Eco-friendly Lunchbox Supplies for Back to School

When it comes to back-to-school, green is the way to go! Instead of throwing away plastic and paper products and sending them to the landfill every day, why not invest in some reusable eco-friendly lunch box supplies for your kids this school year?

The examples listed below are stylish and durable and should last for years. Our family owns several of the products that I’ve listed here, and we use them all the time for school lunches, snacks, and picnics. Many of these products can be purchased at local retailers throughout Marin and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Reusable Lunch Bags and Boxes

• PlanetBox
  PlanetBox creates stainless steel lunch kits that fit neatlly into soft cloth carrying cases. They come in three different sizes—Launch, Rover, and Shuttle—in a variety of designs and colors. Sets come with a cool magnet set of your choice with which to decorate your lunchbox. Prices start at $39.95.
• U Konserve
  www.ukonserve.com
  KidsKonserve offers insulated lunch totes, sacks, waterbottles, and other accessories in a variety of colors and patterns. They're made from 100% non-toxic recycled PET #1 plastic bottles, and are BPA- and PVC-free. Add an ice pack to the inside pouch to keep food cold for five to eight hours. Prices range from $8.95 to $34.95.
• PackIt
  www.packit.com
  PackIt’s patented freezable gel-liner keeps your lunch cool for up to 10 hours! Comes in a variety of colors and designs. Made from food-safe, nontoxic poly canvas and waterproof EVA. PVC, BPA, phthalate and lead-free. Prices start at $19.99.
• ECOlunchbox
  ecolunchboxes.com
  Bay Area-based ECOlunchbox's namesake stainless steel lunch lunchbox ($26) includes a large oval container that fits a sandwich and other lunch goodies, as well as a round stainless steel cup with a leak-proof BPA-free plastic lid. They also offer stylish reusable lunch bags crafted from Asian textiles, as well as lunch bag kits in a variety of styles and designs. Some of their containers are now available at Target stores, too.

Sandwich Wraps

• LunchSkins
  www.lunchskins.com
  LunchSkins sandwich bags are perfect for holding sandwiches, chips, vegetables, or any other lunch item. LunchSkins are made from a thick cotton fabric that is coated with a food-safe polyurethane liner. They’re dishwater-safe, durable, and come in a variety of colors and patterns like pink berry flower, green lizard, navy shark, red bird, mango slice, and red apple. Snack bags are $6.99 and sandwich bags are $7.99. They also offer new resealable and recyclable paper sandwich bags.

Stainless Steel Containers

• U Konserve
  www.ukonserve.com
  U Konserve offers stainless steel containers in a variety of sizes. Their containers are easy to keep clean and come with BPA-free lids for snacks and lunch items; sizes range from 5 to 16 ounces. They also offer a leak-proof 33-ounce rectangular steel container that’s perfect for sandwiches and salads and a 12-ounce insulated food jar that keeps for hot or cold for hours. I use these all the time for cut-up fruits and veggies, yogurt, applesauce, and even cookies and crackers. The stainless steel containers range in price from $7.95–$34.95.
• LunchBots
  www.lunchbots.com
  LunchBots stainless steel containers are extremely durable. I have a few different sizes and use them for everything. The covers are stainless steel too, so you can throw the whole think into the dishwasher. They also offer a leak-proof condiment container, and an insulated container that is perfect for keeping cold foods cold and hot foods hot. Prices start at $10.49.

Stainless Steel and Glass Water Bottles

• Klean Kanteen
  www.kleankanteen.com
  Stainless steel water bottles from Klean Kanteen are a must have for kids (and grownups, for that matter), and come in a wide range of colors and sizes. They even have baby bottles and sippy cups! We have a number of Klean Kanteens in our house, and not only send them with the kids to school, but take them on hikes and car trips, too. Prices start at $17.95.
• Lifefactory
  www.lifefactory.com
  Lifefactory, a local Sausalito company, offers terrific glass bottles with flip top caps and silicone sleeves. They’re easy to carry and even fit in car cup holders. Their line also includes sippy cups and baby bottles. All products are made in the USA or Europe. Prices start at $14.99.

Utensils

• To-Go Ware
  to-goware.com
  To-Go Ware offers reusable bamboo utensils that come in a carrier case. Sometimes utensils are a necessity for soups, pasta, rice, or salad at lunch, and these are a nice alternative to plastic cutlery. Each set come with a fork, spoon, knife, and even a set of chopsticks. They are heat and stain resistant and are lightweight and strong. The bamboo kid's utensil set costs $9.99.