Eco friendly lunch boxes are the next great product to be made from sustainable materials with the bamboo lunch box becoming a very popular trend both in the UK and around the world.
Take me straight to the reviews !
In this article we run through why bamboo is such a great material both for durability and most importantly sustainability – excellent for producing a sustainable lunch box.
We look at how it’s used in our homes today and lastly we review the top 5 brand of these eco bamboo lunch boxes.
What’s so Special About Bamboo?
Bamboo is a natural, perennial, flowering plant that grows in abundance.
When it is dried and cut to various lengths, it is used for as a natural substitute for wood.
UNESCO uses bamboo to build homes and schools in Bali and one of the most impressive uses of bamboo is for a bridge in India.
Historically, bamboo was used by Thomas Edison as a filament for his glass light bulb.
Alexander Graham Bell used it to create the first needle for his phonograph.
Bamboo is free of BPA and other harmful chemical ingredients.
It is reusable, easy to clean and relatively durable.
Bamboo – The Sustainable Option
Since bamboo is a naturally occurring plant, it is part of the environment in many places in the world.
Given its many uses, bamboo has a proven track record of contributing to sustainability of the environment.
It is reusable and biodegradable.
There is no worry about toxic materials leaching into soil or water.
Bamboo is an excellent alternative to plastic which is not an environmentally safe product.
This is a major reason to think “bamboo” when you make a switch to an eco-friendly bamboo container or bamboo fibre lunch box.
Bamboo in Our Homes
More commonly these days, bamboo is used to make a vast array of items in and around our homes.
These include:
- Wicker furniture
- Musical instruments like flutes
- Decorative fence posts
- Eco-friendly flooring
- Bamboo swabs
- Coffee filters
- Clothing
- Travel coffee cups
- Bicycle frames
Bracelets, necklaces and other types of jewellery are also made from the bamboo plant.
Recently in the UK there has been an increase in plastic straw awareness.
Clearly single use plastic straws are a real problem but the use of bamboo for drinking straws helps to maintain environmental sustainability.
As people have become more aware of these issues they have started to substitute various household items.
One of these items is now the the daily lunch box.
All About the Bamboo Lunch Box
Although there are several other types of eco-friendly lunch boxes such as silicone, glass, fabric and stainless steel a lunch box made from bamboo stands out from the crowd.
There are now a few variants of bamboo lunch containers..
Some lunch boxes are composed of a lid of solid bamboo with the box also made from bamboo.
The difference with a bamboo fibre lunch box is that the lid is solid bamboo but the box is made of bamboo fibre.
These amazing lunch boxes maintain hot and cold food temperatures for two to four hours.
The Bamboo Bento Lunch Box
One word you might not be as familiar with is “bento.”
In a bento lunch box, bento describes the iconic shape of the lunch box that intended for portioned, single serving lunches.
Originally a bento lunch box was the common Japanese method of serving traditional meals of fish, meat, rice and pickled and cooked veggies.
Because of its unique bento design, it frequently has several compartments to store a full meal.
The Bento lunch box is becoming very popular indeed whether made from Bamboo or not.
Top Five Brands of Bamboo Lunch Boxes
We’ve compiled reviews of the top 5 eco bamboo lunch boxes:
BamBox Bamboo Lunch Box (from £14.99)
This product is made from natural bamboo.
The lid of the lunch box is made from solid bamboo, and the base is made from bamboo fibre.
The lunch box has a very modern design and is available in various colour options.
It is light weight and very roomy inside – 1100ML
Pro: With each lunch box sold we donate 25p to Friends of the Earth to support their fight to end plastic pollution.
Con: It is not microwaveable and requires hand washing
Update: Not anymore, Bambox have released a microwaveable range which you can buy in our shop
PuTu Leakproof Bento Box Two Tier Lunch Box
The PutTu Bento lunch box is sold as a set complete with bamboo cutlery.
It is lightweight and seals with a fabric strap.
It is airtight and leakproof.
Useful for children, adults, teens and adults, kids, men, women, teens and students, for hearty lunches for school, the office, work, camping and picnics.
It is freezer and microwave safe.
Pros: It is easy to clean due to its solid surface and retards food odours.
Cons: This product comes with only one food divider. Although this product is microwave safe, the manufacturer recommends it should not be microwaved for more than three minutes.
It was rated 4.5 stars out of five stars by 76% of customers whose comments included recommendations on durability, easy to clean and large portion size features.
BentoHeaven Leakproof Bamboo Bento Lunch Box
This great lunch box is a reusable air tight container for lunches.
It is durable and microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe.
It is available in black or white colors and will store 20 fluid ounces.
It has ventilated lids, an elastic strap and top cover.
A cutlery set, chopsticks and whimsical notes are included.
Pro: Large capacity for full lunch meals
Con: Care required when opening the lid to avoid spills
Customers rated it 4.5 out of five stars.
EOIMS Original Design Bamboo Lunch Box
Made from natural bamboo with a multi-purpose bamboo lid.
It is microwaveable and dishwasher and freezer safe.
Comes with a food divider.
Pros: It is easy to clean, durable and keeps foods fresh. The lid can also be used as a cutting board and as a small tray.
Con: Although the lid is bamboo, the box is not bamboo. It is PP plastic.
Customers rated 4.3 out of five stars. Some customers who reviewed were not conclusive as to its claims of being leak proof.
Gaia Bamboo Fibre Bento Lunch Box
The Gaia Bamboo Fibre Bento lunch box is 5.75 inches long by 5.75 inches high by 2 inches wide.
It is made from 70 percent bamboo and 30% other natural fibres.
It is sold with a natural fabric strap.
It is made of fertiliser and pesticide-free bamboo and contains no PVC, Phthalate or BPA.
Pro: It has the traditional bento design, can be engraved or a logo can be added.
Con: It is not microwaveable and not dishwasher safe
Conclusion
Now that you’ve read our review of the best bamboo lunch boxes the choice is yours.
It will depend on your personal preferences and the size and type of lunches you consider typical.
Note that bamboo fibre lunch boxes are a relatively new product for most online retailers and local retailers.
Brands are limited right now compared to other eco friendly lunch boxes that are not made from bamboo fibre.
That said the tide is changing with bamboo products becoming all the rage now so why not switch to a bamboo lunch box for your midday meal.
