Environment & Sustainability
Tips for Waste-Free Lunches…
Nude Food/ Waste-free lunches contain only items that are eaten, composted or recycled. They don’t contain wrappers or packaging that will be thrown in the rubbish bin.
Example of items in a waste-free lunch…
- Sandwich in a snug-fitting reusable container
- Snacks in a reusable container
- Water, juice or other drinks in a reusable and resealable bottle, filled at home from a bulk container
- Yoghurt in a small reusable container, filled at home from a bulk container
- ‘Trail mix’ in a reusable container
- Whole fruits without packaging or fruit pieces in reusable containers
- Raw or salad vegetables such as carrot, lettuce, tomato, cucumber and celery, plus a small container of dip.
- Muffin, fruit bread or biscuits in a reusable container Cubes/slices of cheese in a reusable container
- Durable cutlery that is designed to be washed and reused
Reusable containers – Using reusable containers is the cornerstone of a waste-free lunch! Suitably sized containers will keep sandwiches intact and make little treats easy to pack. Although reusable containers may have a higher upfront cost than a roll of plastic wrap, they are durable, they will save you money in the longer term and they will help to reduce waste.
Buying in bulk – Buying items such as juice, yoghurt, crackers, biscuits and cheese in bulk quantities or containers, rather than in individual servings, will probably save you money as well as reduce waste. It also allows your child to drink or eat only as much as they want at one time, and then they can reseal the container.
Recyclable packaging – Some children’s lunches may need to contain packaged food items for dietary, religious or other reasons. Check which types of packaging are recycled at the school. You can also check which items can be recycled at home, by visiting RecyclingNearYou.com.au and searching under your council area. This information may be relevant for your bulk containers at home, or if recycling is not available through the school. Packing a bottle of frozen drink with the lunch will give your child a cold drink and also keep the lunch cool.