You know how we’ve been chatting about saving money on green goods lately? Well, one big way to save on green good is to do it yourself, make it yourself, and use recycled goods to do it with. For example, another big topic here as of late has been reusable, waste-free lunches. Now, while I doubt you’re gonna go out and somehow make a reusable bottle, you can make other components of an eco-friendly lunch kit all on your own. Make the items below. Add silverware and a water bottle and your kid will be good to go for the …read more

Yesterday I posted some eco-lunch kit choices and said that my son Cedar was going to have to choose one. Then I said I’d be back with the results. I had an idea about which he’d choose, but instead, like a typical kid, he decided to TOTALLY surprise me.
I showed him all the choices, and he looked them up and down, and sideways, and made me read him the stats about them. He’s eight, and he’s saying, “So what does that bag measure?” For pete’s sake. Anyhow, his decision…
You won’t believe it:

He says, “I think I’ll just stick with the …read more

So, Cedar’s lunch sack died this summer. He’s currently using the Bamboo lunch sack for camp, but it’s not appropriate for a kid all year at school I don’t think. One recent con I’ve found is that because it’s cloth, ice packs act badly in there (see an updated review).
In any case, Cedar my son is super picky about stuff. Clothes, toys, books, and so on, so I knew choosing a lunch pack wouldn’t be easy, but it’s actually been harder then I thought. He’s snubbed some eco-lunch kits as not cool enough already and our options are wavering. Of …read more

Now that fall is quickly coming up on us, you’ll need to find your kids a nice lunch bag or lunch box. Preferably a sustainable option. Today I’ve got a review of one option…
Product: Environmentally-Friendly 100% Bamboo Lunch Bag from New Wave Enviro Products

Basics: 100% Bamboo Lunch Bag; reusable, good for kids or adults.
Cost: $17.79
Eco-perks:
Waste-Free Lunches notes on average one school-age child using a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds of waste per school year. That’s about 18,760 pounds of lunch waste for just one average-size elementary school. Reusable lunch sacks cut down on this incredible waste.
Bamboo is one of the …read more

When you send your kid to school with lunch this year, will it be trash free?
Next to paper, lunches are one of the biggest sources of waste in schools. Here are some tips on how to come closer to a trash-free lunch this year. And you’ll save money in the process.
• Replace juice boxes with reusable bottles filled at home.
• Use cloth napkins instead of paper.
• Make the plastic sandwich bag a thing of the past. Use containers like available with Laptop Lunches (shown) or Wrap-n-Mats.
• Don’t be afraid to send a real spoon instead of plastic. You can always …read more

This week we’re talking about green auditing our schools. The lunchroom is a big part of this audit, because there are plenty of cafeteria areas that can usually be made more sustainable.
Our old green audit about your kitchen food pantry is a good place to start. Many of the questions you asked about your own home pantry can relate to your school, just on a grander scale.
Besides issues discussed in the pantry audit you’ll also want to look at…
Is the packaging used during lunch recycled?
Are students, teachers, and staff encouraged to recycle?
Are recycling bins located in various spots (near exits …read more