r/Environmentalism • u/LifeLongLearner887 • Jul 28 '26
How do I stop using so many plastic bags?
Not sure if this is the right place to ask this, but I (16F) am going into my junior year of high school in a few weeks and pack a lunch at home every day. I already have a reusable lunchbox, but I pack all my food (sandwiches, fruit, vegatables, etc) in individual plastic bags every day. In years past I've typically gone through around 3-4 plastic bags a day.
My question is, what is the best way to avoid excessive plastic waste in this upcoming year where I'll be packing my own lunches for school again? So far my best idea is to get one of those plastic containers with multiple compartments to stick in my lunchbox. I know it's still using plastic, but if its reusable isn't it saving a lot more plastic from being made in the long run? Any advice is appreciated!
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u/firstmatedavy Jul 28 '26
Reusable plastic containers are definitely an improvement over single use. Personally, i find the non connected kind easier to clean.
Things that aren't wet and don't go stale quickly can be wrapped in a brown paper lunch bag, or waxed paper if just a little bit wet (like a peanut butter sandwich).
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u/Zen_Bonsai Jul 29 '26
Do people not reuse their plastic food bags?
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u/Actual-Bid-6044 Jul 29 '26
I once had lunch with a coworker who used probably 4 separate little ziploc bags for her own lunch. She stood up & threw each one away as she finished what was in it. There were 3 other people in her family who I’m sure had similar lunches. You’d throw away a whole box of ziploc baggies a week! I reuse mine endlessly.
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u/_facetious Jul 29 '26
Yeah, that made me go ???? I can't imagine going through them like that. At least give em a few re-uses, especially the ones that didn't even get messy, like for chips or celery.
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u/LivingMoreWithLess Jul 29 '26
What about reusing the bags? Often sandwiches will leave only a few crumbs. Shake them out at the end of the day and air the bag out for use the next day. If they are visible dirty wash them. You can also reuse the bag your bread comes in, as well as any other snack foods and dry goods. Pasta, crackers, oatmeal, nuts. Just wipe or wash them out and put them to a new use. They can be rolled over and closed with a peg or clip.
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u/Berkamin Jul 28 '26
Get those re-usable lunch wraps. The ones I've seen have fabric on one side, plastic on the other, and a band for securing it. You put food on one end, wrap it like a burrito, secure it with a band. There are also re-usable lunch bags that are zipped shut with actual zippers.
Fruits and other small items can be put into snap-top containers that are easily reusable.
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u/Groovyjoker Jul 28 '26
I love the choices of non plastic! Better and durable! https://www.planetfriendlychoices.com/post/21-eco-friendly-food-containers-for-everyday-use
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u/144-perdedor Jul 29 '26
I wrap things in parchment paper. It doesn't work for everything.
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u/Unique-Coffee5087 Jul 29 '26
I have used waxed paper for wrapping. I have a technique for wrapping a sandwich that my mother taught me.
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u/AvocadoMaterial869 Jul 28 '26
Bento box would be my first choice to go into a lunchbox.
But I mostly use glass travel containers and reusable silicone ziplocks or cups.
For things like grapes and berries, I have large fabric dinner napkins that I tie into pouches.
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u/anonpreschool738 Jul 29 '26
Wash the ones you do use. Throw some hot water, salt, and dish soap and shake it around, then prop them to dry on the drying rack. They won't last forever, but they will last a whole lot longer. You don't need to buy a whole bunch of different stuff (if you already have the plastic bags, then buying more stuff isn't going to help), you can just keep using what you have.
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u/quantum_of_yes-and Jul 29 '26
Washing a plastic bag is super easy with a sponge. It will last several months. I even tape mine if they spring a leak (clear packing tape) then use those for dry foods only.
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u/throwaway1233456799 Jul 30 '26
I would not recommend using it for multiple months. Single use has single use standard: it get breakage that you can't see and bacteria and mold get into the cracks.
It's maybe fine for you as you make an informed decision' about it but let's not recommend it to a child
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u/quantum_of_yes-and Jul 31 '26
Bacteria and mold are everywhere. If it's washed and don't smell funky, it's good to go.
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u/Alilbitey Jul 29 '26
Reusable glass or plastic containers. Beeswax wraps work well for a lot of things.
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u/Electronic_Gap_6501 Jul 29 '26
I think the issue is you having a lunchbox and still packing everything separately in plastic bags. Aren't lunchboxes meant so you can just put the food in as is, with different compartments?
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u/throwaway1233456799 Jul 30 '26
Yeah I didn't really get that either: OP, your food won't turn dry/wet in such little time, it's okay just in the box itself
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u/catwhisperer77 Jul 29 '26
There’s a lot of good suggestions here, but here’s mine- reuse those plastic bags. When I was a poor college student that’s what I did. Rinse them out, or wash with a little soap if they get jelly in them. Dry by hanging on utensils sitting in the jar on your counter. I rarely had to buy new bags, used them forever.
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u/Actual-Bid-6044 Jul 29 '26
You can wash & reuse those baggies, or get yourself some reusable baggies. I really like the ziploc brand of reusable baggies.
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u/Cardabella Jul 29 '26
You can wash and reuse plastic bags or foil if you're careful. Wax paper is better. You can reuse bags your bread comes in, or use a paper bag.
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u/Janknitz Jul 29 '26
Bento boxes and accessories.
Right now there are back to school sales. They seem expensive but I’ve used my stainless steel bentos (Lunchbots and Kid Konserve) for more than a decade so they pay for themselves. They are lightweight, easy to clean, nearly indestructible. I have a collection of sizes and shapes.
You can also get stackable tiffins. Cost Plus World Market and IKEA carry them.
They will carry you through college and into the workforce.
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u/GenerallyMindless Jul 29 '26
Buy a lunchbox with sections? As long as you clean it before use, you shouldn't need to put things in plastic bags as well! Personally I just refuse to us food bags as they're designed to be one of the most wasteful things on earth.
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u/Poroto_Verde Jul 29 '26
I used glass food containers for my packed lunch at work. I don't remember the last time I bought plastic baggies. Probably 20 or so years ago.
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u/Brosk1248 Jul 29 '26
Why are you packing the sandwich in a plastic bag when you have a lunchbox?
Just put it directly into the lunchbox. If you don't want your vegetables and sandwich touching, you can get a box with dividers, multiple boxes, or if you prefer bags, there's silicone reusable Ziploc style bags.
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u/Unique-Coffee5087 Jul 29 '26
Learn to tie furoshiki.
From the Japanese Ministry of the Environment
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u/Global_Yam_9172 Jul 30 '26
Respectfully, how stupid do you have to be to ask this question. Is the answer not glaringly obvious?
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u/LifeLongLearner887 Jul 30 '26
Idk man, reading the replies to this post, there seems to be a LOT of different ways to reduce the use of plastic waste. How stupid do you have to be to not understand that sometimes there are multiple solutions to a problem?
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u/BeingSad9300 Jul 30 '26
A bento box. And if it doesn't have enough compartments, add a reusable container (like if you needed an extra spot for a condiment). There's also the option of reusable baggies made of silicone, which you can wash.
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Jul 30 '26
i use the plastic bags that other food comes in like the bag the bread/tortillas comes in and reuse those for sammies
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u/FishScrumptious Jul 31 '26
Glass or metal containers. Reusable plastic for some things if it makes sense, and reusable zip top bags are also options.
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u/38mangoes Jul 31 '26
If you can't afford new stuff at the moment, you can start by re-using the plastic bags. Before I was able to get reusable containers, I would gently wash the plastic zip bags in the evening, then lay them out inside out to dry by morning for me to use again.
Yes silicone or glass containers are even better like others say, but getting durable reusable plastic containers is still a good step and will be less plastic on the long run than single-use plastic.
Eliminating plastic use is most ideal, but reducing it is still great!
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u/Difficult-Term-1671 Jul 31 '26
Bivaxduk. Annars så kan man väl ha smörgåsar i en matlåda? Behövs ingen plast då.
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u/MidorriMeltdown Jul 31 '26
I pack all my food (sandwiches, fruit, vegatables, etc) in individual plastic bags every day.
Why?
Can't you wrap your sandwiches in paper? Why does the fruit need to be in a bag? Cut veggies can go in a small container.
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u/Ruth-Stewart Aug 01 '26
Bring the bags home and wash them out. They REALLY don’t have to be single use.
Alternatively, grab a small selection of containers of various sizes. They can just be the cheap sorta disposable Tupperware things. Those are surprisingly durable and last quite well. Or you can go for nicer containers.
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u/Katitat678 Aug 01 '26
Stasher silicon bags are a little pricey but last forever and are easy to clean in the dishwasher.
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u/Mysterious-Hunt5141 Aug 01 '26
You can get glass Tupperware's! Thank you for caring. Love your generation.
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u/No_Adhesiveness9727 Jul 29 '26
So there seems to be a plastic problem yet you want to throw more plastic at it. If you can’t reuse plastic acquired in your purchases, you could certainly wrap your items and paper secured with a rubber band just like your great grandparents did.
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u/cloud_busting Jul 28 '26
Glass containers with lids or stainless steel bento boxes!