The Definitive Guide to Waste-Free Lunch Supplies

School and routine are starting again. Time to educate our children on new environmental practices too. Some stats to get us motivated from WasteFreeLunches.org: “it has been estimated that on average a school-age child using a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds of waste per school year. That equates to 18,760 pounds of lunch waste for just one elementary school”.

This guide brings cool ideas to help us convert to easy & convenient litter-free meals:

LUNCH BAGS:
Dabbawalla: We love the bold graphics on these lunch totes made of durable neoprene, which protects, insulates and cushions without worry of lead or PVC. Machine washable, stain-resistant and built to last.  $30.00

Mimi the Sardine: These colorful lunch bags come in a variety of prints on fabric made of  Oeko-Tex 100 Certified (eco- and human-friendly). These are fabrics  that are never made with harmful chemicals. All water-based acrylic-coated cotton fabrics are wipe-able or machine-washable. Some patterns are also made from organic cotton. $23.95

Bazura Lunch Box: These very cool lunch boxes are made in a  women’s co-op in the Philippines. Made from used & sanitized non-recyclable drink containers that get a new life as lunch boxes but also as other cool items such as pencil cases and messenger bags. $19.95

Lunch To Go Lunch Bag by Blue Thimble: Not just for kids!  Brown-bag it with personality with this cotton bag featuring a fun hand-screenprinted appliqué on the front. Large enough to fit a frozen entrée too. $25.00

LUNCH BOXES & PARAPHERNALIA:

Laptop Lunch Bento Set: These are perfect for adults too. these sustainable lunch containers (which come with inner containers, utensils and a book of healthy lunch ideas and recipes) are reusable, recyclable, and dishwasher safe. We love that the box opens to a tray to provide a clean eating surface, the different sized containers to fit a variety of lunch items plus the leak-proof dip container. Très cool. $22.49

Kid Kanteen Classic Sippy: We’re showing the kid’s Sippy Kanteen here, but really, they have bottles in every size.  Made of 18/8, food-grade stainless steel that’s totally free of BPA and other toxins. It’s the doesn’t retain or impart flavors. Dishwasher safe. The perfect reusable bottle, we’d say. $14.95 to $27.97

Fresh Snack Pack: Baggies no longer necessary. These snack packs are durable, washable and reusable. Oh and PVC free, Phthalate free, BPA free & Lead free. Two sizes: snack size and sandwich size. $4.50 – $5.50

Vivo Kids Bento Box: This stackable and latchable lunch bin organizer comes in “boys” colors too and in a larger “adult” size. Dishwasher safe. $22.00

Litter Free Lunch – Reusable Cotton Napkins: Now this is one great way to eliminate thousands of paper napkins and towels each year. The napkins come in sets of 5 (one for each school day of the week) and are made of colorful, durable and kid-friendly 100% cotton. And machine washable. Duh. Each napkin has sewn-in label with space to write your child’s name. $19.95

Lunch Skins™: Fabulous & dishwasher-safe alternative to the plastic baggie. These reusable, colorful cloth pouches are made in the USA from a high quality, moisture-proof German fabric used in the food industry. Developed by three – very smart – moms! $7.85 to $8.95

Envirosax Kids Series: As their tagline goes “Educating the next generation in the responsible re-use of bags”. Start’em young. Get the kids to tote their after-school activity gear in these cute bags. $8.50

The Goodbyn: We adore these all-in-one lunch box and containers. Each comes with a drink bottle and set of three sticker sheets for the kids to customize their own. Easy to open, easy to carry, sealed side containers, juice box. I want one too! $29.95

Kids Konserve: These lunch kits are the “grand-daddies” of all eco lunch kits and the ones that are most frequently mentioned in blogs and other publications.  For a reason. They contain everything one needs to pack a lunch, with food-grade stainless steel containers and organic cotton accessories. $40.00 to $42.00.

Graze Organics makes reusable sandwich & snack bags because “every bag matters”. Here’s another alternative to the plastic baggies. Products are made in the USA from 100% certified organic cotton and hand silk-screened with water-based inks. Sets of 3 $24 or sets of 5 for  $38.00

Waste Free Lunch Kits: GoGreeninStages.com has pre-assembled these lunch kits, using Built bags, our  favorite neoprene bags. These smart kits offer different options of containers, food jars and Klean Kanteen bottles. One stop shopping.

BTW, for more information about litter-free lunches and how help promote the effort, do visit WasteFreeLunches.org for great tips, ideas, recipes and resources. It’s the little things, like one little baggie at a time that make the difference.