5 Tips for a Zero-Waste, Eco-Friendly Lunch

A 2 minute read that will inform and inspire.

Here at Bags of Ethics we are constantly coming up with new ideas for how we can live more sustainably. An easy way to make a big difference is to make your lunch as eco-friendly as possible, and try and see if you are able to make it zero-waste too. Here are five tips on how your lunch can be delicious, nutritious and still help save the planet.

1. Ditch the Plastic

Most sandwiches and salads that you can buy from chain coffee shops and salad bars come wrapped in an obscene amount of unnecessary plastic. You can eliminate your consumption of single-use plastic by ditching this corner shop lunch option and instead make your own. Not only will it be fresher, taste nicer, but it will also help the environment. You can pop it in an old jam/Kilner jar or a reusable lunch box to keep your delicious lunch fresh, without the need for any single-use plastic.

2. Buy Locally and Seasonally

By using locally grown, seasonal ingredients in your lunch you are reducing the air miles on your plate. Buying locally from a greengrocer or market not only supports local business, but helps to avoid the unnecessary plastic wrapping that you find on most supermarket shelves. When you stock up at your local market don’t forget to take your Bags of Ethics tote with you to carry your fresh produce home without the need for a plastic bag. Our bags can hold up to 15kg, which is a LOT of potatoes.

3. Bake Not Buy

If you are a sandwich fiend, then you won’t be able to resist a delicious bread based lunch (don’t worry, we’re the same). Instead of buying a plastic wrapped, pre-prepared sandwich, or an equally plastic smothered loaf of bread from the shop down the road, why not try and bake your own bread? Not only will it be fresher, taste nicer, and give you something to boast about to our work colleagues, you won’t need to create any waste when constructing your perfect sandwich! What’s not to love?

4. Pack Reusable Cutlery

There is no point in preparing a beautiful plastic free lunch if you have to run out and grab some single-use plastic cutlery to eat it with. By keeping some reusable bamboo or metal cutlery in a small pouch in your bag, you won’t have to run out to find a plastic fork, or resort to eating with your hands. Why not store your cutlery in one of our cotton pouches? You won’t forget it, it won’t get dirty, and if you choose one of our vibrant print designs, you certainly won’t lose if at the bottom of your bag.

5. Bring a Reusable Water Bottle

You have the lunch, the cutlery to eat it with you, but you forget a drink! Instead of running out to buy a plastic bottle of water, keep a reusable bottle in your bag to fill up at your convenience. We love the Chilly’s water bottles, they are bright, fun, and will keep your water cold so you don’t need to buy a chilled single-use plastic water when the UK sun finally comes out.

We would love to know if you have any more tips for creating delicious, waste-free lunches. Check out our Instagram post for the 5 tips on the go, and use it as a reminder to grab a bottle next time you go to the shops, or finally bake a loaf of bread from that recipe book you were given five Christmases ago. We would also love to see pictures of your waste free lunches, so if you use any of these tips, take a picture and send it to us on Instagram.

The team at Bags of Ethics