Top 3 Affordable and Plastic-Free Food Storage Container Alternatives

Plastics have arguably become synonymous with modern day living. From plastic water bottles to plastic plates and spoons, plastic is virtually everywhere. Unfortunately, plastics contain harmful compounds such as phthalates, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and tetrafluoro-ethylene. According to the Ecology Center, some of these compounds are carcinogenic. In addition, the compounds can affect the body’s immune system and cause birth defects. In fact, a study carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found traces of BPA in almost all urine samples collected from the study’s participants. Fortunately, you can avoid these harmful compounds by using plastic free food storage container alternatives including the following three.

Glass Food Containers

Glass is a great food storage alternative that has been around for decades. Not only are they quite durable they are also more ecofriendly compared to plastic. You can easily amass a large collection of glass containers at home without spending a lot of money. For example, you can turn peanut butter, pasta sauce, pickle, or jam jars into food containers. You can also purchase glass containers from online or local retailers.

Metal Food Containers

Metal is another good alternative to plastic food containers. Some metals, such as aluminum, are lighter than glass if you desire lightweight containers. Moreover, unlike glass or plastic, metal containers will not break or crack easily if they accidentally fall.

Snack bags and Cloth Wraps

Besides metal and glass, you can use snack bags and cloth wraps to store food. It is important to note that oilcloth is not plastic free. It has some form of plastic coating to prevent liquids from leaking. Here, you should choose cloth wraps made with linen, hemp, or organic cotton, which are particularly ideal for storing dry snacks. For snack bags and cloth wraps, you can purchase handmade products from online retailers such as Etsy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 93% of people between the ages of 6 and 85 have BPA in their urine. Adverse health effects of BPA and other chemical compounds found in plastic include liver dysfunction, hyperactivity, infertility, genetic changes, and hormonal changes. If you have been using plastic food storage containers, it is advisable to change and start using safer alternatives. This includes glass, metal, as well as snack bags and cloth wraps that will ensure that harmful chemicals do not leach into your food or water and consequently harm you.

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2 thoughts on “Top 3 Affordable and Plastic-Free Food Storage Container Alternatives

  1. Thanks for that. The stats about BPA are quite alarming, I will be using glass containers as the safer option.

  2. Hi Agnes, this post is really helpful but I think people just don’t want to take good advice, does not matter how good the advice is, they will continue doing the same old thing. There have been alternatives available for storing food other than plastic but they will use plastic only, just because it costs less, and they don’t consider the long term effects it has.

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