Anyone Have Any Luck with Finding a Safer Alternatives to Plastic Bags?

Your kidding me right??? Stainless steel cups? I am not mocking at all!!! I just never heard of this one! Shampoos? Lotions? I understand cleaners as they can be harmful. Arent' there recycled plastic bags, even paper bags that will break down in garbage heaps? I mean we grew up with plastic and we are fine aren't we? I am all for recycling and using products that are recycled. However, not sure the overly big concern for the plastic issue. Tupperware has been around since our grandma has been isn't tupperware safe?. Paper sacks for lunch are the way to go too as they are biodegradeable. Cloth sacks for grocery shopping too. As far as what you freeze in I am sure there is a line of recycled plastic freezer bags too. Not all plastic is toxic and I think you may be going to extremes here?

Dear D.-

I store all of my refrigerator, freezer and pantry items in glass mason jars. They are cheap, sturdy and attractive. You can find them here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BX1FOQ?ie=UTF8&t...

For times when we are on the go I use these wax paper bags to take food with us:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E8OQS0?ie=UTF8&t...

I hope this helps and for more info you can go to:

http://www.elanaspantry.com/

Best,
E.

Although I've never tried these, I would really like to:

www.laptoplunches.com

Maybe these will work for you!

bagsontherun.com, I can get you a couple samples if you would like. I do some of their graphic design work - so.. they are awesome, i have personally started using them for almost
everything..

stace - drop me an email...

I found this site in my search for trying to do the same exact thing within my household: at least these are some ideas. you could probably make your own cloth baggies and just wash them. Seems like a lot of work, but I think it would be worth it. Just make sure no one throws them away! http://www.reusablebags.com/store/lunch-bags-sandwich-bag...

There are a couple of good websites you might want to check out. This one has a Sigg (this company is known for their non-leaching water bottles) bento box that would be perfect for school lunches. Here is the link: http://www.reusablebags.com/store/sigg-snack-boxes-alumin...

Also, our Whole Foods carries wax paper bags you can use for sandwiches. Lastly, www.lifewithoutplastic.com also has some great products.

We've been using these for school lunches and they are great!! This is also just a really great website for alternatives to plastic bags of all shapes and sizes!

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/lunch-bags-sandwich-bag...

Hi D.,

You are SO right ... Going Green is a much larger project than imagined! My husband and I are taking 'baby' steps everyday to go 100% green with our 3 children.

Check out this website www.healthychild.com
There is a great Lunchbox system called the Laptop Lunch Bento Box.

Also if you are looking for beauty products and non-toxic green household cleaning products... I support 2 great companies ... visit - http://projectbeauty.googlepages.com/

Hope this helps,
T.
mom of a 4 yr old superhero and 3 yr old wonder twin daughters

We also use glass with metal lids and wax paper or brown paper. I also have a couple of stainless containers to take snacks to go.

Natural Value unbleached waxed paper bags- you can get them at Wild Oats, possibly other natural food stores. I love them!

Whole Foods carries 'safe' bags just for lunch items. They are very thin and keep food fresh. I don't know about freezer bags but I'm sure someone makes them or a container that is safe.

A great alternative is wax paper. When I was a kid, my mom would wrap our lunch sandwiches in wax paper the night before school, so they were chilled and perfect by lunch time. It's cheap and easy. It comes in rolls, so you tear off what you need as you go. Also, wax paper is great for craft projects with little ones. We used to make "stain glass" pictures using crayons, wax paper and an iron. I have very fond memories of helping my mom the night before school and making "stain glass".

There are 2 options:

1. Some of the natural food stores (Wild Oats, Whole Foods, Vitamin Cottage - if you are in the west) sell plastic baggies made of recycled plastic. The baggies are recyclable.

2. You can use wax paper and fold it around the sandwiches. You'll have to tape it closed.

One of the most useful strategies I've found is to go to a natural food store and look at the items they have available. I've been able to purchase biodegradable plastic garbage bags, vegetable-based laundry detergent (which is now available in the regular grocery stores), non-chemical dish detergent, etc. My household has been green for a few years now and I've noticed a reduction in illness (less chemicals in the house), fewer fragrance-allergy reactions, etc.

i dotn understand? the small sandwich bags or the actual bags you put the lunch in? i dont know, maybe you could buy some sandwich bags and have the children bring them home and reuse them. if youre tryig to phase out all plastics maybe using wax paper. i guess it depends on whta you are packing. i use tupperware because it is washable and can be used over and over. i found osme with different compatrments that make freezing dinners easier so you dont have to use two containers.

I have been using glass jars for years. I use ball jars and any wide mouth jars from store bought food. They do take up more room but you will get used to them I really think it is worth using glass jars over all of the plastic storage items available. For bags, there is always wax paper and was paper bags. For the freezer you can use the wax paper and then wrap it in aluminum foil. My mom is severely chemically allergic and this is what her environmental allergist recommended that she do. Good Luck.

Hello,

For sandwiches I have this cool thing called a wrap-n-mat. I bought it at Toddy's supermarket when it still exsisted, there is a Fort Collins phone # on the product, I assume made locally,###-###-####. You could call and see if they are still available. Now, this does have some plastic on it, some sort of washable, wipe offable plastic lining and fabric on the outside. You make your sandwich on it, then fold it up and velcro shut. It does still have plastic, but is washable and would not be a new baggie in the landfill daily. I really like this product and it is completely washable. This could probably also be made completely out of fabric, no plastic, ?? might ask the maker.

Stainless steel sippy cups? please tell, where did you find this? :-)
If you are interested in cloth diapers, baby carriers or other cool homemade and earth friendly products for babies let me know, I have friend in windsor that makes great pocket style cloth diapers and other cool stuff. She also is a great source of earth friendly products.

Speaking of earth friendly, I have been replacing all my cleaning products with Shakley green friendly products. Really good stuff all plant surfactant, non toxic and the stuff really cleans well. They have just about everything for the home, and alot more. I just got mine on sale, deep discount through the end of January, I can send you my reps name if your interested in a catalog or info.

Have a great day!
M.
____@____.com

I don't know if Aluminum foil is considered green but my mother used that when we were young for our lunches for sandwiches as well as chips it is reusable and recycled. Way to go on going green it is big changes we are not there yet but we do try in little ways I have gotten rid of most cleaning chemicals, but not using plastic wow thats a tuff one. Good luck. M.

At Whole Foods, they sell bags made out of waxed paper for exactly this purpose!

Try Tupperware or Rubbermaid. That is all we use at home and they really do not take up to much room in the lunch boxes. Tupperware has many good snack containers that stack nicely and keep the food safe from the shaking my girls do with their lunchboxes. Even better they stand up to the continuous washing in the dishwasher.

They make wax paper "baggies." Can be found/ ordered through most health food stores.

Yes, at Wild Oats you can purchase wax paper lunch bags.
You have to seal them with a bit of tape or something but they are great. I have a couple of pieces of tupper wear left so sometimes I just fold it over and place it in that. I just don't want our food in direct contact with plastic. Freezing in glass is best. Anything with an acidic base such as tomato sauce does leach toxins out of the plastic.
Also if you can smell a plastic toy, ball or any item then it is
not good to have around. Soft plastics are pretty bad in this regard. I have started forcing myself to run to the car to get my cloth grocery bags. Since I forget them 9 out of 10 times I am getting some extra exercise. I am determined to make these changes that my mom was already doing in the '60's and '70's.
You'd think with such a great "green" role model that it would come naturally...not so. Best, E.

My parents always used waxed paper and just folded it around the food. It kept the food fresh and was easily disposable.

I recently read about this in one of my parenting magazines. Parents, I think. It turns out aluminum foil is the better answer. It is recyclable. Also, Reynolds has come out with "wrappers" cut into smaller individual sheets, normally seen in deli's. Now you may need to bring this particular awareness to the school. If need be have your child bring it home to recycle. Good Luck and I hope you are comfortable with the answer. L. O

Hi D.! I live in Bmfld, but we've been in Spain this year and this is what everyone (including me) does here:
They wrap the sandwhich, apple, or whatever else, in a cloth napkin, and then put it in a little cloth drawstring lunch bag. I wash as needed...usually over the weekend. Super easy. And really, really cute. And, you have something to soft to wipe your mouth with when you are done. :)
Hope that helps!

Another vote for the Laptop Lunch Box! We love it!

Ali

I am unaware of anything on the market currently, but many groups are working toward cellulose "plastics". Hemp is such a great alternative to most anything. It is a VERY renewable recource, as well as being wonderfully renewing to the soil and atmosphere. We all need to work towards the legalization of industrial Hemp here in America, for we are the ONLY nation that has laws against it. If we, "the most industrious nation in the world" could have hemp crops, we would find alternatives to nearly every harmful product we use, even gasoline. Check out Jack Herer's "The Emporer Wears No Clothes" as well as his other literature. It is all very informative.
Congrats on going green!! Not only for our enviroment, but for our families as well!!

One option is to reuse plastic containers and/or bags...remember that is part of that 'Reduce, Recycle, Reuse' idea. I have noticed biodegradable 'plasic' shopping bags in some stores so you might be able to find sandwich bags that are soy based versus petroleum. Bamboo is another alternative, but not sure about the whole lunch box idea. Good luck!

I had to add to my response. You really got me curious, so I did a little googling...
http://thegreenguide.com/reports/product.mhtml?id=44&...

These are all GREAT responses. I'll be checking them out, too. Thanks everyone.

Hi D.!
You can go to www.ecobags.com They have a variety of cloth bags- lunch bags, produce bags, etc. I will soon be a distributor for them, if you find some bags that you like, let me know and I'll extend a discount to you.
Good job on making these safe choices for your family! And Thank you for your positive impact!
H. Gaitten
www.naturalchoices4baby.com

There is a company called wrap-n-mat that has reusable sandwich wraps for the school lunches. I recommend ordering a couple since after awhile, with continued washes they tend to start smelling like a kitchen dish rag, but that didn't happen until almost a year had gone by. I don't have any ideas for snacks though, sorry. The website is wrapnmat.com hope that helps.

I have a Laptop Lunch box for my son which reduces waste immensely. Although it is made out of plastic but they are made in the US (a co. based out of Santa Cruz, CA).
http://www.laptoplunches.com/

I would look at Tupperware, I know that it is plastic, but it is also long lasting and reusable. They have these partitioned lunch containers that have a place for a sandwich, salad, snacks etc. They even have room for a cardboard juice box. If you are in Tucson, here's the number for my Tupperware lady Mindy ###-###-####. So much of going green has to do with non-disposable as well as non bio-degradable. Tupperware last forever.

Hey there, my sister just sent me a link the other day to http://www.reusablebags.com/ I checked it out looking for shopping bags and a lunch box for my husband and they have an alternate to plastic baggies called the WRAP N MAT that I think looks great. I haven't tried any yet but am planning on placing an order to try them. Hope this is helpful

That's wonderful that you have decided to go green. We are trying to do the same.
As an alternative to baggies, we just use small containers with lids or we reuse the baggies numerous time (only for dry snacks). I buy the biodegradable bags for my sons diapers, so I'm sure they have some for food out there somewhere.
That's great about the stainless steel sippy cup. Have you tried Sigg water bottles. We like them.

in response to the plastic bag issue they make these things you can wrap food in...ie sandwiches etc...
i think you can find them on www.reusablebags.com same place you can find stainless sippy cups.
another good website for cosmetic info is www.ewg.org and look under skindeep.
hope this helps!

I have not, but I was struch by your throwing out the personal hygiene products in your house that are full of junk,
have you ever heard of Arbonne? All of the products in Arbonne are herbally and botanicaly based and they carry all of your Anti-aging skin care for you and husband, ABC Baby Care which includes hair and body wash for kids + lotion + ABC Baby Oil + ABC Diaper Rash, and then have you looked at your make-up? Did you know that using products with mineral oil is horible for you and your family as well? Mineral Oil if like putting plastic on your skin so it can't breath and is very drying to your skin, so it is aging you prematurely. I also read an article in Vitamin Cottage that there is a link to skin cancer with mineral oil and the sun that when together ie. sunscreen, lotion and make-up free radicals are forming which is the precursor to cancer! If not go thru it and then take at look at Arbonne's wonderful line of make up, Arbonne also has a full Aromatherapy Spa Line, Vitamins with Smart Nutriitonal Hybrids, Health-Fitness-Longevity Vitamins for joint support, heart support, colone cleanse and an amazing Herbal Muscle Gel that really releives sore muscles! Go to www.arbonne.com and use my I.D.#15868616 and check it out. E-mail me @ ____@____.com if you have any ?'s. The great thing is you can sign up as a wholesaler on-line and get 35% off everything all the time w/ no strings attached! My name is J.. Let me know if you find an alternative to the plastic! Oh, be warry of microwave popcorn, too! I've heard it is horrible for us and kids to eat.

Glass jars all the way. After reading what kind of toxic chemicals are in plastic, especially if someone uses the microwave and plastic! YUK We try to reheat everything in the oven or stovetop and use glass wherever possible. I support a company that offers wholesale prices on non-toxic cleaning and personal care products. If you're interested you can visit http://www.totalwellnessinfo.com

Best wishes,
C.~

If we don't take care of our planet - who will?

There is a great product called wrap-n-mat. You can purchase them on there website www.wrap-n-mat.com.
They are little lined mats to wrap your sandwich in and also work as a placemat. You just wipe them off when you are done and reuse them.

Hi D. A,

Waxed paper bags can be found at health food stores (Wild Oats, Aqua Vita, etc). Yes, converting your home is a good thing, but it isn't easy! Isn't it terrible how much we depend on oil products for daily use? Yes! Many lotions, lip balms, and facial creams do contain petroleum jelly or other oil-based, pore-clogging, chemicals.

Hope this helps.

Peace, Dee

What about wrapping them in Aluminum (sp?) foil? Then save it and you can either reuse it or recycle it. What kind of products did you find to go with "going green"?

M. B

From what I have read, a reusable container is your best bet, although it might be plastic. If you Google ecofriendly containers you should find some help and www.containerstore.com. Good luck with going green!

Try Tupperware -- they have sandwich containers for lunches and good storage solutions for the freezer too. I think glass containers with lids (like Pyrex) work well for freezing too.

greenfeet.com has a metal lunch container with compartments which work well for our family