5 Eco-Friendly Back-to-School Lunch Hacks

The school year is here, and so is the endless parade of packed lunches. If you’re looking to make lunch-packing easier on yourself and gentler on the planet, you’re in luck. These 5 eco-friendly hacks are clever, practical, and might just make your mornings a little smoother.

1. Wrap it Up (Without the Plastic)

Forget fighting with cling wrap that sticks to itself but not your sandwich. Enter: beeswax wraps. These reusable food wraps mold perfectly around sandwiches, cut fruit, or even leftover pizza. They’re durable, easy to clean, and keep food fresher for longer. Bonus: they come in cute patterns your kids will love showing off at lunchtime. One set can replace hundreds of feet of plastic wrap in a year—so it’s a win for you and the planet.

Check out this collection of kid-approved patterns!

2. Bento-Box It

Kids love variety (and so do grown-ups). Instead of tossing snacks in single-use bags, invest in a divided stainless-steel or silicone bento box. You can pack a little bit of everything—veggie sticks, cheese cubes, fruit, crackers—without extra packaging. Plus, it makes lunches look way more exciting (and Instagram-worthy, if that’s your thing).

3. Use Cloth Napkins

Paper napkins might be convenient, but they add up fast—both in cost and waste. Cloth napkins are a simple, eco-friendly upgrade that instantly makes any packed lunch feel a little more special. Choose fun patterns or colours that your kids will actually want to use, and toss them in the wash at the end of the week. They’re durable, reusable, and cut down on the mountain of paper waste that comes with school lunches.

Image via Imperfect Foods

4. Choose a Durable Reusable Lunch Box

Investing in a sturdy, reusable lunch box is one of the easiest ways to cut back on waste. Instead of flimsy plastic bags or throwaway containers, a well-made lunch box keeps food protected, organized, and ready to eat. Stainless steel and hard-shell options can last for years, while insulated versions keep hot food warm and cold food chilled. Think of it as a one-time purchase that saves you money (and frustration) down the road.

5. Skip Single-Use Packaged Items

Those pre-packaged cheese sticks, cracker packs, and snack-sized chips may be quick to grab, but they’re also wrapped in layers of plastic that end up in the trash. Instead, buy the larger size and portion it into reusable beeswax wraps or small containers. Not only does this drastically cut down on packaging waste, but it’s also more budget-friendly. You’ll still get the convenience of grab-and-go snacks—just without the environmental guilt.