9 Eco-Friendly Lunch Boxes & Bags For Sustainable Snacking
Lunch is served!
We’ve even cut off the crusts and chemicals that come with plastic food storage.
We have rounded up some of the best eco-friendly lunch box brands we could find—and are serving them up on a neat little platter just for you.
After all, no one likes a lunch money bully OR a planetary bully.
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The Best Eco-Friendly Lunch Containers For Kids & Adults Alike
If you’re craving a crunch without the crushed chips, ECOlunchbox has you covered with one of the best eco-friendly stainless steel lunch box ranges in the industry.
Klean Kanteen isn’t just about hydration; They’ve got lunch covered, too, offering an insulated sustainable lunch box that can keep your pasta hot or your salad crisp for hours.
Thinking about a sandwich for lunch? We’re big fans of Stasher, the brand leading the charge with their airtight silicone sustainable lunch bags, banishing the need for single-use plastics.
That’s just a taste of what’s in store. For more on our eco-friendly lunch box review process, munch your way to the bottom.
The Full List Of Sustainable Lunch Box Brands
Eco-Friendly Lunch Boxes
Eco-Friendly Lunch Bags
Best Sustainable Lunch Boxes
1. ECOlunchbox
About ECOlunchbox
Price Range: $10–$92
Say goodbye to plastic bags and stained BPA containers and say hello to eco-friendly lunch box containers from ECOlunchbox.
There are lunch boxes, snack containers, camping plates, eco-friendly bento lunch boxes, tiffins, and cotton lunch bags to choose from.
All made from recyclable, food-grade stainless steel 201—making them nontoxic, lightweight, and durable enough to work as an eco-friendly kids’ lunch box.
You won’t find harmful BPA, BPS, or phthalates, and each eco-friendly metal lunch box is dishwasher and freezer-friendly.
We personally use the Seal Cup Sixsome Set both as to-go lunch boxes and some of the safest food storage containers at home.
Their convenient nesting design means you get maximum food storage with minimal cabinet storage space—something we appreciate very much in our cramped zero waste kitchen!
If you want an organic lunch box bag to keep it all contained, their Lunchbag is made from fair trade and GOTS-certified organic cotton canvas that’s thick and durable.
ECOlunchbox’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
ECOlunchbox is a Certified B Corp founded by a “mom-on-a-mission”.
They’re helping us save the planet and save money—an average of $435 a year for families who usually use plastic and paper lunch bag purchases and pre-packaged snacks.
Every year, they offset a carbon dioxide equivalent of 4.7 million pounds of coal burned!
2. Klean Kanteen
About Klean Kanteen
Price Range: $25–$120
In addition to their famous plastic-free water bottles, container specialist Klean Kanteen offers several food solutions for snacks, lunches, and leftovers.
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly lunch box for adults, the brand prides itself on being plastic-free, with non-plastic lunch containers made with stainless steel bases and food-grade silicone lids.
They come in various sizes (snack, lunch, and meal).
All containers are durable, dishwasher safe, leak-proof, and suitable for hot and cold food.
Their food boxes and insulated canisters make for a perfect eco-friendly kids lunch box.
And for us adults, we personally love the Insulated TK Canisters, which have the ability to keep food hot for up to 11 hours and cold for up to 45 hours. We don’t know about you, but we’re big soup meal prep people so this eco-friendly metal lunch box is truly our cup of tea (er, soup).
For those who struggle to decide, the Pack Your Lunch Kit includes one of these and everything else you could need for a planet-friendly packed lunch.
Klean Kanteen’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Klean Kanteen was started by a brother-sister team and remains a family and employee-owned company.
They support their local Chico, California community by donating to organizations and schools, providing free filtered water at events, and sponsoring local environmental efforts.
They support their global community by being a Certified B Corp, a 1% for the Planet member, and a Climate Neutral Certified company.
3. PlanetBox
About PlanetBox
Price Range: $4–$40
While PlanetBox has eco-friendly school lunch bags, it’s their eco-friendly lunch boxes for kids that are the real stand-out product.
The Rover is the biggest and best sustainable bento box, with 5 compartments, while the Shuttle is perfect for snacks or small meals.
Optional components and containers appeal to picky eaters and grazers.
The Puzzle Pod Containers, for instance, easily separate snacks and work like a puzzle to provide some fun during school lunches. Similarly, magnets can be added to some.
All styles are easy to clean and toxin-free.
PlanetBox’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
PlanetBox’s sustainable lunch containers are designed by a husband-wife duo in California, then produced by a long-standing manufacturing partner in China.
They are 100% recyclable, too.
4. Hydro Flask
About Hydro Flask
Price Range: $30–$45
Looking for a high-quality insulated food jar that can keep your food hot or cold for up to 12 hours?
Look no further than Hydro Flask’s insulated food jars are perfect for those who want to bring their favorite meals on-the-go, whether it’s to school, work, or on a hike.
We own the 20 oz Food Jar and find it perfect for those who want to bring their favorite meals on-the-go, whether it’s to school, work, or on a hike.
Famous for making one of the most important zero waste swaps of all—water bottles—Hydro Flask is a company that creates insulated, food-grade stainless steel water bottles and food jars to keep you hydrated and well-fed on any adventure.
So if you’re looking for the best eco-friendly stainless steel lunch box, these are made from high-quality stainless steel and feature double-wall vacuum insulation that can keep your food hot for up to 6 hours or cold for up to 12 hours.
It also comes with a leak-proof lid that makes it easy for us to pack even soup (see above for our love of soup) in our 20 oz Food Jar and trust that it won’t leak en route.
Hydro Flask’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Hydro Flask is committed to sustainability and making contributions to the aspirational goal of a circular economy through reusable products, material choices, and smart packaging.
They use BPA and phthalate-free materials in their products, making them eco-friendly and safe for you and the planet.
Through their Parks For All program, they donate to hundreds of non-profits working toward the missions of making the outdoors more accessible for everyone.
5. Ekobo
About Ekobo
Price Range: $26–$48
Ekobo offers all kinds of eco-friendly dinnerware and food storage, all made from sustainable FSC-certified recycled bamboo fiber eco-composite.
They come in a few different fun colors, all thanks to non-toxic, food-grade dyes.
The Recycled Bamboo Bento Lunch Box is a versatile eco-friendly bento box featuring two inner compartments, and a removable separator between.
It is top-rack dishwasher safe and suitable for both hot and cold food, being free from BPA, PVC, and phthalates.
Ekobo’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Ekobo uses raw organic bamboo sawdust for all products, sourced as a byproduct of the chopstick and flooring industry.
The sawdust is ground into powder and mixed with a non-toxic and food-safe binding resin.
All products are ethically made in China where workers receive living wages and safe work conditions.
All purchases made on Made Trade support a 100% Climate Neutral Certified company and 1% for the Planet.
Best Sustainable Lunch Bags
6. Stasher
About Stasher
Price Range: $10–$84
What can I use instead of a lunch box? How about a bag?
But not those horrible disposable plastic kinds!
Stasher changed the world when they provided an eco-friendly alternative to Ziploc bags.
Lunch everywhere is greener thanks to Stasher’s self-sealing, airtight silicone bags—the world’s first.
Their eco-friendly reusable lunch bags come in several different shapes, sizes, and colors—all vegan, BPA-free, and phthalate-free.
PS: These aren’t only great for lunches, but are one of the best all-around plastic-free food storage options for home.
For those seeking a plastic-free lunch bag, keep in mind that silicone isn’t plastic, so these qualify.
Stasher’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Stasher bags are responsibly produced in a facility in China that is SA8000 certified.
The bags are sent in compostable packaging made from 70% post-consumer recycled cardboard.
When the bags themselves reach the end of their life, Stasher offers a recyclable lunch bag program via a partnership with TerraCycle.
Stasher is also a member of 1% for the Planet.
7. A Little Lark
About A Little Lark
Price Range: $11–$24
A Little Lark‘s recycled lunch bag—made with recycled cotton and hand-printed with a lovely cat design (amongst others)—is the perfect eco-friendly lunch bag for adults.
Each canvas eco-friendly lunch tote is reusable, machine washable, and features an easy-to-use VELCRO®-like closure.
It’s kid and grown-up friendly, with a soft rope handle and the ability to fold completely flat for easy storage.
A Little Lark’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
A Little Lark takes pride in reducing waste by recycling and using leftover materials to create hand-printed apparel, housewares, paper goods, and artisan gifts for people of all ages.
Their goods are socially positive by design, and their ideas are inspired by the beauty of nature around us.
Christy, the founder, takes pride in creating unique products that are not driven by traditional colors and motifs.
Instead, she strives to create non-gender-specific, sustainable goods that exhibit simplicity and style with a sophisticated edge.
All their products are sweatshop-free (organic when possible), hand-printed in Portland, Oregon, and designed in-house by Christy Nyboer.
8. Full Circle Home
About Full Circle Home
Price Range: $6–$8
For snacks and sandwiches without single-use plastics, Full Circle Home’s ZipTuck is their handy reusable eco lunch bag product.
Made with FDA-approved EVA, these bags are free of PVC, phthalates, and BPA.
They come in different sizes (for snacks and sandwiches) and designs.
Full Circle Home’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Full Circle home is a Certified B Corp that is also plastic neutral, thanks to their offsets through Plastic Bank.
The bags are sent in recyclable/recycled materials.
9. Italic Home
About Italic Home
Price Range: $10–$118.00
Italic Home is on a mission to make minimalism functional and beautiful. They create eco-friendly natural lunch bags that are as stylish as they are practical.
The Brown Bag is a modern twist on the classic brown paper sack—but don’t worry, you’re not stuck with just brown for color choices.
Made from hand-waxed canvas, this sustainable alternative can handle anything you throw at it and still keep your lunch safe.
It only gets better with age, just like artisanal cheese.
About Italic Home’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Italic Home takes special care to ensure that each item you purchase is not only beautiful and functional, but also environmentally conscious.
They believe that spending your hard-earned money should be exciting and fulfilling, not guilt-inducing.
By creating products that are both beautiful and environmentally conscious, Italic Home is committed to reducing waste and using environmentally responsible materials.
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How We Found The Best Sustainable Lunch Bag Brands
What is an eco-friendly lunch?
Well, aside from being filled with organic snacks and other goodies from sustainable food brands, it’s one packed in a sustainable reusable lunch box—rather than disposable plastics.
Here’s our zero nonsense criteria for selecting these zero waste lunch boxes.
Materials:
What are eco-friendly materials for lunch boxes?
For a solid lunch box, stainless steel is a go-to material. It’s chemical-free, keeps mold and bacteria at bay, doesn’t retain flavors, is stain resistant, is easy to clean (dishwasher included), and it’s 100% recyclable.
In fact, most ‘new’ stainless steel products already contain roughly 60% recycled materials.
We’ve love more organic lunch boxes out there, but as of now, it’s difficult to make both a durable and biodegradable lunch box.
Sandwiches and silicone also go very well together—particularly because silicone can work in much the same way as plastic (despite not being). But is silicone biodegradable?
It’s made of non-toxic silica (sand) polymer that can withstand heating and freezing, but that means it isn’t biodegradable. Either way it’s a better option than conventional hard to recyclable ziplock bags.
Bamboo, organic cotton, and recycled PET (like from recycled plastic bottles, though we overall prefer a plastic-free lunch box) are also welcome to sit at the table.
Even wool can be used to create a sustainable insulated lunch bag.
- Certifications: Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Fair Trade
Supply chain & labor practices:
While not all these brands had ideal transparency here, it’s great to see ethical factories producing many of these eco-friendly lunch bags and bento boxes, where workers have access to fair wages and safe working conditions.
- Certifications: Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral, SA8000
Green business practices & community giving:
We’re always on the hunt for brands that give back with donations to organizations like 1% for the Planet, the use of easily recyclable materials (or send-back programs to properly recycle them), and sustainable packaging makes that packed green salad even greener.
Final Thoughts On Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Lunch Bag Brands
We need to eat—but we don’t need to eat up all of our planet’s resources.
Plastic has no place at the lunch table, which is why these brands are doing things a little differently.
If you’re able to, opting for environmentally friendly lunch box brands should always be the primary choice for your next picnic.
Next time you whip out your eco-friendly lunch bag or box, feel free to spread the word about how a simple swap like this one can contribute towards a sustainable food system.
You can do that by sharing this article, too!
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