9 Smart Back To School Lunch Box Ideas That Are Eco-Friendly

One of my favorite back to school items to buy is my kids lunch box containters. I have gathere some cute ecofriendly lunchbox ideas that will make you ditch the brown paper bag!

A new back to school lunch box is always a must on our school supply list. Next to the backpack, the back to school lunch box is one of my kid’s favorite items to pick out. If you are looking for a safer product for your family, you need to check out ECOlunchboxes.  Their founder, Sandra Ann Harris, was an investigative journalist to who found herself asking “Is there a “safe” plastic available?” Before she set out to answer her question, she realized she already knew the answer – No, there isn’t such a thing. Instead of continuing her search for a “safe” plastic, she created an even better alternative – stainless steel containers.

ECOlunchboxes offers several styles of stainless steel boxes and artisan block printed bags. (Let me go ahead and warn you – the bags are BEAU-TI-FUL!) The containers are dishwasher safe and easy for kids to use. Most of ECOluncboxes containers are not spill proof, but the latest addition to their product lineup, the Blue Water Bento Collection, IS! Check out some of the ideas below so you are prepared for back to school lunches!

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9 Smart Back To School Lunch Box Ideas That Are Eco-Friendly

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While we love ALL of ECOlunchboxes products, the following is a list of our top ten:

Splash Box™ Kit

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This plastic-free lunchware set includes a Splash Box™ with a matching organic cotton lunch sack and bamboo spork! The Splash Box™ lunch container has a plastic-free silicone lid paired with a sturdy stainless steel container. The happy blue lid, with its embossed wave design, offers leak-free convenience like plastic — without the plastic! Also helpful, the lid includes easy-to-grip tabs for opening and closing the lunchbox. The stainless steel lunch box bottom is designed to stack with others nesting-style for compact storage. I think this is a great back to school lunch box option, especially with the included spork, which fits so nicely in with the kit.

Related: Get Kids Excited About the School Year With A Back to School Party!

The kit also includes a matching organic cotton Blue Water Bento lunch sack featuring a screen-printed whale. Measuring 10 1/2 high with a 7-by-4 1/2 inch bottom, the reusable lunch sack carries with a sturdy cord handle and conveniently closes with hook-and-loop velcro. This kit is available in several designs.

Furoshiki Snacksack Kit

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Furoshiki ECOsnacksack Kit includes an ECOsnacksack, plus a stainless steel food container of your choice, plus a spork. With one easy tie, you can say goodbye to plastic baggies! Inspired by traditional furoshiki eco bags from Japan, the snack sack is a chic and versatile lunch solution. Machine wash, tumble dry. Available in seventeen color options – Passion Fruit shown above. The smaller size makes it perfect for snacks on the go for busy kids in sports and activities. This box is also a great back to school lunch box for smaller kids.

ECOlunchbag Backpack

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The ECOlunchbag Backpack is an all-purpose backpack-style lunchbag with three matching napkins. Napkins are 16 x 12 inches and the perfect size for using as a placemat or a napkin. The handmade ECOlunchbag Backpack is machine washable and sewn from textiles that are hand block printed by artisans in India. The bag is fully reversible and adjustable to fit children and adults with a unique strap design that can be buttoned down into a backpack or unbuttoned so the lunchbag can be carried as a shoulder bag or hip bag. The bag measures 12 inches tall and 6 inches wide. The bottom is square, measuring 6 inches by 6 inches. Available in nineteen color options – Magenta Blooms shown above.

ECObentobag

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The ECObentobag is ideal for carrying the Tri Bento to school, work, the park or keeping with you at the office or in your car for the spontaneous run to pick up to-go food for lunch. ECObentobag is sewn from colorful artisan textiles using wooden blocks and wax batik techniques perfected over generations. Measures 8 1/2 inches tall and the base is 6 inches in. Hand Wash.

ECOlunchbox Tri Bento

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This three-piece container has stacking bottom, middle and top layers that clip together. It’s the perfect lunchbox for packing a trio of your favorite lunch foods! Each layer holds about 1 1/2 cups for a total capacity of about 4 3/4 cups of food. The larger size of this container makes it appropriate for either adults or children who like to pack a larger lunch. When closed, the container measures 5 1/4 inches high and the base diameter is also 5 1/4 inches. The bottom layer holds 1 1/2 cups and is 1 3/4 inches tall inside. The middle layer holds 1 1/2 cups and is 1 1/2 inches tall inside. And the top layer holds 1 3/4 cups and is 1 1/2 inches tall inside.

ECOlunchbox Solo Cube

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The ECOlunchbox Solo Cube is a basic reusable sandwich box like you’d find in the big box store cereal aisle – but without the plastic! The Solo Cube is plastic-free, lead-free, BPA-free, phthalate-free and waste-free. Food container measures 5 1/4 inches square and 1 7/8 inches deep.

ECOlunchpod

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ECOlunchpod is a great eco-friendly way to avoid the use of a plastic baggy and stick to non-toxic and reusable food containers. With a uniquely rectangular shape, the stainless steel snack container works especially well for foods that don’t fit in round snack containers. Think apple slices! Carrot, celery and pretzel sticks! Contains 2/3 cup or 5 fl. oz. Damp foods, such as cut shish kebobs, fruits, thick sauces, hummus, etc… are appropriate for this container. But very wet foods will leak! Its pressure fitting stainless steel lid is not 100% leak-proof, because no plastic is used. Pod dimensions are 4 inches long by 2 1/2 inches wide by 1 1/2 inches tall.

ECOlunchbox Three-in-One

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With three nesting containers included in the set, the Three-in-One is ideal for a back to school lunch box. Most children pack a sandwich and two side dishes – and they don’t like their food getting mixed up or squished! Problem solved with the Three in One.

The clips are kid-tested and can be adjusted to desired stiffness. For very small children, the clips may be loosened using pliers. Adults may prefer clips very snug.

All together when boxed up, the bento measures 4 inches wide, 5 1/2 inches long and 2 3/4 inches high and fits about 4 cups of food. The bottom section is 1 inch deep (contains about 1 1/2 cups food) and fits a small whole sandwich on sliced bread. The top layer is a bit larger at 1 1/2 inches deep (contains about 1 3/4 cups of food) and works well for bulkier food, such as chips, sliced fruit, leftover pastas or salads.

ECOlunchbox Kid’s Tray

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Something for homeschoolers too! The ECOlunchbox Kid’s Tray is perfect for young homeschoolers and toddlers who love to keep their food from mixing. Since the tray has a lip, it’s easier for toddlers to learn to self feed because they have something to push their utensil into as they load their first bites. PLEASE NOTE: This item does not include a lid.

Which eco-friendly back to school lunch box would you choose? Tell us in the comments!

8 thoughts on “9 Smart Back To School Lunch Box Ideas That Are Eco-Friendly”

  1. Thanks for sharing this great ideas with us. I cannot believe back to school season will kick off in a few short weeks. I will have a preschooler and a kindergartner this year so I will definitely be keeping these tips in mind.

  2. I love these kind of eco friendly lunch boxes. Both my youngest kids love the multiple containers for lunch that hold small amounts of all kinds of different things. I love the metal one that all snaps together. My son has been begging for this kind of lunch box for years.

  3. The splash package is so adorable. I love the bamboo spork and bag! I need to get in order for this back to school system. My son heads off to preschool and I have to pack his lunch now!

  4. I love the ECOlunchbag Backpack the colors on it are so pretty. This would be a great idea for our all our day trips that we go on. It can be pricy picking up food at the gas station. Love that these are eco friendly

  5. WOW and what great back to school lunch boxes that are eco friendly! I like them all and they are all cute! I wish they had something like these when I went to school! The reusuable ice packs would be such a bonus for me to keep lunch cool in the summer!

  6. I love all of these boxes! I recently purchased an eco-friendly cooler bag to pack lunches in and would love to invest in some of these boxes!

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