(BPT) – After much anticipation, the country is basking in summer – an especially welcome return this year. As the world socially distanced over the last year, coming back together with friends and family around pools and backyard grills has a special significance.
With summer gatherings in full swing, it’s important to remember the lessons of the last year. While people skipped their single-serve morning coffee run and cooked more at home, many saw an opportunity to live a cleaner, more sustainable lifestyle when it comes to food and food waste. Even as the world returns to normal, plastic water bottles and extra food waste in the kitchen trash can become relics of the past in favor of a more sustainable future.
To help empower people to make a difference, InSinkErator’s Kitchen Better™ initiative is highlighting the importance of keeping the world cleaner and more sustainable – all by starting in the kitchen. Below are some tips to help you do just that, as well as how Emerson’s InSinkErator products can help.
What You Can Do
Meal Planning
Planning meals helps create awareness of food waste. Understanding what food typically goes to waste and what leftovers you or your family refuse to touch, etc. will keep you from wasting food at home and money at the store. Forming a few simple habits like taking inventory of the pantry, creating grocery lists and saving leftovers can make a big impact toward reducing food waste.
Composting
Instead of throwing away food scraps, compost them. Composting – the process of breaking down organic matter into a nutrient-rich fertilizer – enriches the soil, helps keep food waste out of landfills and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. Check out more details on the process here.
Reducing Plastic Use
Today, plastic is found virtually everywhere, so there’s plenty of opportunity to reduce your use of it. One of the simplest ways to reduce plastic use is through a water filtration system. Water filters provide you and your family clean, pure water straight from the tap and eliminate the need to purchase single-use, disposable bottles.
How We Can Help You Kitchen Better™
Disposing of Food Waste
Food waste contributes to harmful global emissions and unpleasant kitchen odors and germs. To address these issues, Emerson’s InSinkErator business invented the garbage disposal over eight decades ago. Since then, InSinkErator garbage disposals have saved 80 million tons of food waste from going into landfills. On top of this, InSinkErator garbage disposals also create a safe and effortless way to keep food out of the trash and reduce the chances of bacteria, such as salmonella and E. coli. Averaging less than 50 cents a year in electricity to operate, InSinkErator disposals provide families the opportunity to keep their kitchen clean and sustainable at the same time.
Using an InSinkErator Garbage Disposal
Consistently using a garbage disposal can lead to a positive impact on the environment — and a cleaner kitchen at the same time. InSinkErator garbage disposals require only a few steps. First, run a steady stream of cold water into the sink. Second, turn on the garbage disposal. Next, gradually feed food waste into the disposal. Lastly, turn off the disposal and let the water run for a few seconds. For additional information, tips and tutorials, visit InSinkErator.com.
Dispensing Hot Water
With InSinkErator instant hot water dispensers, hot water is available right when you need it. Although the few seconds waiting for hot water to reach the sink may seem insignificant, those additional seconds can add up to gallons over time. Also, when compared to other heat sources in the kitchen, like the stove or microwave, instant hot water dispensers require minimal amounts of energy – helping save you money in the long run.
Most people probably don’t think about the cleanliness and sustainability of their kitchen every day – and that’s expected. However, small steps in the kitchen can make a big difference in the world, and InSinkErator is poised to continue empowering people to Kitchen Better™.