6 Eco Alternatives to Plastic Wrap

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Welcome to Green Questions, Groovy Answers-your opportunity to get your pressing green questions answered each week.

This week’s question comes from a Twitter fan, Ashley (@AEB624) in Boston. Thanks Ashley!

Are there any eco-friendly alternatives to using plastic wrap?

Plastic wrap has been around for generations, preserving leftovers and keeping food from becoming stale. Unfortunately, our convenient, handy plastic wrap is made from a form of plastic called low-density polyethylene (LDPE) ^[2]. After we use plastic wrap it ends up in our overflowing landfills and takes forever to decompose.

If you’re looking for a simple way to green up your kitchen- swapping out your plastic wrap for a more environmentally friendly option is an easy change. There are quite a few plastic wrap alternatives out there. Take a look at these non-toxic plastic wrap replacements:

Glass food storage containers

Glass containers ^[3] (with tops that seals well) works well for storing leftovers.  In our fridge it’s very important to have a see through container since the leftover situation can sometimes get out of hand.

Glass storage canning jars

Don’t reach for the plastic wrap – put your soups, stews and other foods in a glass storage jar ^[4]. They are air tight and reusable and a great way to preserve your food.

Abeego Flats

Abeego Flats ^[5] are made from hemp and cotton fabric and comes in a few different sizes. The warmth of your hands combined with pressure causes the flat to form tightly around the item to be stored. The best part: hand wash your flat in cold, soapy water and air dry.

I haven’t tried them out, but my friend Alicia over at The Soft Landing ^[6] wrote a review.

Cloth or towel

A cloth or towels are perfect for fresh produce. I gently wrap my produce from our CSA in a cloth or kitchen towel and place it in the refrigerator. Cloth can also be used over the top of a bowl. Just add a rubber band and your container is virtually airtight.  No need for any plastic.

Reusable sandwich and snack bags

Don’t wrap those sandwiches in Saran. Use a reusable sandwich bag ^[7] to keep those sandwiches fresh on their way to school. ^[8]

Nothing at all ^[8]

Could you, would you leave some leftovers on a plate and put them in the fridge without plastic wrap?  I’m guessing there are quite a few things that end up covered in plastic wrap that don’t really need to be covered at all. Think twice before wrapping.

Can you think of any other plastic wrap alternatives?

[Photo used under Creative Commons from dvs ^[9]/Flickr]

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