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With growing awareness around climate change and global warming, it's more important than ever to start making conscious decisions to reduce our environmental footprint. Switching from single-use disposable items to reusables is a practical and effective strategy to become more environmentally conscious consumers.
In this blog post, we address common questions around reusables, including whether they are more eco-friendly than disposables, the advantages of making this switch, and recommendations for specific products to consider.
Why is reusable better than disposable?
Disposable items, such as single-use containers, cutlery, straws, and bags, are designed for one-time use, but their environmental impact can last for hundreds of years. Encouraging recycling of disposable items helps to reduce the environmental burden but studies have found most disposable items are not recycled. It also takes energy to recycle items and still generates waste during the recycling process.
In contrast, reusable items are designed to be used repeatedly. They’re the more environmentally conscious choice for consumers as they can reduce resource consumption, pollution, and wastage.
What are the benefits of using reusable containers?
Reusable containers offer a plethora of benefits. Firstly, they help to reduce the number of single-use items we use. They’re also more cost-effective in the long term and after the initial investment of these products, we can save money from regular disposable container purchases.
From a health perspective, many single-use containers are made from plastics that contain BPA (bisphenol A), which can potentially leach into our food and beverages. The long-term health effects of BPA exposure have raised concerns, making the switch to BPA-free reusable containers a safer choice for food storage.
Is reusable packaging better for the environment?
Researchers have discovered that much of the plastic packaging we use is improperly disposed of and sometimes ends up in the waterways. In these natural environments, they can become entangled with wildlife or ingested by aquatic and land animals. Plastic pollution can also degrade into microplastics where they release greenhouse gases. We can minimize the environmental impact of single-use items with reusable packaging.
What are the best reusables to consider?
The best reusables to consider are items you will use often. Here are some of the common reusable items.
1. Coffee cups: for many of us, getting our coffee in the morning is a daily habit that brings us joy. Investing in a reusable coffee cup is a great way to avoid using disposable coffee cups.
2. Water bottles: replace single-use plastic bottles, which contribute to plastic landfills and may contain BPA, with stainless steel or BPA-free water bottles to stay hydrated sustainably.
3. Cutlery and straws: swap out flimsy plastic cutlery and straws for reusable alternatives. These items are convenient and portable, fitting easily into your work bag or purse.
4. Food containers: say goodbye to plastic containers which often leak food into your bag with high-quality reusable food containers. Stainless steel and silicone containers are BPA, sustainable and are perfect for storing food, packing work lunches, or transporting to outdoor picnics.
5. Reusable bags: instead of paying 20 cents for a plastic bag that will end up in the ocean, choose reusable shopping bags made from sustainable and durable materials.
Lunchboxes
Why are reusable lunch boxes important?
Reusable lunch boxes aren’t just for kid’s school lunches. Other than the environmental benefit of reducing the need for plastic containers, reusable lunch boxes are also a more cost-effective choice as they eliminate the need to repurchase single-use containers.
Plastic containers contain bisphenol A (BPA). BPA can leach into our foods and drinks, especially if the plastic container is heated. Hence, when you’re warming up your noodle stir-fry in your plastic container, you’re leaking BPA into your noodles. BPA is a known endocrine disruptor and when absorbed into our body can result in harmful effects on our reproductive, immune, and neurological health.
What kind of lunchbox helps keep food fresh?
To maintain the freshness of your lunch, it's essential to use a lunchbox container with a tight seal. Materials like silicone are effective at creating an airtight seal that prevents air and moisture from entering, helping to keep your food fresh. Additionally, having multiple compartments in the lunchbox can be a desirable feature for those who want to separate different lunch items.
Why we recommend...
Ecococoon stainless steel bento box
Ecococoon’s stainless steel bento boxes will be the object of desire from your colleague’s during your lunch break. Their high-quality and BPA-free containers are made from steel and contain silicone seal lids to keep your foods fresher for longer. And for those who enjoy variety in their lunches, they offer 2 and 5-compartment lunch boxes so you can prevent your sandwich from getting soggy from your yoghurt and fruit. Their lunch boxes are designed to last and are used regularly so you’re also cutting down on single-use plastic containers.
Avoid having a sad work or school lunch with Ecococoon’s lunch bags. Available in fun patterns like rainbows, zigzags and fruit salad, these insulated lunch bags are the perfect accompaniment to their stainless-steel bento boxes. Their lunch bags are large enough to add snacks for recess (or snack breaks for adults). They’ve been designed to keep your food cooler and fresher for longer.
Arigato’s bento boxes ticks everything you’ll want in a lunchbox. They’re dishwasher-safe, BPA-free, leakproof, stylish and durable. They’ve designed their bento boxes to include five deep compartments (perfect for snackers or people who love variety in their lunches). Additionally, the bento box lid includes storage for cutlery, how clever!
Five cool lunch box ideas...
Get inspired by some of these adult and kid-friendly lunchbox ideas.
- Mediterranean-inspired: create a delicious antioxidant-packed work lunch with a delicious tuna salad using Good Fish tuna + Ceres Organics kalamata olives. Add VGood’s chickpea sea salt twists and you’ve got a filling meal!
- Snack fiend: Whether you’re too busy to sit down during the day to eat a sandwich or prefer to graze during the day, we’ve got you covered with this healthy snack box idea. Combine Eat to Live buckwheat cakes with hummus, vegetable sticks, 2Die4’s activated organic almonds, fresh
fruit and KOOEE’s organic beef sea salt sticks. - High protein: Enjoy this high protein filling lunch box idea. Fill up with a pesto and chicken pesto pasta made using Ceres Organics’ basil pesto + Loka’s low-carb protein pasta. Enjoy Chief’s high-protein collagen protein bar as a snack.
- Kid at heart: this is both kid and adult-friendly. Try the following combination: cold pasta salad made with Alb Gold’s organic kid's pasta safari and snack on Fine Fettle apple crisps and The Carob Kitchen’s sultanas banjo bits.
- Vegan: enjoy avocado and black bean wrap with fresh cucumber sticks, berries, and Proper crisps garden medley chips.
Snack containers
Is stainless steel best for containers to keep food fresh?
Stainless steel containers are a great choice for lunchbox containers as they are durable and able to withstand frequent use. Stainless steel containers often also come with sealable lids to keep foods fresh until you’re ready to eat. Finally, it’s easy to clean and won’t harbour any bacteria or (ick) mould.
Why we recommend...
Ecococoon’s stainless steel snack pots are ideal for storing your salad dressing, soy sauce, yoghurt, nuts or berries. They’re easy to open for little hands, leakproof and a great addition to their bento lunch box. Avoid soggy salads, crushed chips chips and mushy fruit with Ecococoon’s snack pots.
Ever Eco’s stainless steel containers are ideal to store snacks or to use in a lunchbox to divide foods. These containers are leakproof, dishwasher safe and great for small cupboards as they nest inside one another for efficient space storage. Available in both an earthy Autumn and pastel colour collection, these containers are as stylish as they are useful.
Keep your snacks and foods fresh with SugarWrap’s zipper bags. Unlike single-use plastic zipper bags, SugarWrap’s ziplock bags are reusable and made from plant-based recyclable material. These thick bags are ideal for storing sandwiches, wraps, fruit and leftovers and are microwave and freezer-safe. Make the sustainable swap with SugarWraps’ carbon-positive and renewable zipper bags.
Five cool snack ideas...
Enjoy these healthy and balanced snack ideas suitable for adults and kids alike.
- Chia pudding: Combine Loving Earth’s chia seeds with Almo’s almond milk and top with fresh blueberries, Mindful Foods activated almond nuts and Niulife shredded coconut.
- Sweet & salty combo: Elevate your snacking game by combining salty Gimme's roasted seaweed snacks with Serious Food's double chocolate chip cookies.
- Apple and nut butter: A simple and classic snack idea, dip apple slices with Food to Nourish’s sprouted almond spread.
- Chips and dip: Dip Proper Crisps’ Cheeza-Peno tortilla chips with The Tapas Sauces’ Salsa Verde.
- Avocado crackers: Peta’s favourite snack! Top Eat to Live’s buckwheat cakes with avocado, Ceres Organic sauerkraut and Essential Hemp’s organic hemp seeds.
Drink bottles & cups
What kind of drinks bottles are best for the environment?
There are numerous alternatives to plastic water bottles that can help reduce pollution. We recommend reusable water bottles made from durable and BPA-free materials like stainless steel and glass.
Why we recommend...
Cheeki Insulated Kid’s Water Bottle
Your kid will have the coolest bottle in the playground with Cheeki’s insulated water bottle. These kid-friendly bottles are designed with little hands in mind and come with a convenient carry handle, an easy-to-sip straw, and eye-catching designs.
Lil Mashies reusable pouches are an eco-friendly pouch designed to store baby food, yoghurt, smoothies and blended meals. Their reusable pouches are free from PVC, BPA phthalates and other undesirable materials. What's even better is that they are suitable for babies, toddlers, and young children, making them a versatile choice for families.
When it comes to your daily coffee or tea, make an environmentally friendly choice by switching to Ever Eco's insulated coffee cups. Single-use coffee cups are often lined with plastic, making them unrecyclable and contributing to landfill waste. These coffee cups are also insulated, ensuring that you’ll never have to wince through another cold coffee or tea again.
Five cool on-the-go drink ideas...
Keep hydrated when you’re on the go with these refreshing on-the-go drink ideas:
- Fruit-infused water: enhance the flavour of your water by adding fresh fruits and herbs to your water bottle.
- Smoothies: make the morning rush a little easier by blending a delicious protein smoothie and storing it in your bottle. Try blending bananas, Madame Tiger's tiger nut milk and At Health’s vanilla collagen protein for a quick morning smoothie.
- Warming herbal tea: For a comforting and caffeine-free, option, enjoy Pukka’s organic peace tea. Coffee: sip on Clipper’s everyday organic organic coffee which is rich in flavour and aroma.
- Greens drinks: Energise naturally with Vital Organic’s greens powder. With six nutrient-rich superfoods, this green powder provides you with essential antioxidants and nutrients to keep you feeling revitalised throughout the day.
Utensils
What kind of reusable cutlery sets should we use?
Ditch single-use plastic forks, knives and spoons with sustainable reusable cutlery made out of stainless steel, bamboo or silicone. Stainless steel cutlery is sturdy, easily washable and resistant to stains. Bamboo cutlery is made from plant-based material and is biodegradable. And silicone cutlery is flexible, non-toxic and heat resistant.
Why we recommend...
Ever Eco's bamboo cutlery sets offer an eco-friendly and travel-friendly substitute for plastic cutlery. Their bamboo cutlery set includes a fork, spoon, knife, and chopsticks. These utensils come enclosed in a lightweight cotton storage pouch, making them convenient to carry in your work, lunch, or handbag.
White Magic Eco Basics Wooden Spoons are easy to clean, store and carry. These wooden spoons are entirely biodegradable. It’s ideal for everyday use so you can continue to minimise your carbon footprint.
Straws
Why is it more important than ever to use reusable straws?
The Plastics and Circular Economy Act 2021 was passed in New South Wales resulting in the phasing out of single-use plastic items including plastic plates, bowls, lightweight bags and straws. This legislation was passed to fight plastic waste across Australian states, protect marine life and reduce the environmental impact of plastic items. Reusable straws made from materials like silicone, glass and stainless steel help to reduce plastic pollution, conserve resources and do not harm marine life.
Why we recommend...
Ever Eco’s stainless steel is an eco-friendly alternative to plastic straws. Stainless steels are resistant to breakfast and rust, making them a cost-effective investment. Their drinking straws are also 100% recyclable and available in rose gold, silver, bent or straight shapes.
Little Mashie's reusable straws are ideal for both kids and adults alike. Their multicoloured straws are flexible, soft to the touch and free from BPA, phthalates, and PVC. And conveniently, their straws come with the straw cleaner brush to clean them with!
Produce bags
Why do produce bags help the environment?
Single-use produce bags are rarely ever used more than once and are often disposed of carelessly. Reusable produce bags reduce the demand and need for single-use plastic bags which often end up in our landfills or waterways.
Why we recommend...
Ever Eco totes are essential for a low-waste, eco-friendly lifestyle. These chic-looking bags replace single-use plastic produce bags and are made out of sustainable material. They are lightweight yet strong enough to carry vegetables, nuts and grains.
As consumers, we can make a world of a difference by making simple switches from single-use disposables to reusable alternatives. By switching to reusable products, we’re not only helping the environment but investing in our health and long-term cost savings too.
About the author
Judy Cho is a degree-qualified nutritionist. She has a strong passion for debunking sensationalized yet misinformed nutrition myths. Her goal is to share evidence-based information and provide healthy recipes, helping others make informed choices about their nutrition and well-being.