appliances and products made of recycled or responsibly sourced material.

2. How can I reduce VOCs in my kitchen? 

Low or no VOC containing materials, minimize ventilation issues, and no formaldehyde in products. 

3. What types of flooring are considered sustainable? 

Sustainable flooring options include responsible sources of timber, bamboo, cork, biodegradable linoleum, or flooring made or recycled.