Cost-Effective and Eco-friendly Ways to Pack Your Lunch
June 12, 2009 – 10:50 pm by MarinaHanes
The simple task of packing you or your child’s lunch can involve more waste than you might think. For instance, if you use a paper bag, paper napkins and plastic sandwich bags during the weekday for every lunch, the waste and money adds up fast. Instead of brown bagging your lunch the traditional way, consider reusable or recyclable alternatives, which can save you money and reduce your paper, plastic and glass consumption.
Fabric sandwich bags are an easy green solution to those plastic sandwich bags. Organic cotton can protect your food, and it can be used over and over again as long as you wash it. Reusable Bags makes Wrap-N-Mats, which fold nicely to keep meat sandwiches intact. These mats are 100% BPA, lead and phthalate-free, and they are easy to clean. This company also sells organic cotton bags, which can hold produce or snacks.
Another option to pack your food is to use clean bandanas that you probably already have around your home. If you take snacks camping with you or enjoy having picnics outside, this is a convenient way to pack your food. As long as you know how to cut and sew, reusable sandwich bags can be easily made at home from old cotton or polyester clothing.
Recently, recycled aluminum foil is now available in stores. So if you prefer this material for cooking or wrapping hot foods, you can make a conscious effort to use this instead.
Don’t forget to use cotton or canvas bags you already own as opposed to purchasing more paper bags and lunchboxes. These lunch packing alternatives store your lunch for a few hours just as effectively as plastic or glass. Just make sure not to throw your reusable bags away so you can have them for the next day at work or school.
Tags: bandanas, camping, pack lunch, picnics, recycled aluminum, reusable lunch bags, reusable sandwich bags