Plastic shopping bags are always under fire for not being eco-friendly, which means plastic lunch bags get to slip under the radar. But not here!
It’s thought that an American household goes through 500 Ziploc bags every year, and let’s face it, that’s not exactly an eco-friendly eating habit. .
That means if every person in the USA used plastic Ziplocs you’d have a massive 58,164,139 used bags every year.
And that’s not including any other style of sandwich bags. So what’s the most eco-friendly way of carrying your lunch?
What To Look For When Buying Reusable Lunch Bags
Looking through the massive selection of lunch bags feels like a never-ending task. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Here are some things I’d look out for:
Price
If you’re looking for a bargain, then the price might be the most important thing for you to consider. Ask yourself what you’re willing to pay for it and try not to go over it.
Size
If you can’t fit your lunch in the bag, then what the point of getting it. Think about your daily eating habits and compare them to the size of the lunch bag.
Materials
The materials can vary from bag to bag, and for some people, it can be a deciding factor. If you’re looking for something that will biodegrade, find a cotton bag.
Waxed
If you plan on storing hot food, then knowing if your bag is waxed or not is essential; you don’t want it to melt under the heat.
Washable
Some reusable bags need to be cleaned in different ways. If you’re not one for hand washing, then finding a washable bag will be up your street.
Insulated
Keeping your food and drinks cold in hot months can be challenging, especially if you work on a building site. They quite often don’t have access to a fridge.
Colors
Again some people will make their decision depending on what color designs the bag offers. And is especially the case if it’s for a child; they always want the funky designs.
Warranty
If your lunch bag happens to break due to manufacturing problems or maybe you don’t like it, it’s nice to know your covered.
What Are The Best Reusable Lunch Bags?
Are you still struggling to make up your mind? Why not check out my top 5 reusable bags. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite reusable sandwich bags.
Say goodbye to lunch boxes and check out some insulated lunch bags and reusable food bags. If nothing else it will give you a good idea on what you can expect:
Colony Co.
This durable 16 Oz cotton canvas is waxed to give it waterproof qualities.
But that’s not the only reason for the wax; it also provides the bag with stain resistance and makes it easier to clean.
The reusable lunch bag has a simple design that is styled around the classic disposable paper lunch bag.
Colony Co has created a vegan-friendly reusable lunch bag that uses no animal products, including leather and beeswax.
They also use no synthetic or plastic materials. Which means this lunch bag is biodegradable and plastic-free.
Key Features
- Simple Design
- Vegan-Friendly
- Waxed
- Cotton Canvas
I love the design of the Colony Co. food bag; it looks great, and it’s functional. My main concern is with the wax melting, although I rarely take hot lunches, so I doubt it would cause me grief — overall, a great bag for you or your kids’ lunch and a welcome addition to your kitchen.
Pros
- Biodegradable
- Perfect for the outdoors
- Food safe
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- No hot items
CZYY
With CZYY’s reusable lunch bag, you can wave goodbye to soggy paper bags.
Their bags are designed to be waterproof, due to the paraffin waxed canvas. The waxing makes it easy to clean the lunch bag.
All it needs is a quick wipe down; be careful though the bag is not dishwasher safe. Once the bag is clean, air dry it.
The reusable heavy-duty lunch bags are made from cotton canvas, making it an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic.
Their zipperless paper bag design can hold just about anything you need for lunch and provides safe storage.
Key Features
- Cotton Canvas
- Waterproof
- Paraffin wax
- Zipperless
Again I love the paper bag design; it looks very retro. Plenty of room for sandwiches and water, but if you’re a big eater I’d suggest finding a bigger lunch bag. And although it’s waterproof, it’s not suitable for the dishwasher.
Pros
- Stylish design
- Heavy duty
- Waterproof
Cons
- Lacking in wax
Yookee Home
Yooke Home insulated lunch bag is available in 10 colors/designs ranging from geometric to rockets and dinosaurs.
The first layer is made with 4.5 mm neoprene, while the inner layer of the bag is made with a food-grade EVA.
The inner PEC ensures the bag is waterproof and leak proof. These bags are great for keeping your sandwich and water cool while you’re working.
The insulated lunch bag is heavy-duty from the stitching to the sturdy and durable zipper.
The reusable bag also comes with a lifetime warranty, so you’ll receive 100% of your cashback.
Key Features
- Insulated
- Ten colors
- BPA free
- Lifetime Warranty
The excellent size lunch bag is more than capable of holding your sandwich, water, and snacks. The bag is very leak-proof. And the lifetime warranty and money-back guarantee are great; it’s just a shame that they couldn’t insulate it correctly.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Waterproof
- Insulated
Cons
- Not insulated very well
Tiblue
Great for marinating meats, organizing food, or storing leftovers. It’s made with a food-grade PEVA material, which means no PVC, lead, chloride, and BPA.
Tiblue can come in packs of 4, 6, and 10, all of which are leak proof and freezer safe.
The reusable storage bag will change the way you cook, store, and eat your food.
Their lunch bag set has an upgraded Ziploc, which provides an airtight seal and can lock out freezer burn.
The kitchen bags are entirely transparent, which allows you to see what’s in there. Each bag is the perfect size to fit your sandwich or to potion your leftovers.
Key Features
- Comes in packs of 4, 6, and 10
- PEVA material
- Freezer safe
- Leakproof
Tiblue does make an excellent reusable snack bag, although the sizes can feel a bit small. You can only fit one sandwich per bag. If you’re looking for a multi-purpose bag, then these are great, but for storing multiple sandwiches, not so much.
Pros
- Multipack
- Freezes safe
- Food grade material
Cons
- Hard to clean the corners
Vargreez
Vargreez cooler lunch bags have plenty of room for you and your partner. The reusable bag has three layers for extra insulation.
The outside of the insulated lunch bag is made with a waterproof cationic cloth, while the middle is peal cotton, and the inner layer is an aluminum foil.
And if you’re not satisfied with its performance, then don’t worry, it comes with a lifetime warranty with no send back necessary.
The lightweight, reusable bags are great for a sandwich or a full picnic; the choice is yours.
Key Features
- Lifetime warranty
- Three-layer insulation
- Made with a waterproof cationic cloth
- Food safe material
Out of the two insulated reusable bags, this one performs the best. It has no trouble keeping your sandwich cold/hot, depending on what you have. The reusable bag is also surprisingly deep, meaning you can fit plenty of food in there. And the lifetime warranty certainly gives you some reassurance.
Pros
- Insulated
- lifetime warranty
- Tear-resistant
Cons
- Color chips off
- The pressure can make water squirt out
- Leaks from the button
Summary
Reusable sandwich bags can make excellent gifts/stocking fillers for friends and family, but before you purchase one, there are a few things you need to think about.
The first thing is to think about what kind of lunch is going in the lunch bag. For example, if you usually take a hot lunch to work, then a wax bag won’t be any good. The heat will melt the wax, which means it loses its waterproofing.
Other things include the size of the bag, and whether you need it insulating or not. Follow these steps, and I have no doubt you’ll find the right bag for you.
If you found this article interesting or you have questions then please comment below, I’m always happy to help. I also have an article about the best reusable produce bags that you might find helpful.