In a world where 'disposable' is becoming undesirable and 'back to basics' increasingly popular, the latest products to get a sustainability makeover can be found in the kitchen.

Whether it’s in investigating the levels of plastic in our oceans or wondering where our clothes are coming from, many consumers now worry about the state of our planet. In fact, recent studies have shown that more than 90 per cent of Australians are concerned about the environment and sustainability.

It’s little wonder then that, according to world-leading consumer trend forecaster WGSN, when it comes to cookware, consumers are not only gravitating towards long-lasting brands, they’re willing to pay more for them, too. Here are three reasons why it’s a trend worth following for your business.

It saves on landfill

Seven out of 10 Australians rank waste going to landfill as one of their top environmental concerns. Pans with a non-stick coating not only typically need to be replaced every few years, they aren’t recyclable. This means they go straight from the rubbish bin into landfill.

In New Zealand, it’s estimated that more than 1.3 million non-stick pans go into landfill every year. Imagine how much higher that number is in Australia, where the population is five times larger?

Compared with made-to-be-replaced cookware, built-to-last products – such as those made of stainless steel or wrought iron – are sometimes described as having ‘multi-century durability’, which means they won’t be assigned to landfill anytime soon.

It’s multi-generational

Such impressive longevity lends itself to cookware that can not only stand the test of generations, it can be enjoyed by them, too. According to WGSN, buying cookware that can be kept, shared and passed down the family line is a big appeal of investing in long-lasting products.

It’s likely to be healthier

Chemicals commonly used to create non-stick surfaces, including PFOA and PFOS, have recently come under scrutiny – not only for their environmental impacts but for their health impacts, too. Linked to everything from immune dysfunction and liver damage to cancer and reproductive harm, they’ve now been largely phased out as a component of consumer products – only to be replaced by shorter-chain options from the same class of chemicals.

The jury is still out on how safe these newer chemicals are – or aren’t – but initial investigations conducted by the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency suggest there’s a chance they’re linked to the same environmental and health concerns as their original counterparts. For consumers, who are increasingly savvy and increasingly keen to take steps to look after their health and wellbeing, cookware brands that avoid these non-stick chemicals altogether will seem to be the obvious choice.

Discover a range of sustainable home and living products for your shelves at the Naturally Good Product Directory here.