10 Best Zero Waste Alternatives to Ziploc Bags
Ziploc bags are a go-to when it comes to storing food or leftover meals. These flexible bags are durable, versatile, and easy to use. They are also very convenient for storing away small items around the house or as travel bags.
However, producers make Ziploc bags from single-use plastic, which we know is harmful to the environment and marine animals. Plastics also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, causing climate change.
The good news is there are good eco-friendly alternatives to Ziploc bags that are ideal for food storage. Read on to go through our list of Ziploc bag alternatives you can shop for.
How are Ziploc bags bad for the environment?
Ziploc bags are single-use plastic bags that, when disposed of, contribute to plastic waste causing environmental pollution. These bags are also usually thin, making them not very ideal for extended storage or long-lasting reuse.
When these Ziploc bags end up in landfills, they can take up to thousands of years to decompose. Sadly, several studies reveal that plastics never really decompose but break down into toxic microplastics that end up in our waterways and soils. Marine animals suffocate from ingesting these microplastics, mistaking them for food.
10 best eco-friendly alternatives to Ziploc bags
Manufacturers make Ziploc bags using disposable plastics that contribute to environmental pollution. However, there are great eco-friendly alternatives that you can choose from.
Here’s our list of some of the best alternatives to Ziploc bags that you should consider:
1. Bee's Wrap beeswax sandwich wraps
Material: Organic cotton, plant oils, tree-resin, sustainable beeswax
Weight: 8.7 ounces
These wraps are self-sealing and breathable. They can store anything from fresh foods like vegetables or leftover food like biscuits. They create the right amount of stickiness and protect your food from the external environment. With beeswax wraps, you can avoid sandwiches falling apart and keep your food fresh.
These beeswax wraps come in a package of three well-crafted designs, colors, and sizes. You can easily wash them with cold water, air dry them, and reuse them. They are also biodegradable and compostable.
Why beeswax wraps make a great alternative to plastic Ziploc bags
These beeswax bags are eco-friendly and made with sustainable materials, including organic cotton, sustainably harvested beeswax, tree resin, and natural plant oils. They provide proper sealing and also do not fray easily. The best thing, you can reuse them over and over again.
2. Stasher reusable silicone bags
Material: Silicone
Weight: 0.67 ounces
Stasher silicone bags are a self-sealing and reusable alternative to plastic Ziploc bags. They are BPA-free, PVC-free, and latex-free, keeping your food safe and free of contamination.
This functional range of platinum silicone bags comes with an innovative feature - the Pinch-Loc™, to remove excess air and keep your food properly sealed. They are also freezer-safe, microwave-safe, and dishwasher-safe.
Why we rate Stasher reusable silicone bags
Stasher is a company born out of a passion for the planet. They are committed to reducing the effects of single-use plastics and are a member of the 1% for the planet. 1% of their sales go to non-profit organizations that work towards protecting the oceans.
3. Wovtary reusable sandwich bags
Material: Silicone
Weight: 8.4 ounces (10-pack sandwich bag)
This 10-pack sandwich bag comes in food-grade silicone material free of plastic smell and is safe for storing fresh food. They come with a zipper design that makes them easy to open and close.
They also provide an airtight seal that preserves your food. Its extra-thick silicone material makes these sandwich bags durable and resistant to tears. They are freezer-safe, making them ideal for storing foods like meat or fish. They are also dishwasher safe.
To reuse them, the brand recommends you wash them by hand and store them in an airy area away from the sun.
Go for a Wovtary reusable sandwich bag because...
These sandwich bags can store a variety of foods, from fruits to vegetables, snacks, and leftovers. They are leak-proof and BPA plastic-free, making them hygienic and perfect for storing fresh foods.
4. AILTEC glass containers
Material: Glass
Weight: 9.88 pounds
These containers are made with high borosilicate glasses stronger than regular glass. They come with a silicone seal ring to prevent leaking or spilling. Their snap-locking lid makes this glass container airtight, keeping your food fresh. They can be used for baking or cooking in ovens and are safe with temperatures over 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
They are also microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe. You can easily stack up these containers for a neat-looking cabinet.
Why we like AILTEC glass containers
These glass food storage containers come in square, rectangular, and round shapes. They are BPA-free and plastic-free, making them a healthy choice for family use. They are odorless, transparent, and easy to clean.
5. Black + Blum stainless steel sandwich boxes
Material: Stainless steel, bamboo, silicone
Item weight: 15.1 ounces
Looking for the perfect lunch box for snack time? These stainless steel boxes are ideal for taking your snacks wherever you go. Its silicone inner compartments allow you to organize a variety of foods all at once.
Its lid comes in a natural bamboo material that can equally serve as a chopping board for assembling your snack ingredients. You don’t need to worry about spilling as these sandwich boxes come with a silicone strap that holds your lunch box together. They are also BPA-free and non-toxic, making them healthy plastic-free food storage boxes.
Black + Blum stainless steel sandwich box makes a great alternative to Ziploc Bags
Black + Blum is a company committed to producing the most original and sustainable designs. They are also proud members of the 1% for the plant, with 1% of their total annual sales channeled towards non-profit environmental projects.
6. Bumkins reusable fabric snack bag
Material: Polyester
Weight: 0.08 pounds
Bumkins' reusable snack bags are made with waterproof, easy-to-wipe polyester material. Its single-ply fabric means you don’t need to worry about food particles growing in your snack bag. They are non-toxic, BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free, and lead-free. You can wash these snack bags using a washing machine, air dry them, and store them. You could also use them to store items like zero-waste makeup, pacifiers, and much more.
Bumkins reusable snack bags - great for reuse
Bumkins has been around since 1989, making the most original and durable home items. Their reusable snack bags come with their signature waterproof fabric and unique designs inspired by DC Comics, Disney, Harry Potter, and so on.
7. Lunchskins paper sandwich bags
Material: Paper (from pure wood pulp)
Lunchskins sandwich bags are an excellent eco-alternative to plastic Ziploc bags. They are perfect if you need thin packaging to wrap your snacks without a complete seal.
These bags come in non-waxed compostable paper, which you can add to your compost pile when you need to dispose of them. They come in a pack of 50 bags with 60 resealable stickers. They are eco-friendly and free of chlorine, PFA, BPA, phthalate, and lead, making them a healthy choice for storing dry food. These bags are also resistant to grease and moisture.
Why we like Lunchskins sandwich bags
Lunchskins makes products that aim to reduce single-use plastics. You can easily dispose of their paper bags, making them an eco-friendly alternative to Ziploc bags. Lunchskis also donates a part of its proceeds to non-profit causes that fight against plastic pollution.
8. WICLOUD Reusable Ziploc bag
Material: Plastic
Weight: 5.5 ounces
You can keep your food fresh with this high-quality Ziploc bag from WICLOUD. They come in food-grade PEVA material, waterproof and BPA-free, making them one of the best reusable Ziploc bags for kids.
It comes with a leak-proof seal and non-slip design, making them easy to open and close. They are dishwasher safe. However, the brand recommends a hand wash with cold water. They are also freezer-safe.
You want to avoid exposing these Ziploc bags to hot foods, microwaves, or ovens.
Swapping your Ziploc plastic bags for reusable ones reduces the number of plastics that end up in landfills. With these eco-friendly Ziploc bags, you can store food for lunch, meal prep, or travel for a longer time. They are also eco-friendly, recyclable, and safe for family use.
9. Me Mother Earth plant-based food wraps
Material: GOTS organic cotton, jojoba oil, carnauba wax, and tree resin
These plant-based wax wraps are natural and safe alternatives to Ziploc bags. They are high-quality, vegan, reusable, and 100% biodegradable. They come in a variety pack of 3 sizes wrapped in Kraft paper packaging.
Avoid exposing these Ziploc bags to heat, dishwashers, or microwaves. You can wash them with zero-waste dish soap and cold water and store them at room temperature for reuse. They are compostable, meaning you can dispose of them after they wear out.
Best plant-based food wraps
Me Mother Earth is a brand passionate about sustainability and educating people about it. They try out their products before selling them to ensure quality. They also donate a part of the proceeds to environmental organizations.
10. Liptrin reusable silicone bags
Material: 100% platinum silicone
Weight: 12 ounces
Made from eco-friendly, non-toxic platinum silicone, these reusable silicone bags keep the flavor and nutrition of your food locked in. These bags can withstand temperatures as low as -20℃ and as high as 200℃, meaning they are freezer, oven, and microwave safe. You can also wash these bags using a dishwasher. The zipper provides proper sealing and makes it easy to clean. Its tough silicone material makes it highly durable.
Why choose Liptrin reusable silicone bags?
These reusable bags make good Ziploc bag alternatives with their food-grade silicone material, free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, and latex. They come in small, medium, and large sizes for storing different food items. You can also use them to store other items like cosmetics, toiletries, and other household and travel items.
Are Ziploc bags recyclable?
Manufacturers make Ziploc bags using polypropylene, which is easily recyclable in any recycling station. You can drop them in a recycling bin, look for local stores, or drop off spots that collect Ziploc bags. However, you want to make sure they are free of ink stains, paints, chemicals, or food particles, as this could corrupt the entire recycling process.
Wrapping up our selection of Ziploc bag alternatives
Ziploc bags are great, but sustainable alternatives are equally as easy to use, durable, and even better at preserving food and preventing spillage. Whether you need a food storage bag to wrap a quick snack or you need a container to store fresh foods like fruits and vegetables, we’ve got a list of some of the best eco-friendly alternatives that you can choose from.
Jen’s a passionate environmentalist and sustainability expert. With a science degree from Babcock University Jen loves applying her research skills to craft editorial that connects with our global changemaker and readership audiences centered around topics including zero waste, sustainability, climate change, and biodiversity.
Elsewhere Jen’s interests include the role that future technology and data have in helping us solve some of the planet’s biggest challenges.
