Waste-Free Lunches
Brown-bagging it isn’t just for kids — adults have caught on to the money-saving benefits of packing a lunch as well. But when you factor in the cost of paper napkins, disposable baggies, bottled water and single-serving packaged foods, are you really saving anything but time?
* Wastefreelunches.org estimates that eliminating disposable packaging and single-serving items can save families $250 a year.
* A family of four can save $130 annually by switching from paper napkins to reusable napkins, according to Sierra Club.
* Sierra Club also estimates that families spend $85 a year on disposable plastic baggies. Keep that cash in your wallet by switching to Wrap-N-Mats for your sandwiches and snacks or reusable drawstring snack bags for dry snacks like granola and nuts.
* Wash and reuse plastic baggies with Bag-E-Wash or a Plastic Bag & Bottle Dryer.
* Buying in bulk reduces packaging waste and saves money — pass up the single-portion yogurt cups in favor of the family size, for example.
* Cut back on wasted food by letting the kids pack their own lunches, they're more likely to actually eat food they chose for themselves.
* Stop throwing away your money with every brown paper bag. Switch to a safe and sturdy reusable lunch bag and save.
* Plastic flatware is convenient, but it’s wasteful and expensive. Instead, keep a set of reusable utensils with your waste-free lunch kit.
* One year of disposable lunches: Brown paper bags ($26 @$4/50 pk) + snack baggies ($85) + bottled water or juice ($260) = $371
* One year of reusable lunches: Cloth lunch bag ($7) + reusable water bottle ($12) + wrap n mat ($7)+ snack bags ($2) + hemp napkin ($8) = $36
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