Cling Film & Food Wraps

It's a wrap: the key stats to know about this single use product and how to swap.

Why Swap

You can't recycle single-use wrapping options like cling film very easily and it's not possible to put in your kerbside recycling bin
The plastics cling film is made from is a solvent that is also an ozone-depleting substance. Cling film is also easily ingested by animals and sea creatures, as well as being hard to spot for cleanup efforts.
While still single-use, aluminium foil fares a little better since it can be recycled. However, it needs to be clean and there needs to be a large enough amount for it to be picked up in recycling facilities. It's recommended you scrunch it into a ball the size of a tennis ball or bigger.

The Alternatives

From reusable wraps to good old containers, switching to one of our more eco-friendly alternatives to clingfilm can help reduce the impact of wrapping up food for storage or on the go. To learn more about lunch boxes specifically, visit our Travel section.

Beeswax Wraps

Beeswax wraps are reusable and usually made from natural materials. They are often either biodegradable (can be composted by popping them in your kerbside food waste bin) or compostable at home.

Reusable

Industrially Compostable

Vegan

Cloth Wraps

Cloth wraps are similar to beeswax wraps in that they are reusable, but will sometimes use a coating to create a better seal on the food. This coating may be made from a type of plastic instead of beeswax, making it vegan but not plastic-free and therefore unlikely to be compostable.

Reusable

Industrially Compostable

Vegan

Food Storage & Lunchboxes

Glass, metal and plastic containers can be reused many times over for a much longer, reusable lifetime. They can also be reused for lots of other purposes around the house, as well as being well suited for taking food on the go with you. To learn more about containers specifically, visit our Food containers & lunch boxes swap page.

Reusable

Industrially Compostable

Vegan