How to Make Kids’ Lunchboxes Waste-Free

When we think of school lunches, many of us picture a brown bag containing a paper napkin, a sandwich on store-bought bread in a plastic baggy, a box of juice or milk, and perhaps a piece of fruit and a plastic-wrapped cake or cookie.

What we probably don’t picture are landfills heaped with non-biodegradable plastic packaging and brown paper bags that were not recycled. Let’s take a new look at the portable kids’ lunch and find ways to make it less wasteful.

1. Lunch box not bag

Not only is a reusable lunchbox or insulated bag more environmentally friendly, but it provides a convenient container and carrier for the reusable containers and flatware your child will be bringing back home.

2. Reusable containers

Remember the thermos you used as a child? Filling a thermos with a cold drink is less wasteful than juice boxes, bottles of water, cartons of milk, or other convenience-packaged beverages. Refillable glass, stainless steel or hard plastic water bottles are another great option.

Covered glass containers or the thermos are good for hot or cold foods – chopped fruit, potato salad, or green salad are good cold options for such containers. Warm food suggestions are pasta, soup, or some of those wonderful dinner-leftovers.

3. Cloth napkins

These are not expensive and come in a wide range of designs. Let your child personalize his or her lunch with a unique napkin. Choose cloth napkins that can be washed with your regular laundry.

4. Do away with plastic straws and flatware

Straws are really not necessary, especially if you are using a refillable water bottle. Go ahead and pack whatever forks and knives you normally use at the table, or get a special set for your child’s lunchbox. Since you’ll be packing your kids’ lunch in a reusable lunch bag, it’s a simple matter for the flatware to be put back in the bag, brought home and washed.

5. Home-made food

Remember the store-bought bread mentioned in the beginning? It undoubtedly came in a plastic bag or packaging. Making your own bread is not only healthier – it’s cheaper and saves on throw-away packaging. The same goes for the meals you pack. If you have to open a can or open a package to prepare their lunch, that’s one more thing you will be throwing away.

Store-bought cakes and cookies, canned pasta or soup, and bags of chips are some suggestions of waste-producing items you can make yourself or dispense with altogether.

6. Sandwiches

How do you pack this old lunch stand-by without plastic baggies? There are all sorts of reusable containers available that are just right for a sandwich. Flat containers with tight covers in hard plastic or glass are a great solution. They are widely available, washable, and they keep the sandwich from getting squished.

Lunch time does not have to be waste time! These tips should help you pack a more environmentally friendly lunch for your kids.

Thanks for coming back to this blog, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

How to Make a Difference

When the holidays come around it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You want to show your appreciation to your clients and business associates, but the commercialism and potential for waste can leave you with a sense of guilt. There’s a solution! You can give gifts that make a difference in the world.

Giving gifts that make a difference is a great way to not only feel good about what you’re giving, but also to spread awareness for your cause and potentially earn more respect in the eyes of your associates and clients.

Here are just a few ideas on how to make a difference with holiday gifts:

Give Fair Trade Gifts

Fair trade is a global initiative that works to ensure all people, artisans, farmers and locally-owned businesses around the world are treated fairly. That means pricing and production are fair as well as environmentally sustainable. Fair trade products are labeled by the Fair Trade organization and include items like:

* Coffee
* Chocolate
* Wine
* Artwork
* Textiles and things made from textiles including bags, blankets and so on

Give Recycled Gifts

No, we don’t mean re-gifting! Recycled gifts are gifts made from recycled materials. Some examples include:

* Desk accessories
* Bags, totes and portfolios
* Artwork

Give Environmentally-Conscious Gifts

Many products are now created with the environment in mind, for example solar lights, bags and accessories. Plants are also a great environmentally-conscious gift to give, or shares in a farm.

Give Gifts that Give Back

If you have a charity that you strongly believe in or a cause you promote, sometimes giving a gift that supports that cause or charity is a great way to share your passion. Additionally, if your client or business associate is passionate about something, then contributing to that charity or participating in the cause may also be a great way to give a gift that makes a difference.

Giving a gift that makes a difference is a little more complicated than simply ordering a bunch of pens from the local marketing business. However, you’ll feel good about your efforts and you’ll make a great impression. Spend a little time, thought, and effort this holiday season and find a gift that makes everyone feel good.

Mold Cleaning Kit

Where to buy: www.propertyperfections.net

Mold and Mildew can pose serious health risks to your family, such as respiratory disease or infections. The Organic Mold Cleaning Kit removes and prevents mold and mildew without the use of harsh chemicals and without harming the environment or your health.

The cleaning kit is 100% biodegradable and all natural. It contains no bleach, dangerous fumes and is chemical-free. The kit features a 4oz bottle of Molderizer and a 4oz bottle of Safe Shield. The Molderizer is an organic solution that safely removes mold, mildew, grunge and stains. After removing the mold and mildew with the Molderizer, the included Safe Shield helps to prevent mold and mildew from reappearing again by applying a protective shield.

The cleaning kit can safely be used indoors as well as outdoors. Some restrictions may apply. For more information on best use, go to www.propertyperfections.net.

« Previous Page — Next Page »