(Source: Holly Mandarich)

Want some eco-friendly options for taking food out with you on-the-go? We’ve found lots of options. Food that you buy when you are out can often contain a lot of salt, unhealthy additives and there is often a lot of packaging involved! Taking your own food out with you will ensure that you have healthy plant-based snacks with you wherever you happen to be! There are a lot of new packaging materials that are being used that often claim to be ‘eco-friendly’ but what are they made from really?

Here is a list of commonly used materials that you might want to familiarise yourself with:

PEVA/EVA:
PEVA (polyethene vinyl acetate) and EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) are very similar types of vinyl. Although they are derived from petrochemicals they are considered non-toxic alternatives to PVC. Many companies are now opting to use PEVA or EVA in their products instead of PVC. PVC is now considered highly toxic due to its chlorine content (at almost 60%). PVC also off gases and causes pollution during its production and throughout its use. Toxic ingredients like lead, phthalates and flame retardants are used in the process of making PVC along with chlorine. The production of chlorine, unfortunately, releases dioxin into the environment. Dioxin is considered a cancer-causing carcinogen and there is absolutely no safe level for humans. In the past yoga mats and baby play mats were often made from PVC. Companies now try to avoid using PVC due to the health risks.

SILICONE:
Silicone is a relatively new material in our kitchens as it has not been around that long and companies are constantly finding new and innovative ways to make products out of it! There is some controversy surrounding silicone as there does not appear to be any long-term testing conducted on it. At this stage, it does not appear to leach or off-gas. And it is, of course, a much healthier option compared to aluminium, Teflon or non-stick bakeware. It is putting heated items into plastics that cause it to off-gas so if you wait until the food has cooled down to store it you are probably rapidly reducing any risks. Silicone is actually derived from silica (sand) and unlike plastics, it can withstand heating and freezing without off-gassing anything harmful (as far as we know!).

BAMBOO:
Bamboo serve ware and storage items are also relatively new products. Bamboo is extremely fast growing and renewable and is considered a safe and more natural alternative to the use of plastics. A lot of bamboo products are also made from recycled bamboo fibre and are produced naturally without the use of harmful chemicals. To prolong the life of bamboo products always hand wash them in warm soapy water. Bamboo is biodegradable which means that it will break down in the soil at the end of its life. This is excellent because it reduces the number of products sent to landfill! (When my son was little he actually had a bamboo potty! After months of use it got cracked and broken so we simply threw it in our compost bin and it broke down).

STAINLESS STEEL:
Stainless steel is incredibly strong and durable and is great for baking ware, storage ware and lunch storage items. The downside is that stainless steel products are probably the most expensive option but they will last you forever. They are incredibly easy to look after and clean and are completely safe. No off-gassing or leaching risk whatsoever! Stainless steel bento style lunch boxes are very popular and reduce the need for any packaging! Check out our post on the best stainless steel bento boxes.

Top Twelve Eco-Friendly Snack Packaging Finds!

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1. PLANET WISE REUSABLE SANDWICH BAG:
This gorgeous sandwich bag is from the company Planet Wise. It is made from FDA approved EVA which makes it free from any nasties like PVC, BPA, Phthalate, latex and lead residue. The Planet Wise bags come in the snack and sandwich size and are designed with a zipper top. They come in a range of different colours/patterns are also great for storing other things like makeup, keys, spare change and also wet items like a cloth for on-the-go eco-friendly cleanup! As they are fully water resistant. They are also dishwasher safe (just make sure you pop them in the top rack!). (Amazon)

2. SILICONE BAKING CUPS:
These eco-friendly baking cups are made of silicone. The pack of twelve cups comes in a range of bright colours and can replace throw-away ‘one use’ paper cups. Silicone baking cups are also brilliant when used for snacks. You can pop them inside any conventional BPA free plastic or stainless steel lunch box to create a bento-style lunchbox. If you want to invest in a bento lunch box but are finding them too expensive and are not sure how much you will use it this is a much cheaper alternative and great for kids also! They are also heat and cold resistant and can be used in the oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher – very versatile! (Amazon)

3. AVA & KINGS REUSABLE SNACK BAGS:
This two-pack of reusable snack bags are from the brand ‘Ava and Kings’. They are made from beautiful blue and purple marbled polyester fabric and are also fully insulated – lined with aluminium film insulation (it mentions that you can put hot things in the bags but I probably would avoid doing this due to potential aluminium leaching). All fabrics used are PBA-free, phthalate-free, PVC-free and lead-free. They also come in a range of different fabric designs and are securely fastened with velcro. Useful for storing a variety of foods including sandwiches, veggie snacks, crackers, popcorn and fruit like grapes etc. They are stain resistant and easy to clean but will require hand washing. (Amazon)

4. INNOBABY BENTO SNACK BOX:
These cute snack boxes are from Innobaby. They come in four bright colours and consist of a two-section stainless steel tray inside of a BPA plastic box. They are designed to be completely non-toxic and safe for you or your child. The two tray insulated system is designed to keep food hot or cold two times longer than conventional snack boxes. It has an easy airtight lid that easily snaps on or off. The bento snack box is top rack dishwasher safe, however, hand washing is recommended to prolong its life. This is simply perfect for cut up veggie sticks, fruit, nuts and bliss balls etc. (Amazon)

5. SUNNYLIFE BAMBOO LUNCHBOX:
This gorgeous lunch box is made from eco-friendly fast-growing bamboo! How cute is this pineapple design? It is also available in a bright rainbow and a funky watermelon. Perfect for carrying fruit, sandwiches or salads out on-the-go! It stays securely closed with an eco-friendly silicone band. This lunch box is great for picnics also! It is top rack dishwasher safe but hand washing will help to prolong its life. The majority of bamboo serve ware is also compostable so you can remove the silicone band and throw this lunch box into the compost bin at the end of its life and it will decompose. (Amazon)

6. MIRA NESTING CONTAINERS:
These stainless steel nesting containers are from Mira. They are designed to be stored stacked inside each other so they will take up much less space in your drawer or cupboard. The BPA-free plastic lids are see-through so that you can see what is inside each container. They also have a similar set available with coloured lids. Simply perfect for all types of snacks including dried fruit, fresh fruit, nuts, pretzels and crackers. They are also perfect for taking homemade yoghurt, dips, sauces and hummus out on-the-go! (Amazon)

7. TABKOE REUSABLE SNACK BAGS:
These super cute reusable snack bags are from Tabkoe. They come in a pack of three and are designed with a handy carrying handle/wristlet and a zipper top. I love the wristlet idea for when you are super busy and want to grab snacks quickly! How gorgeous is this diamond print? They also come in a range of different fabric patterns. It does not say what they are made out of but they look pretty similar to the Planet Wise reusable bags which are lined with EVA. To clean simply wipe out the insides or throw them in the dishwasher! Simply perfect for carrying all types of snacks and food out in the car, out to the office or off on a hike. (Amazon)

8. LIFESTYLE BLOCK SANDWICH BOX:
This handy stainless steel sandwich box is from the brand ‘Lifestyle Block’. Perfect to use over and over again to easily store your sandwich in when out! Made from high-grade eco-friendly stainless steel and free from all nasties like BPA, BPS, lead, and phthalates. Stainless steel is virtually indestructible so this sandwich box will last for years to come and save lots of plastic sandwich bags/wrap from heading to the landfill! (Amazon)

9. REZIP 10 PACK REUSABLE STORAGE BAGS:
This ‘Rezip’ storage bag set is from ‘Blue Avocado’ and is made from PEVA which is similar to EVA but both PEVA/EVA have both been shown to have very low toxicity and are PVC, BPA and lead-free. These reusable bags can be used for travel snacks, kitchen food storage (perfect for any leftovers!), and also for household storage or travel storage like wipes, makeup, carrying liquids on the plane or nail care etc. They are also freezer safe and can be used to store stocks, soups, veggies or all of your smoothie ingredients! The handy see-through design allows for easy visibility of contents. They are also designed with an easy lock resealable topper that is supposed to be leak proof! The best way to clean these Rezip reusable bags is to handwash and then airdry them open on the dishwasher prongs. (Amazon)

10. SMART PLANET SILICONE MEAL KIT:
This Smart Planet meal kit/bento style lunchbox is made from silicone and BPA-free plastic. I absolutely love this brand everything is beautifully designed and well thought out to save on space. The lunch box collapses to half its size when not in use for easy storing (perfect for travelling!). It also expands to three roomy compartments. One that fits fruit, salad or a sandwich and two snack sized compartments great for storing nuts, dried fruit, and crackers etc. The lid also has a built-in condiment pouch for your salad dressing or dips and contains a reusable spork utensil that clips in easily. It is also microwavable and dishwasher safe! (Amazon)

11. BESCHAN TYVEC LUNCH BAG:
This gorgeous paper bag style lunch bag is from the brand Beschan. It is made from Tyvec which is supposed to be environmentally friendly, reusable, water and moisture proof, breathable and tear resistant. This is an extra large lunch bag perfect for storing whole pieces of fruit, sandwich or snack bags and your water bottle. Tyvec is designed with a thermal lining which is supposed to be superior to conventional foil linings often used in lunch bags. The top of the lunch bag is fitted with magnets for easy sealing. This lunch bag is also customisable! You can draw or paint on it. Great for picnics or taking your daily healthy food needs to work, out to the gym or when running errands! (Amazon)

12. ANSEAHAWK REUSEABLE TRAVEL BAGS:
How cute are these fruit shaped reusable folding bags from Anseahawk? They are made from polyester. Extremely useful for carrying a variety of different items while out on-the-go while also reducing your plastic use from all of the different ‘one use’ bags that you might receive. Keep a few of these in your bag, in your car etc. and use them instead of standard plastic bags when picking up food, takeaways, fruit etc. to reduce your carbon footprint. (Amazon) ♥

Links:

Interested in reducing plastic use in your kitchen? Check out this post on detoxing your kitchen from xenoestrogens!
Check out this post for more plastic-free kitchen pics
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