You’ve heard it so many times: Don’t heat or store food or drinks in plastic. But did you ever stop to think about why? It’s pretty simple: Most plastics contain phthalates like BPA, which mess up our hormones and are suspected to cause cancer. Especially when they’re warmed—whether it’s in the microwave or because of hot food inside—plastic containers leach these phthalates into food. Not good!
Still, you need to be able heat and store food and drinks safely—even on the go. So what’s the solution? Enter UKonserve, an amazing new line of durable, waste free silicone-enhanced glass storage boxes and water bottles—perfect for the fridge or lunchbox!
On average, a school-age child with disposable lunches generates 67 pounds of lunch waste per school year. A waste free lunch saves $216 per child per year!
Utilizing non-toxic and non-leaching materials—including recycled cotton and a fabric made from recycled water bottles—UKonserve waste free products are independently tested to be free of BPA, phthalates and lead. And they offer everything for lunches, baby bags, travel, picnics, takeout, salad bars, refrigerator storage and more! Even if you lose a lid, they offer replacements—and will replace it for free if it’s damaged.
Need a stainless steel straw—or a brush to clean it? Tired of toting home your produce in a plastic bag that ends up in the trash? With shoppers, produce bags, food wraps and bags, insulated totes, bamboo utensils, food jars and coffee cups—UKonserve has you covered. But it’s the aforementioned brand new silicone-and-glass boxes and bottles that I’m loving. The silicone sleeve takes food storage to a new level with a functional grip and cushion from breakage–plus it works like a trivet or built in hot pad so you can carry and place hot food with no problems.
So obviously UKonserve is better for your health. But can using UKonserve waste free products really make a difference to the environment? I think so. Here’s some info from the company that drives the point home:
On average, a school-age child using a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds of lunch waste per school year (18,760 pounds of lunch waste per elementary school).
A waste free lunch saves on average $216 per child per year (versus a disposable lunch).
The North Pacific Garbage Patch, the largest of the five gyres, is twice the size of Texas and contains about 3.5 million tons of trash
Packaging accounts for nearly 32 percent of all household waste in the U.S.
Americans discard 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.
40 billion plastic utensils are used every year in the U.S.
Americans use 500 million plastic straws every day. Placed end to end, the number of disposable straws used in the U.S. in the past 4 days could reach the moon.
About 23 billion coated paper or Styrofoam coffee cups end up in landfills every year. Placed end to end, they could circle the earth 68 times.
Every year Americans throw away 100 billion plastic bags. The average American family takes home almost 1,500 plastic shopping bags a year, that’s more than 4 bags a day.
Pretty frightening, right? That’s why I love UKonserve. It’s good for you–and for the planet! Want to try? Enter to win a $100 shopping spree, and now through 2.1.15 get 15% off with “MGREENEST15” at check out.
This post was sponsored by UKonserve and meets the standards I’ve established to endorse a brand as “Mommy Greenest Approved.” Click here for more about Editorial Standards.
Using an attractive vessel like these will encourage my daughter to eat!
Wonderful replacement for toxic plastic!
My child’s lunch only has reusable containers. No disposable bags or bottles!
Good for you Jaime!
I use a reusable lunch bag and avoid all plastic bags and utensils. I also recycle anything and everything possible!
We have reusable sandwich containers (shaped like bread) along with small containers for grape tomatoes or cut up veggies and use a cold pack lunch bag to take our lunch.
We reuse baby wipe containers for storing pens and pencils, shopping bags and the like.
For those times when I go to the store without my reusable bags (doesn’t happen often) and get plastic bags, I store them in an empty tissue box. It takes up less space, and since I like decorative tissue boxes, it looks a lot nicer than plastic bags strewn all over the cupboard.
Good idea Alecia! I will use that!
I have a nice supply of Klean Kanteens, so I use one of them constantly. One for water all day long, and another for my lunch tea.
LOVE Klean Kanteens but we are always losing the damn tops! Teenagers. Sigh.
We use small pyrex containers – they are used over and over again – no waste.
I love the containers with the snap locks. They keep my food really fresh. Thanks for the giveaway1
I like to reuse the storage containers that comes with my cold cuts.
I use a thermos daily. And a stainless water bottle goes everywhere I do!
I usually buy separate lunch items for work and just take them there. So I fix my sandwiches and fruit there like I would at home. If I bring leftovers, I will use glass containers and a thermal lunch bag to wash and reuse. Our kids are not quite school age, but the first one will be going next year. Gotta prepare those lunches sand these containers would be awesome!!
Good for you, Charity! Thanks for commenting!
Mason jars, glass containers, reusable lunch bag…and recycle anything and everything else that I can that I use in my life (paper, cardboard, cans, etc.) I never have food waste, either. If it was good enough for me to make the first time around, you can bet I’ll eat the leftovers!
Agreed!!
would love to try these have only used life factory … not thriled with how they close so these might work!
I haven’t tried that brand, is it a natural deodorant? Thanks for sharing LJ!
Mason jars! They are perfect for storing just about everything 🙂 I even use them for lunch items from time to time.
I use a reusable lunch bag so I don’t waste paper bags each day.
Great!
I send my husband’s lunch to work with him now in glass containers with plastic lids. And we use stainless steel thermos
reusable bags
I have pretty much eliminated all plastic from my house
These look awesome!!!!!
using reusable water bottles
We drink A LOT of water on the go, so I buy re-usable bottles instead of the disposable plastic! (:
I try to avoid pre-packaged foods and focus on fresh made meals & fruit as snacks.
i like stainless steel straws instead of disposable straws, as cloth snack bags instead of throw-away plastic ones.
If I absolutely have to use a ziploc bag, I always wash a re-use them as many times as possible! Thanks for the giveaway!
I reuse just about every plastic bag I get, have several stainless steel water bottles (depending on the size of my bag) and always carry an extra bag in case I buy something.
I use plastic containers, reusable water bottles, and I reuse plastic baggies. I also pack my own lunch instead of buying out.
mason jars and everything glass!
I’d be fortunate to win these!
My favorite idea is to reuse fruit bags and bags like bread and tortilla bags to eliminate having to purchase wasteful plastic baggies.
I have all kind of reusable containers! Lots of cute options around!
Slowly switching to glass containers/ storage, it adds up but worth the purchase
I wash ziplock bags so I can reuse them!
I have my water bottle and Tupperware lunchbox that I bring to work each day. The lid on the Tupperware is no longer secure that is the only problem
Also you should check the type of plastic the Tupperware is–especially if it’s older!
I always make more for dinner than I need to, that way, everyone can choose their favorite part of the meal to pack for lunch the next day. It’s simple, and I know that everyone will actually eat their lunch!
Great suggestion for moms!
I reuse everything, garbage bags given, food containers. I keep using the items till they can’t take it anymore!
use containers such as these instead of throw away baggies.
I use stainless steel water bottles, mason jars, and store my body oil mixtures in small silicone squeeze bottles.
I know it’s pretty basic, but I love my stainless steel water bottle! I get compliments on it at work too 🙂
Essential…!
I buy milk by the gallon. Many times some would go to waste. An elderly lady told me to freeze my milk in one cup containers and thaw when needed. Since I started freezing my milk, none has gone to waste.
With three kids, that’s NOT a problem in my house. But a great idea for those who drink less!
My hubby, my 2.5 year old, and I appreciate your article. We are always trying to conserve and waste less each and every day. Reusable sturdy glassware is an awesome and easy solution for meals on the go and leftovers! =) I love it!
Go green family!! 🙂
Mason jars for all sorts of things – food prep, freezing, and on-the-go!
And candles…! 🙂
Mason jar for everything from lunches to storage
Have you done the salad in a jar? You put the dressing on the bottom, then layer it. Then when you want to eat it, you just turn it upsidedown 🙂
If I use a bag I keep reusing it until I can’t anymore
I buy in bulk and re-package everything in single-use glass containers. Eat, wash, rinse, dry, eat, wash….etc… you get the picture! If I have to use a bag, it’s ALWAYS paper and used as many times as possible until it’s no longer sanitary. Then it goes into my recycle container.
Great tips, Ann! Thanks 😉
Mason jars for everything!
I use glass containers for everything! And a reusable lunch tote and “ice”.
Good for you!
Mason jars, reusable cloth snack bags, we reuse already recycled sandwich bags as much as we can and then recycle them, glass and stainless steel water bottles
For chips and cookies, I re-use Ziploc sandwich and storage bags and SAVE A TON OF MONEY!
Mason jars!
Wow what a great idea. I have been looking for more ways to reuse items. I do save containers from and reuse them for different things but I have been looking for really good food storage container that are more durable. These definitely fit that need
I agree! And so cool looking, too 🙂
using a lunchbox vs. disposable paper bags
Yes absolutely. Although my kids won’t go for the reusable cloth snack bags 🙁 we use wax paper.
I try to use glass containers for basically everything I bring for lunch. That way, I can bring cereal in a container for breakfast, then wash it and reuse it to heat up soup for lunch (rather than being stuck with a non-microwave-safe plastic container). I also keep a handful of multipurpose fork/spoon/knife combos at the office so I have several sets of all three utensils available when I need them.
You are a VERY good planner, Emily R!
love these! great to be nice on the eyes, as well as the environment!
innovation in packaging — cool
all of my container are so old and definitely need to be replaced. Thanks for the chance to win!!
I freeze my brown bananas and use them in my smoothies.
I love doing that, especially since everyone except me likes them almost green!
Like the silicon.
I always bring my food in Tupperware containers. If I do use baggies they get rinsed and reused. I have lots of little containers that are great for salad dressings and hummus. And any time I end up with plastic silverware from somewhere I wash and reuse it until it breaks and then it goes into recycling!
Good tips! Just make sure that you aren’t microwaving or putting hot food into the plastic containers–with glass, you don’t have to worry.
I use mason jars and saved pasta & almond butter glass jars for pantry, leftovers and freezer.
Good tip! I also use those for candles: I put rice on the bottom and nestle a votive in there, tie with raffia. SO pretty!
I really want to get away from all things plastic, so this looks great!! Thanks for the opportunity!
Good luck!
Bringing a real fork into work so I don’t have to use the plastic ones.
Good tip! I did that with my kids until they lost all my forks 🙂 Now I send plastic but they bring them back and I wash and reuse them.
I like these storage containers!
Aren’t they cool? I love them!
I use almond milk in my coffee at work, so instead of buying a separate container, I pour some of my home supply into a reusable kid’s water bottle to bring to work for the week.
Good idea! And then nobody steals your milk 🙂