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Moving toward a zero-waste lifestyle requires changing habits. The best eco-friendly products help you make the transition seamlessly, with a minimum of fuss. If the convenience of air-tight zippered bags or plastic-wrapped PB+J is part of your everyday routine, washable silicone or cloth bags and beeswax wraps are a great solution. With these striking choices in your kitchen, you might even enjoy packing your lunch before you head off to work or class.
Best zippered alternative: Stasher Reusable Silicone Food Bag
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Glass storage containers are heavy, and hard plastic can be bulky. These plastic bag alternatives are made from food-grade silicone and provide an airtight seal when pinched closed. Unlike traditional plastic bags, you can boil them, microwave them, and put them in the dishwasher.
Best shape: Stasher 100 Percent Silicone Food Grade Reusable Storage Bag
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You know the drill. You fill a plastic bag with peanuts or bulk foods, and when you set it down the bag sags across or around whatever surface you’ve placed it on. This silicone solution has a distinct shape that allows it to stand up by itself, making it easier to store in your pantry or fridge, and to gaze longingly upon at your desk before consuming its contents. At 56-ounces, it is generously sized, and like Stasher’s other choices is free of PVC and BPA, seals with a pinch, and is simple to wash.
Best for short trips: Yummi Pouch Cloth Sandwich Bags
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If you want to avoid plastic altogether, these cloth sandwich bags are a lovely option you don’t even need to wash by hand. Just toss them in the washing machine on the cold setting after use. Each set of three 7-inch square zippered bags contains an assortment of colors and patterns that put a brown bag lunch to shame. While they have a moisture-resistant interior, these nylon bags are not airtight and are not meant to store food for long periods.
Smart option: Bee’s Wrap Lunch Pack
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If you’ve ever tried to use hard storage containers for leftovers, you’ve probably had to solve some weird food geometry when you’re stuck with one small container, half a cucumber and half a tomato. Instead of playing Tetris with your fruits and veggies, this washable beeswax wrap replaces disposable plastic film and can be molded around your food to save space. This adorable set in a bees and bears print contains two medium 10-inch-by-11-inch wraps and one square 13-inch sandwich wrap made from organic cotton, beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and resin. Bee fans will be glad to know that the beeswax is sustainably harvested. When the wraps eventually wear out, they can be composted.