By Guest Contributor Sandra Ann Harris, Author of Say Goodbye To Plastic: A Survival Guide For Plastic-Free Living & Founder of ECOlunchbox
 

 
6 Easy Tips To Ditch Plastic & Waste When Packing Food To Go - Wherever You Go!

 
Whether you’re heading to school, work or the great outdoors, packing food to fuel your adventures is crucial. While it may be tempting to pack grab-and-go pre-packaged snacks, there are many easy ways to weed plastic out of your to-go routines.

So as we celebrate the back-to-school season, let’s take a moment to reassess the everyday items we use for packing food to go and be creative in developing new eco-friendly habits. Tweaking your habits to avoid dependence on plastic will definitely save the planet from needless pollution and reduce your exposure to toxins in plastics!

Whatever your destination, here are some zero waste tips from ECOlunchbox to guide you in your selection of reusable food containers, water bottles and utensils as well as some advice on keeping your food cool in eco-friendly style.
 

#1 Size Matters

Consider how much food you typically bring for lunch and choose a size to fit it. Sounds easy enough, right?

If you’re sure in ounces or cups how much food you’re packing, here’s a tip. Get together a typical lunch and use a glass measuring cup to check your portion size. This way you’ll know if a container like the stainless steel ECOlunchbox Splash Box that holds 3 cups and measures 6.5" long x 4.75" wide x 2" tall will fit your meal.

If you’re a sandwich eater, how big is your bread? Quantify your portions so when you’re shopping you can quickly home in on the best size and capacity for your ideal lunch box.

Pro tip: If you look closely, you’ll see that online product descriptions and shelf packaging will note dimensional size and capacity.
 

#2 Choose Non-Toxic Materials

When it comes to reusable food containers, there are many different materials to choose from, including stainless steel, silicone, glass and plastic. The toxicity, weight and durability varies greatly!

For planet lovers, I recommend going with a non-toxic material like stainless steel that’s non-breakable, long lasting and can be recycled at end of life. These products, with so-called “circular designs” aimed at minimizing waste and carbon footprint impacts, are healthy for people and the planet.
 

 
While reusable plastic containers are available, check labeling to see if the plastic is free of all bisphenols. Consumers are mostly savvy to avoid BPA, but research shows that plastic manufacturers have replaced BPA with similar and sometimes more toxic bisphenols like BPS.

Glass is another safe option for adults, but parents beware. Typically schools don’t allow glass because it’s breakable and considered a safety hazard. Plus glass is unsuitable for most outdoor activities because it’s heavy. Another downside to glass is that mostly these containers are topped with plastic lids. Plastic lids crack and break and can be impossible or expensive to replace.
 

#3 Wet or Dry Foods?

Sometimes a basic single-walled container like the ECOlunchbox Tri Bento made from 100% stainless steel is perfect for your needs. Maybe you’re packing nuts, crackers, carrots, dried fruit or other non-leaky foods. Other times you need a reliably leak-proof container like the ECOlunchbox Seal Cup Trio to pack yogurt, apple sauce, fruit salad or other drippy and sticky items.

When it comes to no-leak function, look for lids made from silicone instead of plastic. Silicone is a bisphenol-free material made from silica instead of petroleum. Plus silicone, unlike plastic, doesn’t leach toxins, warp or crack when exposed to high temperatures in the dishwasher. So it lasts much longer!
 

#4 All Yum - No Yuck

A lunch box that is easy to clean is essential, especially if you plan on using it multiple times a week. I recommend you pick one that’s dishwasher safe. Check product descriptions and the on-shelf labels. Does it say “dishwasher safe” or “hand wash recommended”?

Avoid containers with complicated gaskets that accumulate gunk and can’t be removed for deep cleaning. Look for a lunch box with smooth, non-porous surfaces that can be easily wiped clean and thoroughly dried. When it comes to insulated padded lunch bags with plastic linings, clean gently so you don’t break the liner. Keep in mind these bags often accumulate mildew in stitched nooks and crannies so be sure to dry thoroughly between uses. Ideally, choose an organic cotton lunch bag that you can machine wash.

Pro tip: The longer you can keep your food containers and lunch bags clean, the longer you can keep using it, which saves you money and saves our landfills from needless trash!
 

#5 Keeping Food Cool

Keeping perishables cool is important, but using a blue ice pack is a poor solution when it comes to sustainability. Most people reflexively throw in an ice pack without pausing to think about the environmental downsides. Made of plastic and filled with gel beads, sodium polyacrylate and other chemicals, these blue ice packs are not recyclable and end up in the landfill where they leak into the ecosystem.

Try this easy eco-friendly solution: pack your steel water bottles with ice cubes! This simple yet effective alternative offers numerous benefits for both the environment and your health.
 

 
Steel water bottles are durable and long-lasting, reducing the need for single-use plastic bottles and disposable containers. Plus, you won't be adding the extra weight and bulk of a blue ice pack in your child's lunch bag, so that's an upside as well.
 

#5 Reusable Water Bottles

Hydration is super important and choosing the right reusable water bottle is often the first step for families starting to adopt zero-waste habits. Well done! A few tips to keep in mind when you’re choosing your reusable water bottle.

Bigger is not always better. Big bottles can be heavy and bulky. Water fountains are widely available, so consider purchasing a smaller bottle and refilling it.

Insulated bottles for hot coffees and cold smoothies are great. But keep in mind the extra weight and if you’re thinking to use a water bottle as a cooling agent in your lunch bag to keep foods cold, you’ll want to go with a single-walled bottle packed with ice so the coldness seeps you.

Pro tip: Do not freeze your beverage in your steel water bottle the night before. Water swells and will split the steel, voiding the warranty.
 

#6 Utensils, napkins & stuff

Don’t overlook the small stuff when it comes to packing a zero waste lunch, like choosing a reusable cutlery set, packing a cloth napkin, avoiding single-use plastic straws, and choosing good ole fashioned hand washing instead of pre-packaged disinfectant wipes.

Pro tip: When it comes to cutlery, be wary of bioplastic cutlery. The plastic that’s used is made from plants and it’s supposed to biodegrade, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes these utensils are tucked into pre-packaged organic snacks as a feel good option, but they actually end up trashed.

Sandra Ann Harris, the author of "Say Goodbye to Plastic: A Survival Guide For Plastic-Free Living," is an entrepreneur and thought leader in the plastic pollution movement. She founded ECOlunchbox, a certified B Corporation and California Green Business, as a mission-based company dedicated to educating, inspiring and empowering people to say goodbye to plastic in 2009. The company is based in Lafayette, California.