Modern Artisans: French Butter Keeper Crock, Ceramic
Modern Artisans: French Butter Keeper Crock, Ceramic
Keep your butter fresh and perfectly spreadable without the need for refrigeration with our French Butter Crock. This innovative kitchen essential uses a simple yet effective method to create an airtight seal with water, ensuring your butter stays soft and ready to use at all times.
Key Benefits:
- Functional Design: Our stoneware pottery crock is lead-free and cadmium-free, making it safe for everyday use.
- Microwave & Dishwasher Safe: Easily reheat or clean the crock without worry.
- Perfect Size: With dimensions of approximately 5.5 inches high and 3.5 inches in diameter, it has a 1/2-cup capacity, making it ideal for countertop storage.
What We Love
1. Free from harmful chemicals and glazes, ensuring a safe and eco-friendly kitchen accessory
2. Certified eco-friendly and sustainably produced, reflecting a commitment to environmental responsibility
3. Keeps butter at room temperature without spoilage for up to 30 days
ASSESSMENT AS OF: JANUARY 2024
Sustainable Features
Price Point
Estimated Life Expectancy
What We'd Like to See Improved
Savings & Benefits for Switching from Conventional Options
- French Butter Crock keeps butter fresh and soft without refrigeration
- Fill lid with butter, pour cool water into bottom of vessel (excess water flows from hole) and replace lid - butter is now protected with an airtight seal of water
- Handmade in the USA, our crock is shaped on a potter's wheel, glazed by the hands of the artisan, and fired to a strong, permanent finish
- Perfectly functional and American made, the durable stoneware pottery crock is lead-free, cadmium-free, microwave and dishwasher safe
- Approximately 5.5 high x 3.5 diameter, 1/2-cup capacity
Details
Material Ceramic
Color Lakeside Blue
Brand Modern Artisans
Item Weight 1 Pounds
Finish Type Polished
Summary
One of the most compelling advantages of choosing durable, sustainable items is the reduction of plastic waste. For instance, replacing plastic butter dishes with a sturdier, more eco-friendly alternative can drastically cut down on the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills. By eliminating the need for disposable or short-lived plastic products, we contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment. This not only benefits current generations but also helps preserve the planet for future ones.
Investing in durable, high-quality items fosters a mindset of sustainability and conscious consumption. It encourages individuals to consider the long-term impact of their purchases, leading to more thoughtful and responsible consumer behavior. By choosing products that are built to last, we not only save money but also take a significant step toward reducing our environmental footprint.
In summary, while sustainable products may have a higher upfront cost, their long-term benefits far outweigh this initial investment. They offer considerable savings, significantly reduce plastic waste, and promote a sustainable lifestyle through their durability and eco-friendly nature. Adopting such products is a powerful way to contribute to environmental preservation and achieve a more sustainable future.
Country of Origin:
- USA
Sustainability Explanation:
1. Manufacturing: 10/10
- Made in the USA close to the target market
2. Distribution: 10/10
- Made in the USA close to the target market
3. Cost: 5/10
- The cost is significantly higher than a lower-price plastic alternative, cost maybe 8 times higher than lower-end plastic alternatives
4. Packaging: 5/10
- Packaging is largely paperboard, cardboard, and some bubble wrap
5. Effectiveness: 10/10
- Very effective in keeping butter fresh outside the refrigerator
6. Lifespan: 10/10
- Between a lifetime and an heirloom, will last more than a lifetime with care
7. Fun: 10/10
- Very fun when combined with making butter at home
8. Relevance: 10/10
- Ideal for intended use, creates a simplistic air-tight seal for freshness
9. Disposal: 10/10
- Contains no microplastics, will degrade over time but will not release harmful chemicals
10. Recycling: 5/10
- Not recyclable
Modern Artisans French Butter Keeper Crock Benefits:
1. Sustainable Materials:
- Made from natural ceramics, which are eco-friendly and biodegradable
2. Health Benefits:
- Free from harmful chemicals, ensuring safe food storage
3. Durability:
- Designed to last for many years, reducing the need for frequent replacements
4. Low Environmental Impact:
- Handcrafted with sustainable practices, minimizing its carbon footprint
5. Aesthetic and Functional:
- Provides an elegant and practical solution for butter storage
Plastic Butter Dish Drawbacks:
1. Plastic Components:
- Made from plastic, which contributes to plastic pollution
2. Microplastic Shedding:
- Plastic can degrade over time, releasing microplastics into the environment
3. Shorter Lifespan:
- Less durable, leading to more frequent replacements and increased waste
4. Potential Health Risks:
- Plastic can leach harmful chemicals, especially when in contact with food
5. Non-Biodegradable:
- Difficult to dispose of responsibly, often ending up in landfills
How to Start Using Modern Artisans French Butter Keeper Crock:
1. Purchase:
- Obtain the butter keeper from a reputable retailer or online store
2. Initial Setup:
- Follow the instructions for seasoning the crock if necessary and fill it with butter
3. Usage:
- Use it to store butter at room temperature, ensuring it stays fresh and spreadable
4. Care:
- Clean and maintain the crock according to the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure longevity
5. Share:
- Encourage friends and family to switch by sharing the benefits of using a sustainable butterkeeper
Summary
The Plastic Butter Dish may be appealing due to its lower initial cost, but it leads to significantly higher plastic consumption compared to the Modern Artisans French Butter Keeper Crock. While the ceramic butter keeper has a higher upfront price, it offers substantial long-term savings and a reduced environmental impact.
The Modern Artisans French Butter Keeper Crock not only lasts longer but also provides a safer kitchen environment. Ceramics are typically free from harmful chemicals, whereas plastic dishes may contain and release toxins over time, posing potential health risks. By opting for a ceramic butter keeper, consumers can avoid these dangers and enjoy peace of mind regarding food safety.
This comparison highlights the broader benefits of choosing the Modern Artisans French Butter Keeper Crock. Its initial cost is offset by its longevity and reduced need for replacements, making it a cost-effective choice in the long run. Furthermore, it supports eco-friendly practices by significantly lowering plastic consumption and minimizing the environmental footprint.
Lifetime Plastic Avoided
Modern Artisans French Butter Keeper Crock
1. Lifespan Estimate:
- The typical lifespan of a high-quality ceramic butter keeper crock, such as the Modern Artisans French Butter Keeper Crock, can be around 20 years
2. Number of Purchases Over 50 Years:
- Given a 20-year lifespan:
Number of purchases = 50/20 = 2.5
Rounding up, this would be 3 purchases
3. Plastic Content Estimate:
- The crock is primarily made of ceramic with minimal plastic, mainly from packaging. Assume the packaging contains about 10 grams (0.01 kg) of plastic.
4. Total Plastic Consumption Over 50 Years:
- Total plastic consumption = 3×0.01 kg = 0.03 kg
Plastic Butter Dish
1. Lifespan Estimate:
- The typical lifespan of a plastic butter dish is around 5 years
2. Number of Purchases Over 50 Years:
- Given a 5-year lifespan:
Number of purchases = 50/5 = 10
3. Plastic Content Estimate:
- Assume each plastic butter dish weighs about 100 grams (0.1 kg)
4. Total Plastic Consumption Over 50 Years:
- Total plastic consumption = 10×0.1 kg = 1 kg
Switching Savings/Costs
Modern Artisans French Butter Keeper Crock
Total Cost Over 50 Years:
- Assume the cost of one Modern Artisans French Butter Keeper Crock is $40:
Total cost = 3×40 = $120
Plastic Butter Dish
Total Cost Over 50 Years:
- Assume the cost of one plastic butter dish is $10:
Total cost = 10×10 = $100
Chemicals Avoided
Modern Artisans French Butter Keeper Crock
- Chemicals: Generally free from harmful chemicals. Made from ceramic, which is considered safe for food storage. Minimal plastic is used, typically in the packaging.
Plastic Butter Dish
- Chemicals: Over time, plastic containers can wear down and potentially release microplastics and chemicals. Plastic butter dishes can contain various chemicals used in the manufacturing process, common harmful chemicals include:
- Plasticizers
- Stabilizers
- Phthalates
- Bisphenol A (BPA)
References:
- Environmental Working Group (EWG) for chemical safety information
- General product lifespan and cost assumptions from typical market observations