There are two important ingredients to any good zero waste kitchen recipe: plastic-free food storage containers and saying ‘no’ to food waste.
They go hand-in-hand, because while we’re big advocates of composting and reusing food scraps, how we store food is our biggest defense against the 40% of food that ends up rotting in the landfill.
But it often comes with its own set of problems. Namely: plastic storage. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Which is why we’ve rounded up our favorite non-plastic food storage containers that we’ve used to keep leftovers and lunch for longer. And these products are made by brands that also use safe materials and responsible packaging.
We’re also going to be employing our new Brand Rating System in the near future, which will look at a range of ethical and sustainability criteria, like supply chain transparency, climate impact, and end-of-life. You can learn more here.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Plastic-Free Containers We Use On The Daily
Start by replacing hard-to-recycle ziplock bags with Stasher’s reusable silicone bags. We’ve used them for years, including in the freezer, oven, dishwasher, microwave, and sous vide machine. Did we mention no wear and tear as yet?!
2 years of using Caraway‘s ceramic-coated glass food containers, and we can say, they’re a premium product, free of harmful chemicals and safe for the dishwasher, microwave, and oven.
Index: Non-Plastic Food Containers
- Caraway Jump to brand
- U Konserve Jump to brand
- ECOlunchbox Jump to brand
- SuperBee Jump to brand
- Stasher Jump to brand
- Vejibag Jump to brand
- Bee’s Wrap Jump to brand
Caraway
Caraway’s containers include non-toxic ceramic-coated glass cubes with Air Release Technology to keep your food fresh and odor-free. Available individually or in sets, there are three main sizes, along with additional Dot and Dash mini containers ideal for sauces and snacks.
The freezer-safe and dishwasher-safe containers are free of BPA, BPS, PFOA, PTFE, and heavy metals. While these are generally oven, and microwave-safe containers, the lids and Dot and Dash pieces should not be microwaved.
Our Personal Review of Caraway’s Ceramic Food Storage Set:
“These have been our primary food storage tools for the last two years and it’s safe to say we’re in leftover love. The non-toxic non-stick ceramic coating is still in perfect shape, though, just as you should do with any of their non-toxic cookware, that longevity largely depends on you not using any metal utensils that may scratch it.
While we mostly use them at home for leftovers and meal prep because of their sturdy stacking design that saves precious fridge space, we do appreciate the inclusion of silicone straps that give us spill-proof peace of mind when toting them to and from places.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
U Konserve
1% For the Planet member U Konserve has a range of environmentally friendly tupperware options, including circular and rectangular nesting storage and to-go containers made with non-toxic stainless steel that is free of BPA, lead, and phthalates.
In an effort to transition away from the formerly #4 plastic lids, they now offer food-grade silicone lids for all containers.
ECOlunchbox
ECOlunchbox may offer various sizes, shapes, and configurations but they use only one material: food-grade stainless steel. Like glass, stainless steel is non-porous and doesn’t absorb bacteria or leach toxic chemicals like BPA, BPS, and phthalates—making it one of the safest food storage containers.
While infinitely recyclable, stainless steel is often mixed with materials that are NOT recyclable, like paints and resin linings. ECOlunchbox doesn’t mix materials. In fact, the only other material in use is food-grade silicone in the lids of some models, like the Seal Cup Trio, which we also own.
This Certified B Corp has even gone the extra mile and included the tare weight etched on the bottom, making purchasing bulk foods hassle-free.
Our Personal Review of ECOlunchbox’s Seal Cup Storage Set:
“These are our go-to on-the-go containers because they’re super lightweight, easy to clean, and won’t break if they get tossed around in a bag or dropped. We also love that all six sizes (which is versatile) and their lids nest neatly within each other so they take up practically no storage space, which we really appreciate in our tiny house kitchen.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
SuperBee
SuperBee makes reusable beeswax wraps and beeswax food storage bags from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton and a proprietary blend of sustainably harvested, pesticide-free beeswax, organic coconut oil, and tree resin.
The Certified B Corp is a woman-owned company that empowers women in Thailand, paying 20% more than the living wage suggested by the Fair Trade Association and giving back to the local community.
My Personal Review of SuperBee’s Food Storage Wraps:
“I’ve been using a few of these wraps from this brand for about a year now and they’re still performing super well. The coating is still going strong and doesn’t show much wear and tear, it’s not noticeably thinner than when we first got it. Since they’re designed to last about two years (depending on use and care) we expect to get at least another year from them.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Stasher
If you’re looking for non-plastic freezer containers, say hello to silicone bags from Stasher.
Wait, is silicone eco-friendly?
Well, it’s not quite that straight forward, but in summary, silicone is (almost) always better than plastic bags since it’s totally non-toxic—being free of BPS, BPA, lead, phthalates, and latex—and pretty much infinitely reusable. Stasher’s are made of 100% pure platinum-grade silicone (better than food grade) and come in a plethora of sizes.
Stasher uses an SA8000-certified manufacturing facility and partners with TerraCycle to provide you with a means to responsibly recycle unwanted or damaged bags.
My Personal Review of Stasher’s Food Storage Bags:
“I’ve used Stasher’s alternative to Ziploc bags for literally years and love the “self-sealing” that keeps snacks and sandwiches fresh, especially on the go. My favorite part is the fact that they are 100% silicone, unlike some silicone bags which have a press zipper made of other materials that melt in the dishwasher (ask me how I know…). I’ve used these in the freezer, oven, dishwasher, and sous vide machine with no issues. I don’t own a microwave so I can’t speak to that but according to them that’s no problem either.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Vejibag
For something so simple, the cloth Vejibag is revolutionary. It’s designed to keep fruit and veggies fresh, crisp, and nutrient-rich for two weeks or more using a simple food philosophy: veggies keep best in cool, damp environments.
Available in standard and large sizes, Vejibags are made of undyed 100% French terry organic cotton that’s grown, milled, and produced in the USA. Once dampened, they provide a humid, breathable environment to maintain the freshness and crispness of produce longer than plastic bags. If storing for more than a few days, simply re-wet the bag.
Bee’s Wrap
Beeswax wraps existed long before plastic wraps. Cloth soaked in beeswax dates back to ancient Egypt. Now, these food storage cloths have exploded as a replacement for plastic wrap and sandwich bags. Once you learn how to use beeswax wraps, you’ll agree there’s no going back.
Bee’s Wrap is a Vermont-based Certified B Corp and Green America Certified Company making GOTS-certified cotton cloths coated with sustainably harvested beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin.
You can use them to wrap fresh veggies, cheese, and sandwiches, bag up snacks, and cover plates and bowls. If cared for properly, they can be used over and over again and if they finally wear out, you can either re-coat them with beeswax or compost them.
Why Invest In Plastic-Free Tupperware Alternatives?
Food waste is a significant problem, contributing to ~7% of total anthropogenic GHG emissions. Many of us have kitchens filled to the brim with plastic food waste solutions—leading to another insidious type of waste.
Plastic is lightweight and generally more affordable than eco-friendly food storage containers, but it raises a hefty bill for our planet and health. Many are either impossible to recycle or simply aren’t. For example, Ziploc bags have a laughably low recycling rate of 0.2%. Only our planet doesn’t find this funny…
When these plastics enter landfills, they release chemicals like dioxins. If they float into waterways instead, they become a trap for heavy metals and bacteria. Plastic can also appear like a tasty treat to marine life, suffocating or exposing them to dangerous contaminants.
Don’t forget, a plastic container is dangerous for humans, too.
Phthalates, which improve the durability of plastic, have also been associated with health complications like reproductive issues, developmental problems, endocrine disruption, increased levels of oxidative stress, disrupted hormone levels, cancer, and more.
Many plastics also contain bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used to produce certain types of plastic, including polycarbonate plastic used in tupperware. BPA has been associated with adverse health effects, including increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hormonal imbalance, reproductive issues, increased risk of certain cancers, and behavior problems or brain development concerns in children.
Although some plastic options (including name brand Tupperware) now make BPA-free food storage containers, it’s important to note that some BPA-free plastics may still contain other chemicals that have not been thoroughly tested for safety. Some studies have suggested that these alternative chemicals may also have health risks.
Glasslock uses plastic for its lids! Polypropylene is plastic.
Thank you for your post. Most of the ideas were helpful, but as people are moving away from plastic and trying to find a “healthier” option, why then would you offer metal as an alternative? Food grade metal is made of stainless steel, which is made with nickel, unless specifically noted. Nickel is quite harmful to humans and not a good “healthy” option. It should be avoided for food storage, cooking, or drinking containers. Just because a product comes from a health food store, doesn’t mean it’s beneficial. It might be a modern trend, that has not health value to it. Metal is good for making vehicles strong and such, but keep it away from your food. Wood, glass, and wax make good options.
At the same time, we will not live forever. I am careful with my food choices and such, to possibly prevent years of disease at the end of my life, but I have to trust God with that in the end. We need to worship the One-True God of the Bible and not get confused and worship creation. This would fix the problems we have in our world. God made the world and everything in it. The world was merely made by our Creator. Isn’t it more valuable to worship the Creator than the created!
Thanks for the input Rhonda, we’ll take another look on the next update.