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The kitchen is a real problem area when it comes to personal waste. Between food packaging and product containers, I know it’s the place where I have the most cleaning up to do. But an easy place to start is by ditching plastic wrap!
According to National Geographic every year Americans buy enough plastic wrap to shrink wrap the state of Texas…that’s more than 268,000 square miles of non recyclable plastic film waste. It’s a jarring statistic. What’s more, plastic wrap, Cling Wrap, Saran Wrap, and the like are often made with PVC, PVDC, and “plasticizers”. These chemicals carry a dubious human safety profile and can leach into food and are pretty toxic as they break down in the environment. Pieces of the microplastic seem to be especially good at attracting toxic bacteria and metals which are in turn ingested by fish and wildlife…which we often then consume… you see where this is going.
And the plain truth is, we don’t need this stuff! There are many great alternatives to help us preserve food and prevent food waste that will ultimately save us money and chemical exposure. Here are my favorite zero waste and low impact tips to help you ditch plastic wrap!
Tip #1 to Ditch Plastic Wrap: Bees Wrap
Perhaps the product to gain the most popularity lately is an ingenious idea called beeswax wrap. It’s generally a thin piece of cotton coated with a solution of beeswax, tree resin, and jojoba oil. This food safe, nontoxic wrap is an awesome replacement in almost every situation where one might use plastic film.
To use it, simply cover your container with the wrap and gently press/mould it in place. The warmth of your hands melts the wax just enough to make it pliable and create a seal around your bowl or dish. It works like a charm!
The wrap comes in different sizes, too. There is even an extra large sheet for wrapping a loaf of fresh bread. The brand I use is Bees Wrap and I can definitely recommend it! (I have the classic print but they make them in other cool patterns.)
To wash it, use a mild soap and cool (not hot- it will melt) water and air dry. Use it over and over for a year or so. I have had my Bees Wrap for about 6 months and it’s going strong. When it’s worn out, toss it in the compost! Zero waste.
More Ways to Use Bees Wrap
Another great use for the Bees Wrap is to create little pouches for a lightweight to-go container. And you don’t need to be an origami master to do it. First fold the square in half into a triangle. Then fold in the two bottom triangle points, crossing them like wings. Gently press the folds together to seal them. Now open up the top triangle to reveal a little pouch! It’s great for nuts, dried fruits, crackers, whatever. Fold over the top triangles to seal the top!
What's the Catch?
The only thing I wouldn’t do with the Bees Wrap is cover raw meat. For that you’ll want to use another option that you can really scrub down in a hot soapy bath.
The biggest hold up I can see with the Bees Wrap is the price tag. Now, I have seen quite a few diy tutorials online for beeswax wrap, but have yet to try it myself. (Do I sense a future tutorial…) But if you aren’t into that, or just wanna check it out first, I have another idea!
I received a set of Bees Wrap in my MightFix from MightyNest.com. It’s a subscription program where they send you a surprise sustainable product each month to help you make actionable changes toward lowering your impact. I love it! It’s helpful to get new ideas for sustainable swaps plus it’s fun! I’ve been getting them for a little less than a year now and have also given subscriptions as gifts to family members.
I’m excited to partner with MightyNest.com to be able to share the Fix with my readers for only $3 for the first month! There’s no obligation and anything else you add to your order ships free with your monthly fix. Spoiler alert: many of the other products I mention in this post can also be found in their online shop! Click here to check it out and use code BEESFIX3 to get two sheets of Bees Wrap as your first fix for just 3 bucks!
More Zero Waste Ideas to Quit Plastic Wrap
I have found eliminating plastic wrap to be pretty easy. But, like with most swaps of this kind, it’s really about mindset. By altering how we approach food storage and creating a new game plan, changes like this can be painless. My husband was a super easy sell on this one, though. Because for him, trying to deal with pulling off a sheet of sticky cling wrap and wrestling it onto a casserole dish was like the 7th circle of hell. He could not wait to ditch plastic wrap!
So what are some other options for 86ing the plastic film?
Tip #2 to Ditch Plastic Wrap: Reusable Containers
They come in all shapes and sizes and can be reused over and over again. This one may seem like a no-brainer, and likely you already have a variety of containers in your kitchen. But, again, it’s a about mindset. Instead of reaching for a roll of plastic to slap over the leftover casserole, or covering a plate with film, just relocate your food to a container with a lid!
If you already have some kind of safer plastic containers, start with that! (If you aren’t sure what kind of plastics you have or if they are quite old, do a little investigating. Here is a good resource to get you started.) I don’t think weeding out plastic from your kitchen needs to be an all or nothing, now or never situation. It’s better to start with what you have and make incremental changes as you can afford them. For me, the goal is to lower my impact by choosing the safest most durable containers I can, even if that is just item at a time.
Pyrex containers with lids are one of my go-to choices for leftovers since they can be reheated directly in the heat proof glass. But glass isn’t the only game in town. I love stainless steel, especially for snack storage. I have this set of nesting containers by U-Konserve and they are very handy!
But it’s true that glass and stainless steel can be a bit heavy for lunch boxes. I have this really fun Collapse It silicone container that I love packing for picnics or outings. It is lightweight and it when it’s empty, you can collapse it down for easy storage!
Tip #3 to Ditch Plastic Wrap: Jars, Jars, and More Jars!
Mason jars are endlessly useful and are great for storing leftover sauces, dressings, grains, veggies, shredded meat, everything really! I’m a HUGE fan of putting basically everything in jars, especially soups and salads. They are durable, many are freezer safe, and they don’t take up much real estate on the fridge shelf the way a big bowl does. I seriously don’t know what I did before I owned mason jars.
For a FREE option, save the glass jars from store bought food like pasta sauce, salsa, and applesauce. These come in all kinds of sizes and are frugal way to reduce your impact by ditching the plastic wrap. While most glass containers are recyclable, we really do the earth a favor by reusing them instead because so much energy is consumed in the dismantling and manufacturing processes. When cost is not prohibitive, opt for products at the grocery store that come in glass instead of plastic.
Tip #4 to Ditch Plastic Wrap: Reusable Silicone Bags
In addition to being a good way to ditch plastic wrap, silicone Stasher bags are a great replacement for plastic sandwich baggies. They’re lightweight with a zip top style seal. I think they are perfect for transporting sandwiches and snacks. They’re leak proof and can be used (over and over again) in the fridge, freezer, microwave, and oven!
Tip #5 to Ditch Plastic Wrap: Silicone Lids
Silicone lids and covers come in a wide variety of sizes and can be used to cover bowls, dishes, and even cut produce. I have a set of these small circular Food Huggers which are designed to pop right on your half apple or chopped cucumber to keep food fresh. I also use them to cover small containers or children’s drinking cups that I can’t find the lids for.
Tip #6 to Ditch Plastic Wrap: Bento Boxes
I. Love. Bento Boxes! Instead of wrapping individual snacks or sandwiches in plastic film or baggies, put your lunch in a bento box! These cool containers feature different compartments to keep food separated and protected. I have a few of these stainless steel ones in different sizes made by U-Konserve, but there are many great versions on the market in both steel and plastic.
I will admit that these are a bit of an investment, but I use mine almost every single day. I usually pack my kids’ snacks and lunches in them and besides eliminating the need for baggies, they encourage me to pack more well rounded and healthful meals. My favorite one has four square compartments and I can easily judge the nutrition of the snacks when they are all together like that. As an added bonus, I can buy snacky items in bulk and portion them properly in the sections. Pro tip: use silicone muffin cups to hold hummus or juicey items like orange slices.
Why Reducing Waste Even Matters
When I see these images of the giant plastic islands in the ocean and of animals cut open to reveal pounds of plastic debris, it’s easy to feel helpless about the kind of world our children are inheriting. But, at the very least, we can all step up and try not to make it worse. I know I am just one person, and you are just one person, but doing something is always better than not doing anything at all. When we know better, we can all do better. So, whattdya say? Shall we ditch the plastic wrap?
This list is by no means exhaustive! What other ideas do you use to help ditch the plastic film? Please share them below! I am always grateful for new ideas and others might find them useful, too.
How to Ditch Plastic Wrap: 6 Zero Waste Alternatives
The kitchen is a real problem area when it comes to personal waste. Between food packaging and product containers, it’s the area where I have the most cleaning up to do. But an easy place to start is by ditching plastic wrap!
Bees Wrap
All natural, non toxic, and plastic free! Use beeswax wrap just as you would plastic film to cover dishes and wrap food.
Reusable Containers
They come in all shapes and sizes and can be reused over and over again. Invest in glass, stainless steel, and silicone to keep plastic out of your kitchen and out of the landfill.
Jars
Mason jars are endlessly useful and are great for storing leftover soup, sauces, dressing, salad, grains, veggies, everything really! For a FREE option, save the glass jars from store bought food like pasta sauce, salsa, and applesauce.
Reusable Silicone Bags
Lightweight Stasher bags are perfect for transporting sandwiches and snacks. They are leak proof and can be used (over and over again) in the fridge, freezer, microwave, and oven!
Silicone Lids
Silicone lids come in a wide variety of sizes and can be used to cover bowls, dishes, and even cut produce. The circular Food Huggers pop right on your half apple or chopped cucumber to keep food fresh.
Bento Boxes
Instead of wrapping individual snacks or sandwiches in plastic film or baggies, put your meal in a bento box! These cool containers feature different compartments to keep food separated and protected.