My name is Mary Katherine and I started this blog in 2011 when I was 16. That was the first time that I became aware of the environmental issues associated with plastics. I started on a journey to reduce my own plastic footprint. Along the way, I noticed that most of the plastic waste I was generating was coming from the kitchen. Think about it – our food delivery system is plastic. Plastic wrap, plastic trays, plastic bottles, plastic tubs, plastic bags and more. I wanted to see if I could avoid buying and throwing away so much plastic. So I started trying to shop and cook in a way that would help me minimize the amount of plastic waste I was generating. I had been passionate about food from a very young age, so I thought that a blog that fused my newfound environmental interests with my longstanding culinary interests would be a good project for me to work on.
Over time, I realized that replacing plastic with another form of packaging (like paper or glass) is not a long-term sustainable solution. I studied waste in depth during a postgraduate diploma in sustainable waste management. After closely examining waste management systems and visiting a material recovery facility and a waste to energy facility, I came to the conclusion that replacing plastic with other materials won’t solve the waste management crisis facing our planet today. The solution to our waste management problems is to focus on minimizing the volume of waste that our society produces.
When I started this blog, the point was to cook with ingredients that didn’t come packaged in plastic. This goal has shifted to trying to minimize my overall waste generation. Despite this shift, I still believe that if a person wants to reduce their personal waste footprint, the kitchen is the best place to start. I hope you enjoy the blog and find the information helpful.
Contact form below if you have any questions and want to get in touch.
The Plastic-Free Chef 
First of all, I just want to say I LOVE your website. It’s been such a savior to me in my goals to limit plastic and I just love that everything is minimal ingredients and so practical and healthy! Thank you, thank you, thank you and PLEASE keep it up! I was wondering if you could tell me what you do about cottage cheese and sour cream. There is a recipe that I love to make that has both of those ingredients and I was hoping Straus would have it in glass but they only sell that in plastic. Any suggestions? Thank you again!
Thanks! I’m glad you like my site. I’m actually planning on making cottage cheese this weekend. I also just made creme fraiche, which is similar to sour cream. It has a milder flavor than sour cream, but I suppose if you made it and let it sour longer the flavor would develop more.
Way to go, Mary Kat! Nice site! Inspiring too. 🙂
Just found your blog and am so thankful to find a list of recipes that don’t use plastic instead of trying to adapt others. Then, I see that you are so young and I am even more inspired by this site!
Thanks! I’m glad you like it. 🙂
Great blog! Love all your ideas and your commitment to being earth-friendly! So inspiring!
Hi, I found your website via Beth Terry’s My Plastic-Free Life. I’m glad to read about someone who makes a ton of food from scratch like I do; homecooked meals simply cannot compare with bought foods. Not to mention, we’re lauching a revolution in our kitchens! Thanks for your blog and strong convictions. As for making ice cream without an ice cream machine, you simply make your mixture (here’s the basic recipe I use: http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2009/02/vanilla-ice-cream/), then put it in the freezer and mix by hand vigorously every hour or so. The last step is essential for creamy ice cream. You’ll never buy ice cream again.
I’m glad you like my blog. That recipe looks delicious! I’ll have to try it sometime. Thanks for the tip. 🙂
Wow! You started this blog when you were 17 ? I cant wait to see the impact you make on the world if you are already this passionate about something important at a young age.
Keep up the great work, I am rooting you on (and enjoying your recipes!)
Glad you like the blog! I actually started when I was 16. I’m 17 now (going to be 18 in a few days though).
I was looking for people to share my video with when I came across your site. How cool! Food without plastic is hard. We just moved to Mexico and I’m pleased to say I found bulk food in my town!
About my video for the curious:
I spent the past two years making art from my plastic trash. I started after I saw how much plastic rubbish was on the beaches of Malaysia. I thought you might lije to see this short documentary about my journey that I made.
There are lots of affordable options for reducing your plastic consumption, and for the most part, you don’t need to go out and buy a bunch of new stuff.
Great suggestions, have followed you and shared
#plasticfree #zerowaste
Thank you
Bren
Using Stainless Steel Drinking Straws