Zero Waste Sustainably & Affordably

6 Sustainable Alternatives to Plastic Cookware! (& healthiest)

by Kennedy Hammond on Apr 10, 2025

6 Sustainable Alternatives to Plastic Cookware! (& healthiest)
  1. Copper - Copper utensils are EASILY found in antique & thrift shops. Not only is copper extremely durable BUT, copper also has a TON of health benefits when used as cookware. For example: antibacterial properties, essential trace mineral, may improve digestion, can boost collagen, & some suggest that copper utensils can help with anemia! But beware if you are sensitive to copper toxicity please use with caution
  2. Stainless Steel- Another easy one to find at thrift stores, second hand stores, & thrift shops. Easy to use & clean. Oven safe & doesn’t have much metal leaching as some other plastic options that directly release BPA & micro plastics onto your food as you cook with them
  3. Wood- Wood is known to be the best option when it comes to both sustainable cookware & for your health. Wood is naturally non toxic, has antibacterial properties, gentle on cookware, & if properly sourced is the most sustainable options
  4. Ceramic- Ceramic although much more fragile than the other options is another great sustainable & non toxic option. Ceramic is made from clay & other earth minerals making it naturally non toxic, non stick & heavy metal free. Ceramic has a high temperature resistance, so although fragile, is another great option
  5. Glass- Glass is non-porous, easy to clean, & doesn’t leach chemicals into food like some plastics or metals can. However, it's important to consider that glass, especially regular glass, can be prone to thermal shock and may not be suitable for all cooking methods. 
  6. Silicone- Not my FAVORITE option by any means BUT it is still considered a lower tax & sustainable option. So if you have silicone utensils don’t rush to throw them out. They’re perfectly fine to use, just not my favorite option due to aesthetics. Silicone is non toxic, easy to clean, doesn’t leach chemicals into your food & most of the time BPA free.


My FAVORITE sustainable kitchenware brands!


Keep in mind I haven’t bought from every single one of these companies but I’ve done some deep dives on each of them & they all pass my tests.


  1. Any thrift store or antique store
  2. Quince (most affordable option)
  3. Le Crusset (I’ve personally bought from them & love their stuff)
  4. CARAWAY (has a recycle option for your old cookware)
  5. Made in. (I’ve bought their pots before & loved them! Made in America so less transportation emissions)
  6. Green Pan (very popular eco cookware brand with mostly silicone utensils for my silicone loving friends)

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