We discovered canvas sandwich bags at Green Alternatives, the fabulous little green shop at the Five Points Community Farm Market in Norfolk, VA. No more need for plastic Ziploc bags!
I don’t send my husband to work with many sandwiches, mostly left overs. But every once in a while, a sandwich is the way to go for lunch. Besides, these sandwich bags are always nice to have on hand for picnics. Thin and light, made by Eco Bags, you can find them on-line at www.ecobags.com. No, I have no stock in the company, I just found them and like them, so I thought I’d share what I found with you! They have all sorts of bulk and canvas bags. And I’m a bit of a bag lady so I like browsing. I wish reusable bags would catch on in this country like wild fire…..maybe in the near future.
I’ve also found if I go to a place like Subway and I can’t finish the sandwich, rather than slip it in the plastic they give you, I can put it in the canvas bag. If it gets messy with food, I just wash it.
Canvas lunch boxes were also sold at Green Alternatives but they weren’t large enough to hold all the food I send my hubby with for his meals. They were big enough for a kid’s lunch though of a sandwich, a piece of fruit and a juice box, and much more durable than the light canvas ones. They are also sold at Eco Bags.
Canvas lunch box.
Great idea! Glad I found it.
What do you use to carry your lunch?
Other interesting articles about packing lunches and using Ziploc:
- 21 Travel Uses for Ziploc Bags (travelbloggerz.wordpress.com)
- DIY Reusable Freezer Bags (trashbackwards.com)
- Enviro Bags For All (stateofjuliet.wordpress.com)
- Tips for Packing Waste Free Lunches (healthyhomemagazine.com)
Attempting zero waste lifestyle in a military household 
I’ve been looking at beeswax treated sandwich wrappers – you just wipe them off, no washing in the washing machine. I think I could try making them myself.. But then again, I’m a little lazy. These look handy. I could definitely make a few of these.
Brilliant! You could probably make your own using clothing that will otherwise be thrown away. I cut the legs of my girls’ jeans when they’ve past the patching potential — I keep those thick cotton jean pieces to use in other ways, since they’re small and easily stored.
In a restaurant, the paper napkin I was given will work in a pinch, if what I have isn’t too messy. But I’ve gotten in the habit of keeping a large canvas grocery bag complete with a variety of #4 plastic containers in them to use for any leftovers or to avoid their take-out containers altogether. This is my new standard practice — that you taught me!
I was always curious about how things were done in the “old” days – the simple, every day things, and used to ask my grandmother. She said when she was growing up (she was born in 1897) they used to save every scrap of paper that came into the house – it was precious. When when they’d wrap up lunches for her father and brothers to take to work, they’d rub a little grease into the paper. (You’d never guess what the sandwiches usually were – leftover bacon grease on homemade bread…)
I guess the larger take away is that maybe we all should think of “things” as being precious, and mind the lessons that everything should be used to it’s maximum.
I sent my kids to school with reusable plastic sandwich containers, but if it were today I think I’d try other options…I do use a lot of ziploc bags it seems, mostly for freezer storage when a container won’t do – I’ve always heard not to reuse ziplocs, but unless it stored raw meat, I often do and have never run into issues. I’ve never been able to figure a good way around them for some items – butcher paper doesn’t work that well.
Anyone have any ideas?
Frugal Hausfrau—I’m stuck on this one with you. To store stuff in the freezer, I’ve used the left over plastic from cereal bags, and then also placed the product in plastic grocery bags as a type of double and triple wrap. That works pretty well but can’t leave it in there too long or it gets freezer burnt.
There is no reason not to use Ziploc bags over and over. I wash them out and dry them in the sun to kill bacteria. I’ve even done it with the bags I’ve had raw meat in, though I try to use those for only raw meat. Haven’t died yet. And haven’t bought any new Ziplocs since 2008.
@Shannon and Heidi—wonderful idea of making your own. I really have to learn how to sew if I’m going to do zero waste properly…..
Wow, Jennifer – none 2008? That’s impressive! I did some pretty serious research into bacteria and viruses at one time – the sun is an amazing killer of bacteria – so fresh air and sunshine always win out!
I don’t remember all the details of the studies, but I do remember that someone did tests of the bacteria picked up from a variety of food objects dropped on the sidewalk, a kitchen counter and the bathroom floor – maybe a few other places. I seem to remember it was things like sandwiches, apples, mostly items children might have. They were testing the 5 second rule.
The sidewalk items came out the cleanest, the bathroom next, and the kitchen counters/floors last. But don’t run out and buy a ton of toxic spray cleaners and paper towels – a clean rag and a drop of soap takes care of almost everything!
This is off topic, but as long as we’re talking about “making” things: I “make” dishrags out of the tops of worn out white crew socks (well washed of course.) I just cut top part off and cut them open and they’re the perfect size. Then I use the bottoms for cleaning and dusting – a hand slips inside perfectly. I’ve had people tell me they think this is a little gross, but I like the idea of giving them another life and I like not having to buy dishrags which are always made of strange materials, get stinky and look awful after a few uses. For some reason sock tops always seem to wash up better and don’t unravel like you’d think they would.
I LOVE the idea with the socks!! So creative!
Heidi–where would I find the beeswax treated wrappers? I would have no idea how to make them??