When you think about it, kids lunchboxes can be a bit un-environmentally-friendly. Using cling film, cartons of juice and other items that can’t get recycled and have to be thrown away, all that waste can add up quickly. If you are looking for ways to reduce plastic use in your child’s lunch box, then here are 10 Practical Products to Make Your Child’s Lunch Box Eco Friendly:

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As we become even more conscious of the plastic we use in our homes, one area that we can easily tackle is our children’s lunches. Anything we can do to avoid using plastics and other items that are only used one time is a good thing.

So we had a scout around to see what eco friendly products are available that would work nicely for kids lunches.

Prices correct at time of writing.

10 Practical Products to Make Your Child’s Lunch Box Eco Friendly

#1. Reusable Sandwich Bags

These reusable sandwich bags from Reuzi.ie are handy and eco-friendly. Use them to carry around your sandwiches, bagels, buns, sliced meat, cheese slices, sliced fruit etc. And they are machine washable too which is great.

Also available in other patterns: Bloom, Geo and Stars.

Price €7.50.

#2. Planetwise Reusable Sandwich Wrap

Sandwiches and Snacks…Ready, Wrap, Go! These reusable sandwich wraps from Earthmother.ie are a great alternative to plastic baggies or tin foil, the planetwise sandwich/snack bags are the perfect size for fruit, snacks, a sandwich or leftovers.

Made with Food Safe Materials and use a Patent Pending No Leak Design. Ideal for keeping school or creche snacks fresh and leakproof. Also available in other patterns

Price €7.99

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#3. Bamboo Cutlery

This 2x Bamboo Cutlery Flatware Set from Amazon contains two sets of bamboo cutlery, each set includes: 1 x knife, 1 x fork, 1 x spoon, 1 pair of chopsticks, 1 x straws, 1 x metal brush.

Each set comes in a cloth pouch, great for travel, office, camping, etc., and each utensil has its own compartment so that they aren’t bumping into each other.  The cutlery is also durable and easy to clean.

Price £11.99

#4. Metal Lunchbox

If you want to go completely plastic free for your child’s lunchbox, then this stainless steel lunchbox from Littlegreenshop.ie comes with a mini container.

The oval stainless steel lunch box has a clip closure and a separate mini container which fits inside. It’s ideal for taking an ‘on-the-go’ balanced lunch of a e.g. savoury salad or sandwich, fruit and a snack in one neat container.

Price €22.50

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#5. Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Another plastic free options is this double walled stainless steel bottle from Home Store and More which will keep your drink cold for 12 hours and hot for 24 hours.

Available in blue, purple and black.

Price €7.99

#6. Food Flask

The Mummy Cooks Orange Food Flask is perfect for sending in a healthy nutritious lunch for your school going kids. It holds 300ml of food, has double-wall vacuum insulation to help retain temperature, keeping food hot or cold for up to 6 hours.

It also has an extra-wide mouth for easy filling, serving & cleaning. It’s made of stainless steel and BPA free plastic, and comes with stickers to individualise your child’s food flask.

Also available in Pink, Blue and Green.

Price €13.99

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#7. Smaller Glass Jars

Save your glass jars when you’re finished with them and repurpose them for lunch containers. A small jam jar is great for holding snack items like carrot sticks or dips.

Or if you want to buy a new set, you can get this cute set of six 125ml preserve jars with flip lids from Nisbets.ie.

The clip top and rubber ring form a completely airtight seal, and the jars are dishwasher safe too.

Price €17.20 for six jars.

#8. Drink in the Box Sippy Cups (Orange)

Instead of sending cartons of juice in, these Drink the Box Sippy cups available from Amazon are ideal. The reusable juice and drink box is a sustainable and healthy alternative to disposable, artificial juice boxes.

Made of nearly indestructible, chemical free and easy to clean Tritan. They are mess-free and safe for all ages with easy to open and close lid with soft bendy straw. Each box holds 8 fluid oz when filled to fill line.

Price £9.99.

#9. Bambu Straws + Straw Cleaner

We use nearly 10 billion straws in the world every day, so say no to plastic with this simple swap!

These bamboo straws from Thekind.co are made out of sturdy bamboo, which is a highly sustainable material from a fast-growing plant. They come with a handy cleaning brush that helps keep the straws clean.

Price €8.50 for 4 straws plus straw cleaner.

#10. Compostable Paper Snack and Sandwich Bags

These little paper snack and sandwich bags from Reuzi.ie are made in Sweden from unbleached pulp of Scandinavian spruce trees – a natural, renewable resource. The bags are non greasy and fully compostable in your brown bin or compost heap.

Perfect to hold an apple, some rice cakes or a mini-baguette or sandwich that has butter, mayonnaise or oil as they won’t leak through. The bags are also suitable for use in the microwave.

Price €6.20 for 30 bags.