Tips for Packing A Plastic-Free Lunch

By CuriOdyssey | Thu July 5, 2018

Tips for packing a plastic-free lunch!

The average student produces about 67 pounds of waste from their lunches each school year (EPA). That means we have a big opportunity to reduce the amount of waste heading to our landfill each year by taking a few simple steps!

Things to try:

Re-use containers and jars from peanut butter, pasta sauce, and more! They’re great because they don’t leak and are an easy shape to fit in a lunchbox.
Instead of buying Ziploc bags, try some of these alternatives:
- Use a jar or Tupperware.
- Try out a cloth snack bag (buy online or make your own!).
- Save and reuse bags that food you buy is packaged in (like tortilla bags).
Wash and reuse your existing Ziplocs.
BYO silverware, like bamboo or just an old metal set from home.

Instead of single-serve packaged snacks like granola bars and bags of chips, grab some trail mix or other snacks from the bulk bin section found in many grocery stores like Safeway! For bonus points, bring your own bag to fill up from the bins. Or, buy a large bag of chips/snacks and pack a small serving in a reusable container.
Instead of juice boxes or plastic drink bottles, buy cans or use a reusable bottle/jar and fill from a larger container.
Instead of microwave meals, if you need a last-minute or backup lunch, try a can of soup instead!

This blog written as a part of Plastic Free July! It doesn’t have to be July for you and your family to practice family conservation, though!

Resources (please explore):

Other CuriOdyssey conservation initiatives here!