Eco-Friendly Food Containers

Almost everyone has a cupboard full of random plastic containers used for freezing food or even just for storing random bits and bobs. Some of these containers we’ve bought ourselves and some are remnants from a long forgotten takeaway meal. They’re incredibly handy to have. The problem with them of course is that they’re plastic and at some point they’ll end up in landfill or possibly the ocean. So when they’ve finally come to the end of their useful life make sure you replace them with more eco-friendly food containers.

There are several alternatives available when looking for eco-friendly food containers, from stainless steel to glass and even bamboo. Or a combination of those materials with a bit of plastic thrown in.

If you’re trying to go completely plastic free then your choices will be limited. If you’re willing to compromise and accept a small amount of plastic; a silicone seal that keeps your container leakproof for example, then there are more reusable food containers to choose from. Here are some of the best eco-friendly food containers I could find.

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In America? Check out Life Without Plastic. They sell a whole range of food storage containers, from stainless steel to bamboo and glass and even cloth bags for dried foods, alongside household items for those looking to live plastic free.

Stainless Steel Food Containers

100% Stainless Steel

If you prefer to avoid plastic altogether then there are some stainless steel food containers you can buy which have absolutely no silicone seal or plastic snaplock lid. An Indian tiffin box or tiered lunch box is a good example of this.

There are all sorts of tiffin boxes you can get, many aimed at the ‘lunch’ market, as they can have several tiers to store different food items. Alternatively you can buy single boxes useful for storing leftovers.

There is a bit of a compromise you’ll have to make when buying 100% stainless food storage containers with lids as the lack of a silicone seal or plastic snaplock lid means it might not be leakproof. If you’re planning on using them to store wet or dry food at home that’s not a problem. It’s also not a problem if you plan on using them as a lunchbox for sandwiches or other mainly dry foods. However if you’d hoped to transport a stew to work in one, you’re probably better off looking at an alternative.

Stainless Steel Containers with Silicone Seals

If you’re willing to compromise and buy a food storage container that is mostly steel but contains a silicone seal helping it to stay leakproof then you have more options.

There are more tiffin tins and boxes available that have silicone as well as lots of ‘bento’ boxes. There are also plenty of ‘lunch’ boxes which are steel but with a BPA free plastic lid. Quite a few say not to use them in the freezer!

Stainless steel food storage containers are normally dishwasher and freezer safe, although they could a be bit cold getting them out of the freezer so be careful. They’re generally not suitable for oven cooking and never use them in a microwave oven!

Glass Food Storage Containers

When searching for glass storage containers you’ll mostly find jars for storing dry foods. These types of glass containers with glass, or maybe bamboo, lids are not generally designed for fridge or freezer storage, but you can find glass containers with lids that can be used in the fridge as well as the freezer. As with many of their steel counterparts most will have a plastic lid or silicone seal of some sort.

I store all my pasta, rice, mixed nuts (for nut roast) and lentils in glass containers with lids (which are also made of glass), which looks much nicer than plastic packaging. I buy these dry foods from refill stores and transfer them into the glass jars when I get home.

If you’re looking for containers to store leftover food, you’ll find a huge range of glass food storage with plastic lids. The good thing about these types of glass storage containers is that any leftovers you’ve been storing in the freezer can be cooked in the same container as it was frozen in (without the lid of course), saving on a bit of washing up. Alternatively use a wax wrap with a glass dish to store leftovers in the fridge.

I use these glass dishes, which can safely be used in the freezer and then straight to the oven.

If you are buying glass food storage with plastic lids just make sure you look for BPA free plastic.

Here’s how to freeze glass safely to prevent breakage.

Bamboo Food Containers

Food containers made from bamboo are also available, however you won’t be able to use them in the freezer. They’re great for storing leftovers in the fridge or for taking food out on a picnic or as a lunchbox. Bamboo food containers are often patterned, if you like that kind of thing, and normally have plastic lids.

Bamboo food containers were sold at nearly all eco shops online and all over Amazon just over a year ago, but are much harder to find now. The lids are usually 100% bamboo with a silicone seal to keep them airtight, whereas the boxes themselves tend to be made from bamboo fibre and even corn powder.

Rice Husk Lunch Boxes

Rice husks are a byproduct from farming rice, so if they weren’t used they’d be a useless waste product. Recycled rice husk is biodegradable, meaning if you put it in the ground it will eventually dissolve.

Rice Husk lunch boxes don’t tend to have silicone seals and they can’t be used in the microwave.

Completely Different Eco-Friendly Food Containers

Insulated Lunch Bags

If you’re just looking for something to take your lunch to work in then why not go for something completely different like this organic cotton insulated lunch bag? These reusable GOTs certified organic cotton lunch bags, made through a women’s co-operative in India, are water-resistant and lovely to look at. You’ll be the talk of the office.

Beeswax or Vegan Wraps

Let’s not forget about beeswax wraps or vegan wraps which can be used to store leftovers or to wrap around your lunch. Ok so they’re not containers as such, but they do pretty much the same thing as many other food containers.

There are loads of different designs available for wraps these days and if you follow the care instructions they should last you quite a while too.

Reusable Cotton Sandwich Bags

Or why not get yourself a reusable sandwich bag made from cotton?

Tupperware / Plastic Food Storage

The least environmentally friendly option of all the ones listed on this page is Tupperware. Tupperware is at least reusable but it’s plastic. Any kind of plastic has the potential to leach harmful toxins into your food. Almost all plastic sold for the purposes of food storage is now BPA free, including Tupperware, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s healthy for you. The one good thing going for plastic containers like Tupperware is that they can at least be reused for years. They’re going to last you much longer than the flimsy plastic container your last takeaway arrived in anyway.

Did you know you can even buy eco-friendly saucepans these days?

If you’re looking to buy some eco-friendly food storage containers I’d choose something that has as little plastic as possible if I were you. Both for your health and for the planet!

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