Whether you have been dreading the beginning of the new school year or counting down the days, the first day is quickly sneaking up on us or perhaps it has already begun for some. Before you know it, your kids will be hoping on the bus, and waving good-bye!
All I can think about is the large amounts of waste that is created every year with school lunches- plastic bags, paper bags, juice boxes, plastic utensils and the list continues. But what if I told you, you could create your own eco-friendly waste-less lunch for your kids and even for yourself?
I have been searching for an organic lunch bag myself the last little while. I was specifically looking for organic cotton and made in the USA. I was extremely excited when Essential Safe Products, also know as ESP, offered to send me a nice beige Green Rebel organic lunch tote. Perfect. Organic cotton, and made in the USA.
I am so in love with my bag. I adore the slogan on this particular tot “Bad habits are disposable. Good ones are reusable.” It comes with one reusable organic cotton napkin in a small pouch with the same print as the bag. It is so easy to clean. Just throw it in the washing machine. I have several stainless steel lunchbots (which you can also find on the ESP website), and they fit perfectly in my Green Rebel bag stacked one on top of each other.
After using my lunch bag for about a week, I decided to purchase a pink one for my daughter to bring to daycare and a more manly black one for my husband at work. I was happy to find a plastic-free and non-toxic option for my lunch and my families.
Apart from bring your own lunch bag to school, here are 5 other ways to make it a waste-less lunch:
- Reusable stainless steel containers are a great addition to your kids school lunches. They cane be used for a sandwiches, fruits and veggies, and snacks.
- To make one ton of paper towels, 17 trees are cut down and 20,000 gallons of water are consumed, and everyday, in the USA alone, over 3,000 tons of paper towel waste is produced. I think those are reasons enough to make the switch to cloth napkins, no?
- Most lunches contain 1 or 2 plastic sandwich baggies for snacks, and sandwiches. They are a disposable, one time use product. They do not biodegrade and pretty much last forever. Most recycling facilities do not accept plastic bags because they can jam the recycling machines. Most of the time plastic bags have to be brought to your local grocery store to be recycled. And most people find it easier to just throw them out and they end up in landfill. How about purchasing a few organic cotton baggies that can be reused, over and over again? Better for you, better for the environment.
- I bring my glass water bottle everywhere I go. It is easy to clean. Non-toxic. No leaching of chemicals. Doesn’t take on the odor of what previously was in it. And best of all it is reusable, and no juice boxes or plastic water bottles are being used. Have your kids bring a stainless steel bottle or glass bottle to school, and help the environment one juice box at a time.
- Plastic utensils are flimsy. They are another one time use, disposable product. From my understanding are not always accepted by recycling facilities, like mine. So what happens to them? They end up in landfill where they will sit and sit and sit, and perhaps make their way to some body of water where they may broken down and be mistaken for food. These bamboo utensils may be the answer.
All these great products can be found on the Essential Safe Products website.
I bet you are all itching to get your hands on some waste-less lunch paraphernalia. Essential Safe products is giving away to one of my readers a Rebel Green Organic Cotton lunch tote.
My friend Lori is also hosting an Essential Safe Products(ESP) giveaway, too!!! Head on over to her site, Groovy Green Livin, and enter to win 1 Stainless Steel Pint Cup, 4 Stainless Steel Straws, and 2 Reusable produce bags (the same bags given to celebrities at the GRAMMYs and Oscars!!)
Disclosure CMP.LY/5
Essential Safer Products, giveaway, organic cotton, Rebel Green, review, Waste-less lunch
I am the Good Girl Gone Green. Seeing garbage cans overflowing with recyclables breaks my heart.
I have been cleaning out lunchboxes this week to get them ready for school time. Exciting!
It does sound like fun!
We have had the same earth-friendly lunch boxes for 5 years now! YAY to a green life!!
That is so great!
Thank you for this giveaway.
Great list! I also suggest a classic lunch box that can grow with a kid over a few years (or through normal wear and tear) – they may love a certain character/trend now, but chances are they won’t next year. Try getting them to pick out a classic pack in their favorite color, something that is more likely to make them happy for more than just one school year
That’s true. A more generic colour picture is better, so they use it longer! Thanks so much!
My husband may be starting a new job soon & could use this lunchbag! Thanks for the giveaway.
Perfect timing!
Thank you for the introduction to the ESP website! I love your info and giveaways!
Thank you so much, Alita.
We use reusable lunch bags & glass containers instead of plastic!
That is really great!
I bought a Laptop Lunch system last year and love it.
Never heard of them. Will check them out.
My son just started kindergarten and he has a zero waste lunch every day. I’m always looking for new products to reduce waste. Thanks for the list. : )
Thanks for the great lunch ideas. With school starting soon, am looking forward to inching closer to “totally” green, and your ideas are the perfect place to start!
great lunch suggestions! that lunch bag is adorable!
I am new to the green scene! I am in the process of becoming a wholly organic consumer
I would love something like this for my daughter (and for myself too, lol)!
thanks for the ideas:)
My 8 year old, previously homeschooled daughter is going to public school this fall. Not sure how I feel about this new adventure, but I’m stressing about lunches! I can’t believe the school lunch menu. I reviewed a Plantetbox a while back and it’s lovely, but a tad small. She has a voracious appetite! And I love the statement on this organic bag.
Thanks!
Love your tips…would LOVE to win that bag
I think it could start some awesome conversations in the teachers lounge…which might convert more people to a greener way of lunching!
[...] Stephanie is also hosting an Essential Safe Products(ESP) giveaway. Head on over to her site, Good Girl Gone Green, and enter to win a Rebel Green Organic Cotton lunch [...]
Love this bag! I’m also an unofficial ‘good girl gone green’
this would be lovely to carry snacks when on the go!
ps. I wish those bamboo utensils would be cheaper…. I usually pack some reusable plastic utensils when we go for a picnic or out and about and need some forks or a spoon – and then I just bring them home, wash and have them ready for next time..
xo Ella
Great tips you have there
I love keeping bento boxes organized with silicone cupcake liners. The fun colors always make me smile, and they are reusable.
Love the design of the Rebel Green Organic Cotton Lunch Tote
I had never heard of ESP before reading your review. Thank you so much for introducing me to such a wonderful site and for hosting this giveaway. You really are awesome!
This is the first I’m learning of ESP! Thanks so much! LOVE their site!! I was searching online for help in trying to find safe eco-products to buy my kids for school. Thank goodness I did because I also found your site too! Loving all the products and recipes and can’t wait to read on… Thanks for the chance at the giveaway too!
I almost always bring my lunches from home to cut down on waste produced at take out places.
I always take snacks and water with me when I am running errands this would be great for that!
Thanks for hosting!
I try to reduce the waste, this is definitely a green idea
Fave wasteless lunch idea: reusable glass tupperware and my own silverware (no plastic!)
great tips
I try to send zero waste lunches with my kids everyday. Love it!
this is amazing!! I’d to use this everyday to bring it to school and to show the parents of families I babysit for! it looks supercute too! I can only imagine my delicious vegan lunch in that cute bag!
This is adorable! Love it
Thanks for keeping us updated on cool new products!
love this.. thanks for the giveaway