13 Sustainable Alternatives to Parchment Paper + Aluminum Foil

This post first appeared in our weekly Make Waves Mondays email series on July 28, 2025.

---

Hello hello friend!

I’m just gonna jump right in and pull the curtain back a little bit for ya today 😁

A few months ago when I was doing product research and testing our recycled kitchen trash bags, once I landed on which brand of trash bags I was going to bring into the shop I started looking around at some of the other products that brand offers, in case there was anything else this EcoWarrior community might be interested in.

Two products that initially piqued my interest were parchment paper and aluminum foil.

They’re not products that I get asked for often, but I have gotten a couple of requests over the years and thought this might be a good opportunity to bring them in.

But as I reflected on them more, I realized they don’t fully align with our company values.

I’m so very intentional with which products I choose to bring into A Drop in the Ocean. I want every product in our shop to be a truly sustainable, better alternative to the conventional option. Whether that’s a bar version instead of liquid, a liquid option in a closed-loop refillable container, or a reusable version instead of disposable. 

The products gotta WORK, and they gotta be BETTER.

And one thing I’ve been adamant about from the beginning is that I’m not going to bring in one disposable product to replace another disposable product when there are better solutions.

I held out on trash bags for a LONG TIME because of this. And while I’m still very much in the “reuse whatever you can because the plastic industry is full of losers who have convinced us that some plastic bags are trash and some plastic trash bags are for buying all in the name of making boatloads of cash off of us and destroying the planet” camp, I also realize that sometimes you can do all the reusing and reducing in the world but you still just need a trash bag sometimes.

It’s basically the same reason I won’t sell fancy A Drop in the Ocean-branded organic cotton canvas tote bags that you’d probably expect me to sell. You’ve got shopping bags at home, I know you do 😜

But anyhoops… There are plenty of other zero waste shops who are more than happy to sell a disposable product to make some extra money rather than advocate for alternatives and brainstorm true solutions. 

I ain’t one of ‘em.

I believe that I, and other sustainability-focused companies, have a responsibility to you, and to the planet, to push back against the “if a customer will pay for it, let’s sell it to them” narrative, even for “sustainable” products.

Because if we won’t, then who the heck will in this capitalistic hellscape we’ve found ourselves in?

All of this to say, friend, we won’t be adding parchment paper and aluminum foil to A Drop in the Ocean any time in the foreseeable future.

Instead, what I wanna do today is talk about some truly zero waste alternatives to both of these items.

Because real talk – I love to cook and I love to bake, and both of these things often call for parchment paper or aluminum foil, but I haven’t purchased or used either…honestly probably ever since moving out of my parents’ house when I was 18.

It’s possible. I pinky promise you.

At the VERY LEAST it’s possible to drastically reduce your use of both of these.

So without further ado, let’s dive in 👇

Parchment Paper

Okay so first things first, you may be thinking to yourself, “But Krystina…isn’t parchment paper compostable??”

And ya know what, friend?

I DON’T KNOW. And it’s absolutely MADDENING.

Every single variation of “is parchment paper compostable” that I’ve searched for from scientific papers, blog posts and news articles, and even Reddit posts has led me even more to I HAVE NO FREAKING IDEA.

Some say yes.

Some say no.

All of them say that parchment paper is a thin piece of paper coated with silicone. Okay cool so we know what parchment paper is.

But then some say silicone is compostable, some say it’s not. 

AND some say that parchment paper has PFAS, some say it doesn’t.

Now…what I will say is this:

1. The brand that I was going to purchase parchment paper from for A Drop in the Ocean has multiple compostability certifications. They have a TUV industrial compost certification, a TUV home compost certification, and another industrial compost certification I’m not familiar with. But they do not have BPI certification, which I do find a bit odd, considering several of their other products are BPI-certified. But, with three other certs, I feel pretty confident saying that this brand would, indeed, be compostable in some capacity.
   
   

2. I found one Reddit post where the poster asked if parchment paper is compostable, and, like all of the other Reddit posts I read, the comments were incredibly unhelpful. BUT the original poster did report back that the parchment paper they put in their backyard compost in January was undetectable four months later.

So do with that information what you will, but for me personally, if there’s that much conflicting information and not a single primary source I can find with a definitive answer…I’m gonna continue to not use parchment paper.

(After all of this, I do now want to do a blog post deep dive all about silicone…so if that’s something you’d be interested in let me know!)

So now let’s get into alternatives!

Alternatives to Parchment Paper for Cooking and Baking

The purpose of parchment paper is to keep whatever you’re cooking or baking from sticking to the pan you’re cooking or baking it in.

So all ya gotta do is make your dish extra non-stick!

• Good ‘ol butter / oil / flour. Historically, with this method, I’d just drizzle a little oil in my dish and use my fingers to spread it around as best I could. (Optional sprinkle with some flour.) These days, thanks to my partner’s teachings, I now just take a stick of butter straight to the dish! (Again, optional sprinkle with some flour.) Works like a charm, plus everything tastes better with a bit of butter ☺️
  
  

• Oil sprayer. Rather than purchasing disposable aerosol bottles of Pam or the like, you can DIY it with a reusable oil sprayer! Just fill with your oil of choice and spritz away!
  
  

• Silicone baking mat. I haven’t personally used one of these, but I’ve heard great things about them! There are many different types, and you want to make sure the one you get is food-grade or medical-grade silicone, but they’re just a silicone sheet that’s typically perfectly sized for a baking sheet. It does the same thing as parchment paper, but without the waste!
  
  💡 If you opt for a silicone baking mat, be sure to pay close attention to the specified heat limit and do not go over it.

image credit Silpat

Aluminum Foil

Now, with aluminum foil, I know you may be sitting here going, “But KRYSTINA. What’s wrong with aluminum foil?? It’s recyclable!!”

And…perhaps, but perhaps not.

Once upon a time, Younger Krystina also believed she could recycle aluminum foil. Especially Chipotle lids. I mean…it’s aluminum! Why wouldn’t it be recyclable, as long as there’s no food residue left on it??

Turns out, where I live, aluminum foil in any form (including thicker foil like a Chipotle lid) is not recyclable, even if it’s squeaky clean, because aluminum foil melts at a lower temperature than aluminum cans. 

So when they go through the recycling process, the foil just…turns to ash.

I know that there are so many blogs and TikToks that tell you to just ball up your aluminum foil until it’s about the size of a baseball and toss it in your recycling bin. But after learning this information I’m very skeptical if it’s actually getting recycled, even in the places that accept it.

BUT. Even if aluminum foil was recyclable, it’s still a super valuable metal that has a heck of an environmental impact when it’s mined.

And when we’re talking about something that’s almost exclusively used for food-related purposes, nearly every time it’s used it’s going to have food residue on it, rendering it completely unrecyclable anyway.

So in that case, we’re using a valuable material, that takes a large toll on the environment to mine, only to toss it in the trash after one use (or a few uses if you’re able to reuse it).

Fun fact: Just like plastics, aluminum foil use absolutely exploded after World War II, once the aluminum foil manufacturers no longer had a war effort to sell to and shifted their focus to us. It was all a money grab in the name of “convenience.” Surprise, surprise…

So let’s look at alternatives instead!

Alternatives to Aluminum Foil for Food Storage

• Mason jars. I’m a big fan of mason jars (or other reused jars) for food storage! There are so many different sizes, they’re airtight, they’re totally plastic-free, they’re stackable, and they’re clear so you can see what’s inside. I don’t know about you, but when I store something in an opaque container, I’m very likely to forget it exists in my fridge 😅 Plus, you can use mason jars for so much more than food storage so they’re just super helpful to have on hand at all times.
  
  

• Pyrex containers. I definitely don’t advocate for tossing your perfectly-usable Tupperware in favor of new glass Pyrex containers, but if you’re in the market for new food storage containers or you don’t want plastic touching your food, Pyrex is the way to go! I adore my Snapware containers. The thing I think I love most about them (besides all of the same reasons I love mason jars) is that they can go from oven to fridge to microwave to casual elegant serving dish. And even better, you can typically find them easily at thrift stores! And they sell replacement lids! We love a company that provides replacement parts around here!
  
  (And no, that’s not an affiliate link up there 👆 I just really love those containers.)
  
  

• Silicone bags. I've personally never felt the need for silicone bags myself since the above are my go-to options, and I wasn't much of a Ziploc baggie girl before going zero waste. BUT if you do gravitate towards Ziploc bags, silicone bags are a super easy replacement. I have one sandwich-size Stasher bag and I do love how easy it is when I am looking for a bag alternative. They're lightweight, dishwasher safe, microwave safe, oven safe, and come in a ton of sizes and colors.
  
  

• Plate over a bowl. Looking for the laziest food storage option possible? Just flip a plate upside down and put it on top of a bowl. Pop it in the fridge and you’re golden ✌️
  
  

• Beeswax wraps. For more of a 1-to-1 reusable alternative, beeswax wraps are a great option! They’re made from a piece of cotton fabric coated in beeswax, tree resin, and jojoba oil. You just place the wrap over the bowl, plate, or even directly on the food item you want to store, and the wrap will stick to itself or the bowl/plate/etc. to create a seal. One time I used them to store leftover chicken bones to make broth for over a week and the chicken was still fresh when I opened it again!
  
  (We recently discontinued our beeswax wraps, but I’m considering bringing them back as a holiday limited release. If this is something you’re interested in, comment below and let me know!)

Alternatives to Aluminum Foil for Cooking and Baking

In contrast to parchment paper, aluminum foil can serve many different purposes when it comes to cooking and baking, so it’s not quite as straightforward, but there are still so many options!

• Silicone baking mat. If you’re using aluminum foil to prevent foods from sticking in a pan, a silicone baking mat will work here too! Just, again, remember to pay attention to the heat limits!
  
  

• Ceramic or cast iron dish with a lid. I’m a big fan of ceramic and cast iron cookware for many reasons, but one of them is the versatility of being able to use one dish on the stovetop and in the oven. If you’re cooking something in the oven that calls for some covering, one of these dishes with a lid is a great option to replace the foil.
  
  

• Baking sheet. I don’t own a microwave, so I do nearly all of my food reheating in the oven (in the Pyrex container it’s been stored in 😉), and to prevent the leftovers from burning I always pop a baking sheet or cookie sheet on top of the dish. It prevents the food from burning and keeps moisture in to keep the leftovers nice and moist. And as a bonus, most of the time the baking sheet never actually touches the food so I don’t even bother washing it afterwards. Just let it cool and pop it back in the cabinet! Easiest cleanup ever.
  
  

• Cast iron griddle / pan, or grill basket. If you’re grilling some veggies and need to keep everything together so they don’t slip through the grates, rather than wrapping them in foil, gather them in a cast iron griddle or pan or a grill basket. (That lid I mentioned above would also be great here, too!)
  
  Disclaimer: I live in an apartment so I don’t have a grill, but these suggestions were offered many, many times across Reddit while I was doing the research for this post.
  
  

• Go without. I know that “going without” is sometimes absolutely not the answer we want to hear, but hear me out. Like I said, I haven’t purchased or used aluminum foil in over a decade, but I love to cook. Any time a recipe says to cover something with aluminum foil, if I can’t cover it with a baking sheet, I just…don’t cover it. And I’ve honestly never been disappointed with the outcome 🤷

How to Clean Baked-On Residue

Now there may be times if you’re ditching parchment paper and aluminum foil for non-stick purposes that you may end up with some baked-on residue on your dishes. And that might require a touch more elbow grease to get off than if you had used some parchment paper or aluminum foil.

The BEST way that I’ve found to get those dishes to shine again is twofold:

1. A pot scraper. If you don’t have a pot scraper in your kitchen, you’re missing out. (And you KNOW I don’t tell you that you need to buy things. That’s kinda the whole point of this blog. That’s how serious I am about these things.) Pot scrapers are LIFE SAVERS. I have a plastic one that was gifted to me when I moved into my first apartment, and I will continue to use that thing probably until I die, but if I were to buy one today I’d opt for bamboo.
   
   (If bamboo pot scrapers are something you’d like me to add to the holiday collection this year, comment below and let me know!)

image credit Bamboo Switch

2. Baking soda. I’ll tell you what, friend. I did not realize the incredible power of baking soda for cleaning until – I kid you not – this year. Like I said above, I don’t have a microwave in my home, so everything I reheat goes in the oven, and oftentimes I’m cooking, storing, and reheating all in the same Pyrex or casserole dish. That leads to a lot of baked-on residue. But what I’ve learned this year is that if you sprinkle a bit of baking soda on the dish and then scrub with a loofah and dish soap, the residue comes off almost like butter. It’s SO freakin’ easy and I’m forever kicking myself that I didn’t realize this until now. 

So in summary…

I know that many dishes often call for using parchment paper or aluminum foil, and it would have been very easy for me to add “sustainable versions” of both of these products to the shop, but in true EcoWarrior fashion, I think we can do better 😎

So next time you’re cooking up a storm and the recipe tells you to line a baking sheet with parchment paper or cover a dish with aluminum foil, give one of these alternatives a try instead.

You’ll not only slash your waste, you’ll also save money. And in this economy, who wouldn’t love that??

And if you’ve got any other tips to add to this list, please comment below and share them with me! I’d love to hear them! 💙

I hope you have a fabulous week, friend, and I’ll “see” you again next week.