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Environmental Impact of Large Homes
In recent years, the building trend has been to "go big." New homes in the United States have the biggest average square footage compared to any other country in the world. Large houses can be considered a symbol of status. In recent decades, home size has also increased. In 1973, the average square footage of a newly constructed home in the US was 1,660 square feet. In 2017, the average was 2,631 square feet - a 63% increase.
This substantial increase in home size causes several detrimental environmental impacts. These include loss of land, increased pollution, and ecosystem fragmentation, and many other negative consequences. Building size is one of the most significant predictors of energy consumption for a building.
Pros and Cons of Tiny Homes
Tiny homes are developing as a potential solution to reduce building material waste and excessive consumption within the residential industry. Tiny houses also counter housing trends of recent decades, which have often valued quantity over quality. Tiny homes fit most, if not all, functions of a large house in 400 square feet or less.
Research has found that tiny homes promote substantially smaller environmental impacts. For instance, my study found that those who downsize to tiny houses experience a 45% decrease in their ecological footprints on average. This data found that downsizing can influence many lifestyle attributes such as diet, transportation habits, purchasing, and recycling.
One drawback to tiny home living is the associated space constraints in such a small home. My research found that there are some unintended consequences of downsizing to such small houses. One major drawback I found was that downsizers often use their kitchens less, and as a result, cook less often. This reduction in home cooking is due to smaller kitchens and less storage space for kitchenware and bulk food items. From an environmental standpoint, this was a negative of downsizing. Going out to eat or ordering takeout is almost always more resource-intensive than cooking at home.
This unintended consequence begs the question, how can it be more comfortable for those living in smaller spaces to continue functioning as if they are in a traditionally-sized home? There is a need for a redesign of kitchenware and other housewares to fit smaller spaces. This is not only important for tiny home dwellers but also for those in micro-apartments, condos, etc.
What Brands Make Small Scale Cookware?
We've discovered several companies that have addressed kitchenware for small spaces. Here are a few of our favorites:
Stackware features six full-size, fully functional high-performance cooking vessels, made to nest in the footprint of one - taking up just 1/5th of the space required by traditional products.
Ensembl has engineered removable handles and a lid that lies flat – this makes nesting possible. However, unlike camping-style cookware (which also employs a removable handle), Stackware is fully clad. Fully clad means each piece is made using discs of fused stainless steel and aluminum for even, responsive heat. The result: you can cook incredible food. "And isn't that the point? If you can serve a delicious meal, you'll want to cook more!"
In creating Stackware, Kate insisted that the product goes beyond a single function. So she looked at the broader experience we have around food. In particular, she considered what we've come to expect in a large, traditional home. Stackware is purpose-built to accommodate serving meals, storing, then reheating leftovers – all in a single vessel, eliminating the need to own additional, single-use products. This level of multi-functionality enables those living in small spaces to do more because they have one product that can do the job of three or four.
Ensembl is bringing innovative, functional design to the often stagnant housewares category. It is creating quality products that are highly functional yet made to take up less space. The company hopes this can be a real solution for those living in small areas.
Proclamation Goods: A Powerhouse Duo
Based in San Francisco, Proclamation Goods packs the utility of a 10-piece set into 'The Proclamation Duo.' With a hybrid pot, sidekick skillet, and a matching lid for both, this small set packs a punch! Hinge together the pot and skillet, and you've got yourself a dutch oven setup.
Abbio: All Your Kitchen Needs
The Abbio cookware products are engineered for daily use and pain-free cleanup. Similar to Stackware, these products have fully-clad steel and aluminum construction. They are tri-ply, too, meaning that there are multiple layers of steel and aluminum to give a solidly constructed piece. With a natural non-stick surface and scratch-resistant purchase, these products aim to last a lifetime.
With Abbio, you can buy a full set or individual pieces. While not dishwasher recommended, they are still straightforward to clean. Abbio sells the core items you need to cook a delicious meal, which no unnecessary pieces.
Unlike Stackware and the Proclamation Duo, however, the Abbio set is not designed to stack together. So, if you are tight on physical space to store your cookware, you may want to look at a stackable set. Alternatively, you could buy individual pieces based on your cooking needs.
Abbio has been vetted by quite a few groups like Business Insider, Allrecipes, and Travel & Leisure, proving its popularity among reviewers. As Forbes shared, "Best of all, the Abbio Set proves that you don't need to register for that pricey fifteen-piece set when five items will do just fine."'
Sustainability: Buying Products Built to Last
If we look at products made for smaller homes in the past, the focus was mostly on space-efficiency. Product quality often took a backseat. However, low-quality products do not last and frequently need replacement. If we're serious about adopting a more sustainable lifestyle, product longevity is a necessary part of the conversation. What is the environmental impact of replacing a product? Does the used item end up in the landfill? How long does the replacement last? What is the effect of repurchasing that product throughout your lifetime? These questions should apply to both the homes we live in and the products we purchase for them.
For most products, the most sustainable option is to purchase one product and make it last. Currently, many product manufacturers are making this unrealistic. In essence, they are creating products built to be discarded after a relatively short time. However, it is more sustainable to find products that can be repaired rather than those that will require an outright replacement if one part fails.
Stackware, Kate tells me, comes with a lifetime warranty, thanks to the high-quality, fully-clad steel and aluminum used to make each vessel. The Proclamation Duo also comes with a lifetime guarantee, while the Abbio set has a one-year warranty.
How Much Does Small Space Cookware Cost?
Costs are another consideration when researching the appropriate cookware for your home. The most affordable option is the Abbio set for $287. The set includes a small and large non-stick skillet, stockpot, saute pan, and saucepan with lids. Next is the Proclamation Duo that comes in at $379 for the stainless-steel set ($395 for the carbon steel set). For the full set of Stackware, the total cost is about $750 (and half sets run between $369 and $529). Despite higher upfront costs than conventional cookware, the goal is for you to own Stackware for life.
What Cookware Brands Can Be Repaired, Rather Than Replaced?
Stackware made a removable handle was purpose-built to be repairable (rather than replaced). "It would cost less to replace a worn-out handle outright. Plus, the long-term environmental impact of tossing something worn in exchange for something brand new is massive. We should be repairing, and we should be demanding the companies we buy from are creating products that allow for repairs," Kate of Ensembl shares.
Why Avoid Cookware With Non-Stick Coatings?
In contrast, cookware made with coatings - like ceramic or other non-stick compounds - automatically has a short, defined lifespan. Coatings don't last forever. And once they start to chip or scratch, they're not only likely to lose their non-stick properties but may leach toxins from the coating into the air and food. "Coated cookware is a product that, by design, needs to be replaced every few years. That is not a sustainable option."
There is a need for kitchenwares that fit the small-scale home life more appropriately and provide a way to create a genuinely sustainable kitchen. But, this is not merely a need for products that save space. There is a need for high-performance, multifunctional, and built to last products – all while being created to use the least amount of space. In this article, we explored a few brands that may offer solutions for this conundrum: Ensembl and its debut product, Stackware; Proclamation Goods' 'Proclamation Duo,' and Abbio's five-piece set.
Maria Saxton
Located in Roanoke, Virginia, Maria Saxton holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning from Virginia Tech. She works as an Environmental Planner and Housing Researcher for a local firm specializing in Community Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Historic Preservation. Her dissertation explored the environmental impacts of small-scale homes. She serves as a volunteer board member for the Tiny Home Industry Association.
