10 Best Eco-Friendly Lunch Box and Plastic-Free Bento Box Options *

AFF | Lunch boxes have been a big part of our lives, and never more so since Flora started school. She takes a packed lunch to school every day, in preference to whatever the school canteen tries and fails to tempt her with. <Sigh>. And in the interests of sustainable living, it’s important to her that she has an eco-friendly lunch box or plastic-free bento box rather than using cheap, plastic containers.  Because products made of wood, metal, glass, and food-grade silicone are more durable and better for her as well as our planet.

How to Choose an Eco-Friendly Lunch Box or Plastic-Free Bento Box

So whether you’re buying a lunch box for school, work, holidays, or any other occasion, what should you look for in an eco-friendly food container? Here are a few pointers to consider:

Dimension and Weight

It’s important the lunch box you choose fits nicely in your container, bag, or backpack. The box shouldn’t lie on its side in case of leaks, and you want it to hold all your food too. If you’re walking to work or school, or bringing your lunch box on a hike, it shouldn’t be too heavy as once you add your food, the weight will become a real burden.

Material

This depends on what type of food you plan to use it for. For example, if you like soup, wooden containers may not be the best option due to possible leaks. Something to bear in mind if you’re putting your eco-friendly lunch box in the same bag as your laptop or school books. Glass is a good alternative, although much heavier. Silicone or stainless steel might well be the perfect choices here.

Safety Lock

There are 3 different safety locks; snap lock, latch lock, or using an elastic band. A snap lock is what you usually see on plastic food boxes, where the lid snaps to the body. The latch lock is more common in glass and metal types (such as Kilner jars or bottles). An elastic band is a great choice if the container lids have rubber seals, or the food has no liquid that could leak out and make a mess.

Heat Resistance/Dishwasher Safe

If you plan to use your microwave or dishwasher, be aware that most low-quality plastic boxes bend or melt when exposed to high heat. This isn’t such an issue with a plastic-free lunch box but it’s always good to check before you buy.

Compartments

Compartments and dividers are great when you want to bring different foods for a balanced meal. You can either go for multiple separate containers or bento box style separate compartments in one container. This makes it easier to pack healthy carbs, fibre, proteins, fruit, and vegetables without your food getting all mixed up together.

Eco-Friendly Lunch Box Options on Amazon

These eco-friendly food boxes aren’t only useful for work or school, they’re also perfect for picnics, camping, going to the beach, and other outdoor activities. And yes, much as I love shopping on Etsy * sometimes it’s quicker and easier to find what I’m looking for on Amazon.

Stainless Steel Lunch Box Set – Snap Lock *

This set offers 3 different sized leak-free steel lunch boxes, each with a snap lock feature, and all of which are dishwasher safe. As a one-stop-shop, you also get a unisex neoprene tote bag with a special bottle compartment for your food, plus a handy juice squeezer and an e-Book with some healthy recipes. Ideal for some healthy snacks on a family road trip, or even just one ravenous teenager.

• capacity: 12, 20, 30 oz (340, 570, 850 ml)
• weight: 1.74 lbs (88 g)
• material: PVC free*

Collapsible Silicone Lunch Box *

For space savers, this collapsible silicone lunch box set is a great choice. You get 4 boxes which lock with a snap lock. Each also has a vent valve that needs to be pulled out before heating the food inside the boxes. These boxes are safe to be placed in the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher.

• capacity: 2x350ml, 2x500ml
• weight: 1 lbs (450 g)
• material: BPA free

Snap Lock Glass Lunch Box – No Divider *

For an elegant looking lunch box, these pack of 5 snap lock glass containers with coloured lids are great choices. No more spaghetti sauce staining your food container (if you know, you know). These are safe to be used in the oven, microwave, freezer, and even dishwasher (except the lid cover).

• capacity: 5×34 oz (1 litre)
• weight: 1.7 lbs each (700 g)
• material: glass and plastic

Snap Lock Glass Lunch Box – 3 compartments *

If you prefer an eco-friendly lunch box with more compartments, this is a great choice. This way you can pack up to 3 different foods and avoid mixing them all together. 100% airtight and leak proof, they come in an stylish insulated carry bag as well, to hold the perfect number of containers needed while at work or school.

• capacity: 35.5 oz each (1 litre)
• weight: 2 lbs each (900 g)
• material: glass and plastic

Japanese Wooden Lunch Box *

If you prefer a zero-plastic lunch box, take a look at this traditional Japanese wooden lunch box, complete with a wooden spoon and fork, wooden food containers, and a removable divider. It also has an elastic band to secure all parts together. Tip: did you know, compared to stainless steel, a wooden box offers better insulation? Not just a thing of absolute beauty, it’s super practical too. Handwash only though.

• capacity: 27 oz (800 ml)
• weight: 1 lb (400 g)
• material: natural jujube wood

Glass and Wood Lunch Box Set *

Wood and glass are a great combination for an eco-friendly lunch box that looks stylish and offers zero-plastic material. Not only is the glass food container microwave, oven, freezer, and dishwasher safe, the top cover is easy to clean and keep bacteria-free too. It also has a silicone grip lining to secure the lid and the container together. Plus, it has a durable elastic band to fasten the lunch box tightly.

• capacity: 10×7.5×7.5 in (25.4x19x19 cm)
• weight: 1.8 lbs each (800 g)
• material: glass, wood, silicone

Silicone Zip Lunch Bags *

These silicone zip bags are not your typical zip bag or lunch bag. So if you’re looking for a sustainable lunch box that’s lightweight, leak-free, and easy to pack, these might be for you. The food-grade silicone with tight zip locks are durable and a great substitute for a zero-waste food container. The bottom expands out, allowing plenty of space for food. Tip: if your workplace or school already have plates/bowls and utensils ready to use, why not carry a lunch bag that’s much more lightweight?

• capacity: 14 packs: 200 ml, 400 ml, 2x 600 ml, 750 ml, and 1200 ml
• weight: total of 1.8 lbs (800 g)
• material: PVC-free, latex-free, food-grade silicone

Plastic-Free Bento Box Options on Amazon

If you really want zero-plastic for your lunch box, maybe it’s time to look at a plastic-free bento box with multiple compartments. As bento boxes originated from Japan, wooden material is very common too. Here are some great plastic-free bento boxes to consider.

3-in-1 Stainless Steel Lunch Box – Latch Lock *

This 3-in-1 lunch box comes with 2 compartments and a little extra one that can fit inside the main boxes. Larger than most metal boxes (so you can accommodate more than just a squished sandwich and a few carrot sticks) they lock together with a latch lock. These are easy to clean and dry, they won’t stain, and won’t retain any lingering food smells either.

• capacity: 3 cups each (7.3×3.5x 5.5 in)
• weight: 1.2 lbs altogether (500 g)
• material: stainless steel

Wooden Bento Box *

This one is is your traditional plastic-free bento box. It’s only one box but divided into 3 compartments. The biggest part is usually where the rice goes, then you have 2 smaller parts for meat and vegetables. You can secure your meal with a wooden lid and an elastic band. And it even comes with a pair of chopsticks for that authentic touch 🙂

• capacity: 7x5x2.5 in (16x12x5.7 cm)
• weight: 0.36 lbs (172g)
• material: wood

Silicone Bento Box – Squeeze Lock *

With today’s technology, a silicone version of a bento box is now available, and it’s a much better choice than single-use plastic or cheap plastic food boxes. This material is safe to use in the microwave, dishwasher, and freezer. Separate your food into the 3 compartments and simply press down to lock the lid.

• capacity: 2x200ml and 1x400ml
• weight: 1 lb (400 g)
• material: food-grade silicone

Verdict on the Best Eco-Friendly Lunch Box and Plastic-Free Bento Box

For my choice of eco-friendly lunch box, much as I adore the beautiful Wooden Japanese Lunch Box, my mum-head goes for the Collapsible Silicone Lunch Box, which is much more practical for every day school use. For a plastic-free bento box though, I love the Wooden Bento Box. Aesthetically so pleasing, and sure to be envied by your work colleagues too – also, how cute are the chopsticks? Perfect for picnics and lazy lunches.

Finding a suitable eco-friendly lunch box or plastic-free bento box is actually surprisingly easy. While I’ve only shared products that are available on Amazon in this post, there are plenty of gorgeous lunch box options available from other independent retailers* too. But I hope you found this list helpful, and if you do know of any other sustainable options that would work for a busy mum and an eco-conscious teenager, please do let me know in the comments!

* This post contains affiliate links, please see my Disclaimer.