Do you pack your lunch every week to save money? Well, did you know that you could save even more money and reduce your waste by using alternative materials to pack your sandwiches and snacks? Plastic bags, plastic containers and glass dishware are common kitchen items used to pack lunches, but there are reusable and recyclable options out there.

Packing lunch for you or your child can ensure a meal filled with organic and complete nutrition. However, depending on what you use to pack your foods, it can also cause more waste. How often do you need to replace your plastic sandwich bags? Instead of relying on plastic, give fabric sandwich bags a try.

You can find reusable fabric sandwich wraps or bags online, and some are even made from organic cotton. These can be washed and reused with ease. Or if you’re handy at sewing, you can create your own sandwich bags out of old cotton shirts or pants. Larger clothing scraps can be used to make produce or snack bags, so you can have your fruits and nuts on hand when you go to the gym. An alternative that requires no work on your part is using bandanas to wrap food up. This is a convenient option if you enjoy camping or having picnics.

For cooking and keeping meat warm, recycled aluminum is the way to go. Now that it’s available in most grocery stores, there is no excuse not to choose the recycled foil over the other, which uses virgin materials. Also, use cotton or canvas totes you have around the house to transport food to school or the office instead of brown paper bags.

Packing your lunch in an eco-friendly way doesn’t have to be a time consuming affair, especially if you’re a last minute packer. Once you have a few fabric sandwich bags on hand and a canvas tote, you will have everything you need to pack your weekly lunches without creating waste. Another tip is to pack some food that doesn’t require packaging such as apples, oranges, pears and other delicious fruits. But for everything else, try making or buying a reusable sandwich bag.