We say it time and time again that single-use plastic is bad for the planet, this is especially true if it can’t be recycled. This is where the household ‘essential’ comes in, cling film, it has been around since the 1950’s sitting in a drawer or cupboard of most households in the UK. 

We can’t deny it’s incredibly handy and invaluable at saving leftovers. Luckily in the last few years there have been multiple moves to help us reduce the amount of this handy product we use. So much so that in many households they have stopped buying it all together. Instead switching to washable, reusable, sustainable options that even brighten up the fridge and freezer.

Containers/Tupperware

I’m sure we’ve all got cupboards at home, stuffed with unmatched tupperware lids and boxes but when matched up, these are a fantastic way of saving on single use plastics such as clingfilm.

Back to Nature Tablewear offer a wide range of biodegradable food and drink containers, showcased in a multitude of product lines and using a range of biodegradable products such as sugarcane, bamboo and wheat. Their mission is to simply ‘be responsible’.

Beeswax wraps

Starting as many do with beeswax wraps, pretty, stylish or quirky, they come in endless designs and can be wiped down, dried and reused for what seems to be an infinite amount of time. There are methods of refreshing when needed with different heating methods or when you are done with your stash and ready for a new design you can pop them straight in the compost. 

Beeswax wraps are flexible, keep food fresh, can be used in the fridge or the freezer to cover or wrap food. Plus they work on the go to wrap a picnic or your work sandwich, making a stylish lunch that will stand out in the communal fridge.

Why not take a look at beeswaxwraps.co.uk and give them a try.

Superbee are dedicated to eliminating plastic waste and creating eco-friendly, reusable food coverings. They are ethically handmade, sustainable, high quality and most importantly certified food safe.

Bowl covers

If your wax wraps are always out and about and you need another option for covering leftovers, why not give fabric bowl covers a go, these are perfect for the simple leftovers that you know you’ll use the next day and another stylish and pretty option. They could even make it onto the stocking filler list for friends and family at Christmas too. Check out Wearth London.

If the fabric option isn’t for you, you can try the silicone option, reusable and recyclable, these are for your more intense leftovers that need a stronger seal. They wipe clean and don’t stain or lose their grip, with many options available in a multipack of varying sizes you could cover the leftovers from Christmas dinner without a scrap of cling film and zero mess. Take a look at Peace With the Wild.

Sticking with the leftovers theme and the need for a leftover filled sandwich, you might want to grab a bread bag, a fabric bag that keeps your bread as fresh as plastic and looks great on the kitchen counter too if that’s your thing. There are compostable options available, so when it’s come to the end of its life it won’t be sticking around for years in landfill. There are various ones on the market that will suit your needs but we recommend one with a good drawstring that will help keep your crusty loaf crisp and fresh. Check out some options for bread bags from Etsy. 

If you want to transport your sandwich and beeswax isn’t your thing you can always look at the sandwich pouches that have come on the market. Many that we’ve seen are made from silicone so while they are reusable and wipe clean they are a bit more rigid than cling film so help to protect your sandwich in transit. We love these from Lakeland. 

Whatever you decide to try, just remember cling film isn’t the only option. Once you do make the switch, we are sure you’ll never go back.