The hugely damaging effect that single-use plastics are having on the planet and our oceans is now well-documented. There are a number of things we can all do to reduce our single-use plastic waste - and investing in a reusable lunchbox is one of them.
If you’re heading back to the office or simply planning a number of day trips or weekends away, taking your own lunch will mean less waste from shop-bought products. Not only that, it will also mean you have control over your portion sizes and ingredients, helping to maintain a healthy diet.
And the benefits of reusable lunchboxes don’t stop there; you’ll save a fortune on expensive convenience food while you’re helping to reduce food packaging waste.
The best reusable lunchboxes will be leakproof (you want to eat your lunch, not decorate your bag with it), us eco-friendly materials, and be dishwasher-safe and easy to clean. Extra bonuses come in the form of reusable cutlery and handy compartments for different foods.
From sleek stainless steel boxes to sustainable bamboo bento boxes, we’ve rounded up the best reusable lunchboxes for adults below, perfect for everything from back-to-work lunches to pretty picnic snacks.
Black+Blum stainless steel lunch box
If it’s top quality you’re looking for, call off the search. This versatile stainless steel reusable lunch box comes with a matching fork, which you can keep in place with a BPA-free silicone strap. It’s totally leakproof (no pesky handbag spills), and has a handy food divider so you can keep different food groups separate. What’s more, it’s oven, freezer and dishwasher-safe, so you can cook your food in it, store it, and clean it easily. It’s not, however, microwave-friendly.
Orla Kiely Flower Stem Sprig Bamboo Lunch Box
Prints charming! Like your lunch to come with a side of pretty styling? Orla Kiely has you covered. This reusable lunchbox comes with her signature print on its lid, and a gorgeous green box, which is crafted with a sustainable bamboo blend. As well a being a bit of a looker, it’s also practical and dishwasher-safe.
PuTwo leakproof bento box 2 tiers with reusable cutlery
A bestseller on Amazon, this two-tier reusable lunchbox is a great investment for anyone that likes a decent-sized lunch that needs to be kept separate. Pop your main (last night’s lasagne?) in the top, and snacks and desserts in the bottom. Crafted with food grade, eco-friendly, BPA-free PBT material, it’s microwave, dishwasher and freezer-safe. It’s leakproof for mess-free meals, and also comes with a reusable cutlery set to cover all types of food. Tuck in…
Leon reusable paper lunch cooler bag
How cute is this retro lunch bag by Leon? Add some serious style to your on-the-go grazing with this reusable lunch box that doubles up as a cooler bag, keeping your food cool for up to two hours (or longer with an ice pack). One compromise for the cool looks? This one’s hand wash only.
Lakeland blue wave bamboo lunch box
Made from 40% sustainably-sourced bamboo fibre and 30% corn powder set into melamine resin, this lunch box is a great eco-friendly alternative to plastic versions. It boasts a drip-proof seal on the lid, and is ideal for the daily commute, being lightweight yet durable. Because it’s made of 70% plant fibre, it’s not suitable for the microwave but is dishwasher-friendly. And how pretty is the wave-print top?
One Green Bottle stainless steel lunch box
One Green Bottle was created by a parent looking for a drinking bottle for her son to take to school that kept water clean, safe and pure. After discovering the concerns arounds chemicals leaching into drinks from plastic as a research chemist, she identified 304 food grade stainless steel as an effective alternative, which is also easy to clean and recyclable. This leakproof lunch box is made of the same material, and comes with a mini snack box inside so you can keep fruit or nuts separate. A nifty little number that you can also pop in the dishwasher or freezer.
Mepal bento lunch box
This stylish container has a bento box within a bento box so you can keep snacks separate, as well as a handy divider. It’s made with 100% BPA-free plastic, is dishwasher and microwave-safe, and has a handy fork in the extra lidded container. And who could resist that seriously cool blue hue?
Black+Blum leakproof original lunch box 1L
Are your lunches a little more intricate than a couple of sarnies? Nothing wrong with a well-made sandwich, but if you like salads with dressings and a side of veg, this compartmental reusable lunchbox will be your new best friend. There’s a long, lidded compartment to store anything you want to keep separate from the main section, and a leakproof pot for your dressing so nothing is soggy come lunchtime. It’s freezer-safe so you can prepare and store your food in advance, microwave-friendly so you can easily warm it up at work, and dishwasher-friendly for easy cleaning. There’s also a stainless steel fork included so you can eat whenever, and wherever, you like.
Smidge stainless steel lunch box
Take a step towards a more sustainable lifestyle with this reliable leak-proof reusable lunchbox crafted with food-grade stainless steel (no nasty chemicals leaching into your meals over here). Super-versatile, you could cook a little dish in here as it’s oven-safe and then freeze it or take it straight with you. You can also pop it in the dishwasher for hassle-free maintenance.
Bambubox eco friendly lunch box
A Japanese bento-style lunchbox crafted with sustainable bamboo, this reusable container is airtight and leakproof. It’s BPA-free and comes with an all-natural spork for easy lunches on-the-run. This isn’t one for the microwave, but you can pop it in the dishwasher.
Verdict:
For the perfect balance of practicality and style, we’ve got to give first place to Black+Blum’s stainless steel lunchbox and matching fork. It’s totally leakproof, oven, dishwasher, and freezer-safe. If you know you want to heat up your food in the microwave, the brand’s original lunch box is also a fab option.
