Ever since my return to work a month ago, I’ve been looking around for alternatives to packing our lunches in plastic. I went to The Good Planet Co. a couple of weeks ago to take a peek at the Laptop Lunchbox, but I couldn’t help but be turned off by the plastic. Sure it’s free of BPA, but it’s still made from plastic. And if you hadn’t heard already, Plastic and I are sort of on the ropes. You know the expression, a woman scorned? Well, I’d rather not take the risk of getting hurt again by the miracles of plastic. If it’s too good to be true…
Apparently the book that comes with the laptop lunches is invaluable for snack and lunch ideas though, so if you’re drying up on ideas of what to pack, the booklet might be what you’re looking for.
I found some stainless steel tiffens at both The Good Planet Co. and Mothering Touch, but I’m not sure they are the answer either. They are nearly $30 for a set of two or three stacking containers, and I’m not sure my kids wouldn’t lose them.
Okay! Okay. So this is just reluctance to change, because really…they haven’t lost their Kleen Kanteens yet, and we’ve had them for two years! But I’m getting there…
Then, while back at the Good Planet Co. for some natural soaps and moisturizing lotion for my ever frustrating eczema ridden skin (you can see another post coming here), I found something very cool. It’s called an Abeego, and I think I’m in love!
It’s a neat little piece of fabric made from hemp and cotton, beeswax and plant extracts. You can wrap up a sandwich, cookies, fruit or veggies, fold it up, do up the tie, and voila! No plastic touching your food. No plastic waste. Just a quick rinse in cold water, hang it to dry, and it’s ready for another lunch!
AND…it’s made locally! AND they have an etsy shop! And…I’ve just discovered they have a Snack wrap as well…oh so tempting!
Here’s the buzz. I am a natural, reusable food wrap made from a hemp/cotton fabric infused with a blend of beeswax and plant extracts. I keep your food fresh and I am easy to clean, all I request is a hand wash in cold water and air to dry. I am sustainable, durable and biodegradable….not to mention ridiculously good looking.
Normally, I wrap my lunch in wax paper, or tinfoil (that I reuse). I sort of felt like this was a luxury purchase, but who could blame me? Did you see how cool it is? Anyway, I’m going to give it a try, and then see about getting them for the kids.
All I need to find now is insulated lunch bags, or at least something in a heavy fabric, that isn’t made of vinyl or nylon. After that alert from Environmental Defence about vinyl shower curtains, and vinyl blinds last summer, I’ve been avoiding it. And now seeing the vinyl getting rejected and then dumped in the garbage at the Soft Plastics Recycling Depot, I’m just not down with buying it anymore. I’ll bet if I looked around on etsy for a bit, I might just find another brilliant idea like Abeego!
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