Best Reusable Lunch Containers (Non-Toxic & Eco-Friendly)
Looking for the best reusable lunch containers for school or work? This guide features durable, non-toxic options made from stainless steel, glass and silicone to help you pack healthier lunches while cutting down on single-use plastic.
Got a picky child who doesn’t like different foods to touch?
Is a plastic-free lunch your priority because it’s safer for your family and better for the planet?
Need a lightweight reusable lunch container for meals on the go? Or a microwave-safe container for lunches at work?
The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all lunch container. The best reusable lunch container for your family depends on how and where you’ll use it. My favorite may not work for you—and your older son may want something completely different than your younger daughter.
The good news is that there are plenty of non-toxic, eco-friendly lunch containers to choose from. Whether you prefer stainless steel, glass or silicone, this guide rounds up the best reusable lunch containers we’ve tested and used over many years of packing lunches for school, work and everyday adventures.
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Why Choose Reusable Lunch Containers?
Why not just pack a sandwich in a disposable plastic bag, throw in an apple and a mini bag of chips and call it a day?
First of all, a packed lunch can be so much more healthy when you put some thought into what you pack. And there’s no need for wasteful disposable bags when you have durable, reusable containers to use instead.
Each of us will have different needs for a lunch container, so to cover all the bases, I considered lots of different criteria for this eco-friendly lunch container roundup.
My family has appreciated all of these benefits over many years of lunch packing for one reason or another!
- lightweight
- plastic-free
- leakproof
- divided areas
- microwavable
- dishwasher safe
- freezer safe
- keep food warm
- flexible (changeable or removable parts)
- minimal parts
- indestructible
RELATED: Favorite Reusable Snack Bags and more Lunch Gear Favorites!
How to Choose Safe & Eco-Friendly Lunch Containers
Not all lunch containers are great quality, so I don’t recommend purchasing the cheapest ones you can find. The whole point is you want them to LAST!
When you are shopping for an eco-friendly lunch container, look for these safe, non-toxic and durable materials:
Food grade stainless steel
- Often marked 18/8 or 18/10 stainless
- Advantages: lightweight, dishwasher safe, very durable
- Disadvantages: not microwavable
Food grade silicone
- A synthetic rubberlike polymer that does not leach chemicals or produce hazardous fumes
- Advantages: flexible, does not absorb odors, easy to see through if silicone is translucent/clear
- Disadvantages: can rip or tear if not treated carefully
Glass
- Advantages: tempered glass can be used in freezer, refrigerator and microwave and is dishwasher safe
- Disadvantages: heavier than other materials, will break if dropped
Food safe plastic
- Polypropylene plastic – PP (recycling code #5) and low-density polyethylene – LDPE (recycling code #4) are durable plastics that are considered food safe
- Advantages: flexible and easy to care for
- Disadvantages: not microwavable, plastic production contributes to pollution
- Learn more about safe plastic food containers.
Best Reusable Lunch Containers
Scroll through this list of reusable lunch containers, and I bet you’ll find the perfect one for YOUR NEEDS!
Be assured that all of these sustainable lunch containers are all made from safe, non-toxic materials like stainless steel, glass, silicone or food-safe plastic. They are all durable, washable and ready to be used again and again (no single use plastic containers here!)
Any of these food containers will be a very sustainable choice for your eco-friendly lunch box packing needs, whether for school lunch, work lunch or carrying healthy snacks on-the-go.
U Konserve Stainless Steel with Silicone Lids
- Food grade stainless steel container
- See-through silicone lid
- Leakproof
- Flexible lids are easy to open
Best feature: Clear lids make it easy to see what’s inside
Stojo Collapsible Silicone Lunch Containers
- Premium food grade silicone bowl
- Polypropylene lid (BPA/BPS free)
- Dishwasher safe
- Bowl is microwavable (lid is not)
Best feature: Bowl collapses when empty for easy carrying and storage
PlanetBox
- Durable stainless steel box
- Has 5 compartments in a variety of sizes
- Includes 2 leak-proof containers with silicone lids
- Dishwasher safe
- Decorative magnets included
- Cloth carry bag available
Best feature: Handle allows you to carry it like a lunchbox
Frego Glass & Silicone Lunch Container
- Plastic-free: lid and sleeve made of non-leaching silicone
- Durable, shatter-resistant glass container
- Oven and microwave safe
- Leakproof
- Freezer safe
Best feature: Perfect for microwaving leftovers at work!
Splash Box Leakproof Lunchbox
- Plastic-free: lid made of silicone
- Non-toxic stainless steel container
- Mini container (sold separately) great for homemade hummus and other dips or small items
- Lightweight
- Water tight and leak-proof
- Dishwasher safe
Best feature: Super lightweight and easy-off lid makes it a good choice for kids
Lunchbots Stainless Steel Bento Boxes
- Both container and lid are food grade stainless steel
- Bento style container with one large and two smaller compartments
- Lightweight and compact
Best feature: Virtually indestructible!
OmieBox
- Insulated bento-box designed for both hot and cold foods
- Includes insulated stainless container for hot foods
- Customize with movable divider
- Made with BPA-free plastic, food grade silicone and stainless steel
- Kid-friendly design makes it a great eco-friendly lunch box for school
Best feature: Attached handle makes it easy to carry.
RELATED: Zero Waste Alternatives to Plastic Wrap
To-Go Ware 3-Tier Stainless Steel Tiffin
- A classic eco-friendly bento box with three separate food compartments that stack together
- Made entirely from food safe stainless steel
- Carry the top tier on its own, or both tiers together
- Lid doubles as a plate
Best feature: Holds a lot of food!
EcoLunchBox Three Piece Bento Box
- 100% food grade stainless steel
- Upper and lower food containers clip together
- Includes nesting snack container with lid
Best feature: Different sections keep foods from touching.
U Konserve Nesting Trio
- Reusable snack containers made from food safe stainless steel
- Leak resistant, free-plastic silicone lids
- Set of 3 snack container sizes that nest together
Best feature: Mix and match a variety of fruits, veggies, nuts and other snacks.
Klean Kanteen Insulated Food Canister
- Double wall vacuum insulation
- Keeps food hot for up to 8 hours
- Made from food grade stainless steel, with a silicone sealing gasket
Best feature: Makes taking leftovers for lunch easy
New Wave Enviro Stainless Container with Clamp Lid
- 100% food grade stainless steel
- Lid clamps tightly on to base
- Dishwasher safe
Best feature: Large container great for leftovers or sandwiches.
More Reusable Lunch Containers Worth Considering
Here are some more lunch containers that I have not tested out myself, but meet my criteria for being high-quality, durable and non-toxic.
What is your top requirement for a lunch container? Leave a comment on the post!
RELATED: Eco-Friendly & Non-Toxic School Supplies
We love Lunchbots! I love that they are dishwasher safe and unbreakable. I haven’t tried the others but I love that there are numerous plastic-free options now.
Michaela, these suggestions are awesome. I am passing them on to all I know and on my social media sites. Thank you!
Thank you so much Pamela!
Hey Michaela,
I’d love for you to try out our all-silicone lunch boxes from The Parent Diary. We have various sizes for everything from baby food to large pasta or salad, and you can chose single-compartment containers or a lunch box with dividers. Check us out at http://www.theparentdiary.com. Can I send you one to review?
Michele
Sure! You can email me at mindfulmomma@yahoo.com Thanks!
This is a wonderful collection. Thank you sooo much for putting this together!
you are very welcome!
Hi!
I tend to look for something for our lunches that won’t hold smell or yuck in the lid just in case the container gets forgotten 😳😳. We haven’t had much luck and we need to reheat food while at theater practice