11 Best Eco Friendly Ziploc Bag Alternatives

The top environmentally friendly plastic sandwich bag alternatives

Stop using and throwing away ziploc bags. Not only are they bad for the environment, it is just not economical to continue buying and disposing of them constantly. The way we are headed, disposable plastics will eventually be banned anyway so you may as well get on the front foot and start choosing to reuse now.

How bad are Ziploc bags for the environment?

Ziploc bags are made from plastic. I’m not actually anti-plastic, I think it has many fantastic uses but disposable plastic in particular is a huge problem. 

What do you imagine happens to plastic after you put it in the bin? It goes to landfill and just stays there amongst all the other rubbish? Rubbish and especially light plastics very easily make their way into our parklands, waterways and oceans.

I always thought Australia was pretty clean and litter free. However now I go for a walk with my toddlers and they’re constantly trying to pick up all the bits of rubbish we see along the way. It has really opened my eyes as to how much litter we have on the streets, in the parks and at the beach.

Birds and marine in particular suffer from plastic waste. Often they will ingest plastic items, mistaking them for food and either suffocate or have their health impacted from plastic consumption. One third of turtles have likely ingested ocean debris, mostly plastic.

How long does it take a Ziploc bag to decompose?

Estimates for plastic bags to decompose range from 20 years to 500 years, up to a thousand years. However there is agreement that plastics bags never truly decompose. They break down into smaller and smaller pieces until they become microplastics that enter soil and waterways.

Can Ziploc bags be recycled?

Yes, they can! If you still have plastic sandwich bags, please collect them with your other soft plastics and drop them off at the supermarket to be recycled by Redcycle. 

Even better, tip out the crumbs or wash your ziploc bags to be used again. Although designed to be disposable, plastic sandwich bags don’t have to be. Reuse beats recycling every time.

So if they can be recycled, what’s the problem? Recycling uses a lot of energy and water to make a waste product into new materials. It is far better to avoid creating that waste in the first place. And as previously mentioned, waste makes its way into our environment too.

Are reusable sandwich bags worth it?

Yes! Apart from all the environmental problems above, you will save money over your lifetime by investing in a high quality reusable alternative to disposable plastic sandwich bags. 

There are so many options too. No matter what you use sandwich bags for, whether it is actually for sandwiches, snacks or for freezing, there is an option to suit you.

What are the best reusable sandwich bags?

Best for sandwiches

1. Honeybee Beeswax Food Wraps

Beeswax wraps are all the rage at the moment. They are reusable, washable and can also replace cling film for covering plates and bowls of food. 

You can make your own or easily find at local markets but if you want easy access to something right now, check out HoneyBee Beeswax Food Wraps.

They are made from 100% organic cotton in a range of funky prints infused with beeswax, coconut oil, jojoba oil and natural tree gum.

These beeswax wraps are locally made in NSW using Australian beeswax.

2. Stasher Silicone Storage Bag

Stasher Silicone Sandwich Bags are made solely from food grade silicone so are plastic free. They are suitable for the fridge and freezer and you can even put them in the microwave or oven. I’m not quite sure why you’d want to do that but you never know.

My favourite feature by far though is that they can go in the dishwasher! Who has time for handwashing? My partner has practically banned any new kitchenware that cannot go in the dishwasher.

These bags are also perfect to pack small things into while travelling or to keep items safe from sand at the beach.

3. Keep Leaf Sandwich Wrap

Keep Leaf Sandwich Wraps are made from a 100% cotton fabric exterior and and have a waterproof and food safe interior lining.

These nifty wraps also double as a place mat, perfect for a picnic.

Again these are super easy to clean as they can go in either the dishwasher or washing machine.

4. Keep Leaf Large Reuseable Baggie

Keep Leaf Reusable Baggies have similar features to the wraps. They have a 100% cotton fabric exterior and waterproof inner layer but instead of folding out, they are secured into a pouch shape with a secure velcro closure.

These function in the same way as a plastic sandwich bag, so it is very easy to make the switch. You simply chuck it into the washing machine instead of the bin. It is a great feeling when you do!

5. Full Circle Zip Tuck Reuseable Sandwich Bags

Full circle Zip Tuck Reuseable Sandwich Bags are just like a standard ziploc bag. A plastic bag with a double lock seal design which is leak proof and airtight. They are a slightly more durable plastic so they will last longer than the usual disposables.

Some advantages of these bags are that they can go in the freezer and lie flat to take up no storage space. However they are only hand washable and not likely to last forever so I think there are better option but these are some of the least expensive reusable sandwich bags you can buy.

6. Green Essentials The Sandwich Box

The Sandwich Box perfectly fits a square sandwich perfectly. It is tall enough to fit a well filled sandwich and the sandwiches fit in tight enough to not become messy in the container.

Made from food grade stainless steel, The Sandwich Box is extremely durable and with care could be expected to last a very long time. It has an easy to use latch free lid and is dishwasher safe.

For a stainless steel product, the sandwich box is also rather affordable. If you want to have the option to use the container for other foods, you can upgrade to the leak proof version.

Best for snacks

7. Yumbox Mini Snack – 3 Compartment

Yumbox Mini Snack Boxes are an excellent size. You can actually fit in a filling snack but it is a compact shape so doesn’t take up too much room. I love how the compartments allow you to separate a variety of snacks because I like having a few things to choose from.

I really like a container that has a hard exterior like the Yumbox Mini Snack Box so that it can be thrown in a bag and not have to worry about it getting squashed. Squiched graps and cherry tomatoes – no thank you!

These snack boxes are easy to clean as the tray removes and can go in the dishwasher. The exterior can technically go in the dishwasher too but handwashing is recommended to maintain a good seal.

8. U Konserve Round Stainless Steel Container 266mL

U Konserve Round Stainless Steel Containers are a great little snack pot. They are leakproof and made from food grade stainless steel with a plastic lid.

U Konserve are a Certified B Corporation meaning that they meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Read more about their responsibility and impact.

9. Stasher Silicone Snack Bag

Same as the larger Stasher Sandwich Size Bag but in a perfect size for snacks.

Features:

• Made from food grade silicone plastic
• Suitable for fridge, freezer, microwave and oven
• Dishwasher safe

10. Keep Leaf Medium Baggie

Same as the Keep Leaf Large Baggie for sandwiches but in a perfect size for snacks.

Features

• 100% cotton exterior with waterproof inner layer
• Machine washable
• Dishwasher safe

11. Full Circle Zip Tuck Reusable Snack Bags

Same as the larger Full Circle Zip Tuck Reusable Sandwich Bags but in a perfect size for snacks.

Features:

• Leakproof and airtight
• Suitable for freezing
• Inexpensive

Reduce plastic waste by avoiding ziploc bags

There are some great options here but also don’t forget to look in your cupboard to see what you’ve already got. Most plastic containers will do the job and if you’ve still got plastic sandwich bags lying around, use, wash and repeat.

Which of these reuseable sandwich and snack bags/containers appeal to you the most? Let me know in the comments 🙂

Turtle image by Jeremiah Del Mar on Unsplash

Related eco friendly product swap articles

• The best eco friendly dish sponge alternatives
• Environmentally friendly balloon alternatives
• Best Eco Friendly Yoga Mats