Alternatives to cling film and sandwich bags

[Squirrelfruitandnutkin]

I’d like to start to reduce the amount of plastic we use. I think starting with single use things like cling film and sandwich bags are a good starting point.
But what do I replace them with?

Dcs need something for sandwiches to go in in lunch bags so they don’t get squished. Is buying Tupperware just as bad? Obv it’s plastic but it would get lots and lots of use rather than the single use bags. Is there something better?

What about cling film?
I don’t have enough plates to use them to cover bowls/ mugs etc in the fridge.
What do you swap cling film for?

Reading this back I sound utterly clueless! 😳

I am going to go for the beeswax cloths. If you look around they seem to be sold at a vast array of price points - have a look on Etsy as there are a lot of sellers there.

I'm moving to a veg box to cut down on plastic packaging from shopping and the veg box scheme sells them made by a member at a lot less them some of the bigger 'brand' ones are priced at, plus they are made by someone local, which makes me v happy.

There is the make them yourself option but I'm afraid I just don't have the energy.

Have been stuck on raw meat but thought I could use my existing random collection of boxes and get some of the 'fits any box' silicone lids.

There is a sort of silicone food-covering sheet being advertised online, I know I've seen a few times recently - it's stretchy, can cover various size bowls and plates, go in fridge and microwave etc, but it's reuseable. I can't remember the name, but sure you could google it. You get a packet of several I think. I expect they need replacement every so often, but it might not be a bad start.

I find that there are so many sandwich-sized plastic bags that come into my kitchen anyway, and that don't need washing before they are re-used for other food.

For example:

• the big ziplock bags that wraps and tortillas are sold in. Wraps dont generate many crumbs so very easy to shake out and re-use. These are often quite big, so good for putting things in the freezer.
• bread bags. We eat sliced bread, and the bags that the bread comes in are tailor-made to be shaken out, folded, and then re-used when I need a food bag.
• i've just bought reduced-price chocolate tree decorations in Hema, and they all came in a big bread-bag-sized see-through plastic bag. Again, perfectly clean inside, easy to smooth and fold and set aside for re-use.

It seems mad anyway to but extra plastic bags, while throwing away the ones that come into your house anyway. (I mean, I do try to avoid stuff that's excessively packaged, and I don't use plastic bags when I am buying loose veg or fruit, etc, but some stuff like bread does come in plastic, so you might as well re-use it.)

Disclaimer: I'm veggie so I'm not expert but when DH buys mince he just freezes it in the packaging it came in.

Same here, Snuggly.

We also save the plastic containers if we get a take away and use them for freezing stuff. It's still plastic but at least it's getting reused and they stack nicely in the freezer.

And again, same here!

My DC have NFM lunch boxes that a sandwich can go straight in and it also came with a little pot for grapes/yoghurt/whatever. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00HCEV3X0/?tag=mumsnetforum-21

DH and I use these for our sandwiches...we love them. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B075FXYG5X/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8

I have thick, good quality plastic freezer bags that get washed and reused many times. Still plastic but at least it's getting reused.
Raw meat is a problem for me too. I get butcher's meat which comes in thin plastic bags. I freeze it in that, but its still single use.
Good idea above reusing bread/wraps/etc bags.

Greaseproof paper.

You can buy freezer paper but I think it might have a plastic element

greaseproof paper is often silicone coated

I have some Planet Wise sandwich bags. They’re really good, and waterproof.

I bought them here: www.babipur.co.uk/planet-wise-window-bag.html

I use a bento box, you can get lots of dividers that are reusable. The one I have has 5 compartments so it does portion control too.

I freeze meat just in plastic boxes, we don't have a problem except it does take up a bit of room I suppose.

We use a variety of things including silicone topper things (amazon), silicone ziploc type bags (amazon), reusable glass containers with plastic tops (Ikea) and reusable plastic containers. You can also use greaseproof paper for wrapping sandwiches or cooking just the way you would use foil and I understand that it's compostable.

We wrap sandwiches in greaseproof paper thinking it's more environmentally friendly. Also biodegradable cling film. Paper bags where possible. Paper party bags too.

I buy a packet of sandwich bags about once every five years. Use, reuse recycle and them burn (I think a few get lost.)
And as pp say so much that you buy can then me reused- bread bags, tortilla bags etc.

In the olden days, greaseproof paper was a popular wrapping, and your snap was then safely stowed away inside and old OXO or biscuit tin.

We use waxed paper bags for wrapping stuff and in the microwave instead of clingfilm

Pyrex bowls with silicone lids for storing things in the fridge / frezzer

Sistema soup bowls, sandwich boxes etc for packed lunches that need something rigid around them

Any small plastic bags that we are forced to have (eg the local supermarket will only sell you an apple if it is in a plastic bag...) we use for scooping yucky stuff out of the cat's litter tray

We've bought sandwich pockets for our kids. It so convenient and a very earth friendly container. You can easily wash it after use and to take note, it's not that expensive.

Has anyone successfully made the beeswax food wraps?

@TheFurryMenace - actually a project I am planning this weekend! I'll let you know how I get on.

My mum has got Tupperware that's been in daily use from when I was little, I'm 50.

We tend to use waxed paper bags for sarnies then inside any old ice cream. Tupperware or takeaway container. The bags last a week usually, just shake them out and their fine.

Single use is the big baddy.

Tupperware box. Some of the guys I work with (50s) have clearly been using the same Tupperware lunchbox since they were at school. I think Tupperware should be exempt from plastic anxiety as its (like Lego astonishingly durable) and replaces a lot of single use plastic.

If you are putting something in the fridge transfer it to a lidded pot. Or use a saucepan lid.

I try to avoid aluminium foil as aluminium is so polluting to manufacture. It is very easily recyclable though.

In the scale of unnecessary plastic bags if you only used them for freezing meat then that's good going. Also polyethylyene bags if washed can be recycled at supermarket bag recycling points.

Bellinisurge: I made the beeswax wraps, they turned out fab! Did you manage to do yours? I posted them on a thread in Arts and Crafts.

Certainly did. They are awesome!

We reuse bags we get when buying other things. For example could you use a bag from an old cereal box or from a bag of bananas to put your raw meat in?