Can you believe it’s getting to be back to school time already? When thinking about going back to school, you bet non-toxic lunch boxes are on the list! When picking out a lunch box for my young toddler, I asked myself, are plastic lunch boxes safe? What other materials are safest for lunchboxes? What options are there for bento boxes and snack containers outside of plastic? 

I wanted to dive into some of our favorite back to school plastic free lunch bag and lunch box finds for you! So let’s get to it! 

[This post contains affiliate links. This means I may make a small commission if you purchase through these links. I’m only going to recommend products that I have tried and love! Sarah is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.]

Getting straight to the point: Our favorite plastic free lunch bags, lunch box and accessories for kids

Table of Contents

Are plastic lunch boxes safe for you and your little ones?

Plastic lunch boxes are everywhere, but they may not be the safest lunch boxes and bentos out there.

What are Phthalates?

Plastics have chemicals like Bisphenol A (BPA), used to harden plastics, and other Phthalates, used to make flexible products like PVC and Vinyl as well as carry fragrances in cosmetics. These chemicals are known endocrine and hormone disruptors. Children are the most susceptible as they are still developing. These phthalates can leach into the liquids or foods that are stored in them and get into our bodies.

  • According to the CDC NHANES study between 2003 and 2004, phthalates are found in 93% of participants urine, from as young as age 6 (source). 
  • There are also studies in the past decade that have correlated prenatal exposure to phthalates impacting neurodevelopment in children potentially leading to learning, attention or behavioral disorders (source).
    • Only 8 ortho-phthalates have been banned so far in 2017 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission – in children’s toys and child-care products, however there remain a great deal still in use and not banned or regulated by the FDA or any other agency that I know of. The manufacturers/companies can choose whether to include or remove from their products.

What about BPA?

  • Bisphenol-A (BPA) has concerns for affecting.numerous things such as fetal development, brain function, prostate, and thyroid based on animal studies. It was banned in baby formula containers, baby bottles and sippy cups by the FDA in 2012 (source). Although there can still be BPA in canned goods.
    • Thee is not a huge body of evidence of how BPA truly effects humans versus mice in the animal studies – the FDA article notes studies saying humans metabolize it faster etc. But if it’s causing this many problems in animals, it’s a red flag for me.
  • Many products are now labeled as “BPA-Free,” but they may contain alternatives that are still hormone disrupting, such as Bisphenol-S (BPS) and Bisphenol-F (BPF). 
  • These BPA alternatives, BPS and BFF could be associated with obesity in children and adolescents per this 2019 study in the Journal of the Endocrine Society (source). 
  • In fact, a study from 2011 tested 455 plastic products intended to be in contact with food, and found that nearly all of them leached chemicals with estrogenic activity, including those labeled “BPA-Free.” (source). This study included baby bottles too. 

Environmental impact of plastics:

We know that plastics are termed “forever chemicals” – they also don’t break down in landfills and are not eco-friendly. 

Per the United Nations Environment Programme, instead of being recycled, most plastic ends up in landfills and can take up to 1,000 years to degrade. 

  • The plastic can leach toxic chemicals into our oceans and soil. 
  • They also cite this study from 2020 where microplastics were evaluated and found to be affecting the species that live below soil and the ecosystem of the soil and fertility. And the microplastics could leach into the water and ultimately affect the species drinking the water. 

I believe that it’s not only more eco-friendly but also safer for you and your family if and when you can store food and drinks in alternative containers such as glass or stainless steel.

Check out my blog post on phthalates, where I dive deeper into what they are and where they are hiding!

Stainless steel vs other lunch box materials

We have asked if plastic lunch boxes are safe, what about other materials like metals and silicones? 

Stainless steel benefits:

  • Doesn’t leach hormone disrupting chemicals
  • Stain resistant
  • Easy to clean
  • Durable and long lasting
  • 100% recyclable!

Silicone benefits:

  • Doesn’t leach toxic chemicals
  • Easy to clean
  • Durable and long lasting 
  • Lighter weight than stainless steel
  • Although it may not be recyclable in our normal recycling, and may also take decades or longer to break down. But it doesn’t shed microplastics into the land/ocean, so is more earth friendly in this regard! 
  • Companies like Stasher may partner with a recycling program to recycle and repurpose silicone products such as with Terracycle

Our favorite plastic free lunch box: the PlanetBox Rover

We ended up choosing the PlanetBox stainless steel lunch boxes for the longevity of the style and durability overall. It seemed easy to clean and super sturdy. I love the style and all the accessories. Of all the options, this one seemed like the best fit for my little toddler who was less than 2 years old and one she could grow with. A friend of mine has two of them and has had them since her little ones were toddlers and now her kids are in elementary school and they still look like new! 

PlanetBox Rover and Carry Bag

What I love about the PlanetBox Rover:

  • It’s so easy to clean! I usually just sponge clean (remove the magnets first!) but you can also apparently dishwash it! I don’t run ours daily though so I hand clean and it cleans very easily. 
  • Durable – made of 18/8 (300 SS) and 18/0 (400 SS) stainless steel
  • All their products are independently tested by certified laboratories to be safe from lead, phthalates, PVC, BPA and other toxic chemicals
  • The size of the compartments – they are perfect for chopped up fruits and veggies, small pretzels sandwiches. Really anything fits perfectly and are the a great size for little hands.
  • The accessories that it comes with include the Little Dipper and Big Dipper containers so that you can put liquids or dips etc in there. 
  • You can also pick the magnets that go on the top and mix and match them for a cute look! 

Of course every lunch box isn’t necessarily perfect! There are a couple things that I would potentially change. 

Cons of the PlanetBox Rover:

  • It does leak – you do need to use a big dipper or little dipper with the silicone tops for leaking items or use a separate container. I love to serve my daughter sauteed zucchini and peppers as a side in her lunch box because she loves veggies and I find if they are super watery or oily sometimes those do leak out into the lunch bag if it’s not stored flat.
  • If I don’t take the magnets off the top when I’m cleaning some gunk can get underneath those and make the top of the lunch box harder to keep clean.
  • lunch box can be a little heavy for tinier toddlers to carry by themselves

PlanetBox Accessories:

Because I love our PlanetBox Rover, I naturally bought all the accessories and I love them all!

Little Dipper and Big Dipper – both the round and square versions

  • The Rover set comes with one Little Dipper round and one Big Dipper round that fit perfectly inside. I’ve used the little dipper mainly for hummus and dressings to dip veggies in. 
  • The big dipper is great for dry snacks (like Annie’s bunnies or puffs) but also great for securing foods like pasta salad or yogurt
  • You can store the Big Dipper and Little Dipper inside the Rover.
  • I often use the big Dipper as a snack container as it fits perfectly in the outside pocket of the plastic free lunch bag. 
PlanetBox Big Dipper and Little Dipper Round
PlanetBox Big Dipper and Little Dipper Square

Double-sided snack container

This is a new design from PlanetBox and I am obsessed with this concept! This is a double-sided snack container where you can put a dip on one side and the rest of your snack on the others such as peanut butter and pretzels or yogurt and fruit, or hummus and veggies. You name it, the combinations seem endless and the reviews are excellent for not leaking so I’m looking forward to testing this out! I love that it can fit in a cup holder or bottle pocket in a diaper bag! 

PlanetBox Double Sided Snack Container
PlanetBox Double Sided Snack Container

Stainless Steel Cup and silicone straw and lid set

  • I love the simplicity of the design of the cup, basic stainless steel
  • Silicone lid fits snug and secure, minimal leaking when poured over with straw in
  • Straws are nice and flexible
  • The hold in the lids can be plugged so it can double as a snack container too! Who doesn’t love multi-purpose items?
PlanetBox Stainless Steel cup with silicone lid and straw set

Pod dividers

  • These little silicone dividers for the planet box lunch box are truly the cutest! I’ve used these two separate tiny little cereal snacks and pretzels from other veggies.
  • They work great and are adorable for little fingers to eat snacks out of! 
PlanetBox Pod dividers
PlanetBox pod dividers inside of the Rover

The Rover Carry-bag

  • This bag is SO CUTE! It comes in so many colors and patters, has an adjustable strap and handle for carrying by hand or over the shoulder
  • Has 2 pockets, one for water bottle and one for snacks
  • Capsule bottle and other bottles we have fit perfectly 
  • The Big Dipper container fits in the outside snack pocket
  • Fits right inside my daughters toddler backpack
  • Has room for ice pack (can buy the ones from PlanetBox or I have some smaller thin ice packs that fit perfect!)
  • Has a small elastic band to keep utensils in place 
  • Waterproof liner easy to clean if the lunchbox leaks
  • Outer material 100% recycled PET. Inner material 100% polyester. Fill material is polyethylene foam. No plastic like materials touch food. PlanetBox products are independently tested by certified laboratories to be safe from lead, phthalates, PVC, BPA and other toxic chemicals.

Favorite Plastic Free water Bottles for Toddlers and Kids

When picking out water bottles for toddlers/kids that are going to be exposed to the elements when dropped or in daycare/preschool, it was important to me to have bottles that had straws/sippy tops covered. I will thus only be listing bottles that have tops! 

Pura Stainless Kiki insulated 11oz water bottle with straw top

  • I love Pura water bottles because they are truly a grow with your child style, with multiple different interchangeable tops, as well as being the only brand I’ve tried that is completely free of plastic top to bottom and inside and out. 
  • This Kiki water bottle is awesome. Its silicone straw and interior straw work great and barely spill. 
  • You can interchange the straw top with a bottle nipple for babies, straw top for toddlers, and then switch out to a sports top without a straw as they get older. It truly is a bottle that grows with your baby. 
  • They are made of stainless steel and silicone and have silicone sleeves as well to help with grip
  • MADE SAFE certified 
  • They come in different sizes to meet your needs. We have liked the 11oz insulated bottle so far for my daughter and plan to get a second when we need it for our new baby boy. 
  • Only con is that the silicone lid if you forget it somewhere you don’t have a lid – as it’s not attached. When we get the sports top lid that has a cover that is attached which is great! 
Pura Stainless Kiki insulated water bottle
Pura Stainless Kiki water bottle straw and top

PlanetBox Capsule water bottle

  • I love this design as an easy non-straw style water bottle. It may be too advanced for some younger toddlers but once they’re ready for it it’s great!  My daughter has done great with it! I
  • It’s stainless steel and silicone for the mouthpiece and minimal plastic for the top. No plastic comes into contact with your child’s drink
  • There is no plastic straw inside is another benefit! 
  • This has gotten dropped numerous times and still hasn’t broken so that’s also a plus! 
  • Fits perfectly in the side pocket of a toddler backpack, and perfectly in the outside of the Rover lunch bag. 
  • They seem to have limited the colors to only black now and have a few newer styles similar but slightly different.
PlanetBox Capsule Water Bottle
Inside PlanetBox Capsule Water Bottle

Other plastic free or low-plastic water bottles I would consider:

Other water bottles for kids that have some plastic in the mouthpiece or straws – that I have or have used

Thermos Funtainer kids water bottle – not plastic free

I wanted to mention this because it’s a super popular kids water bottle. We have one for my daughter as an option, but this isn’t an entirely plastic free option.

  • The inside straw is plastic and I don’t love the plastic straw. But this comes in a million colors and it’s an inexpensive backup water bottle to have on hand.
  • The rest of the bottle is stainless steel that the water touches and has a silicone straw mouthpiece and it’s fairly easy to use for kids. As far as durability, it’s fairly durable to falls – but one time my daughter dropped it with the top open and the little piece that goes into the button mechanism bent and it is harder to open and close now.
  • I wouldn’t list this as the best plastic free option because of the straw.

*Note: I am looking for a silicone replacement straw that I can use instead, when I find one that works I’ll update it here so that you can hack this water bottle to be plastic free for the straw!

Owala kids free-sip – not plastic free

My husband and I both have and LOVE our Owala bottles. But…. they do have plastic straws inside and plastic on the mouthpieces.

  • They claim they are BPA and Phthalate free plastic, which is okay for me, although I prefer for my kiddos to have no plastic at all.
  • They now have a kids version and I know my daughter would LOVE it. It’s something I might get for her because it’s so dang cute and try to hack the straw to be a silicone straw inside
    • *Note: I will also be trying to hack my own Owala bottle with a silicone inside straw. If I am successful here I’ll update! That would make this water bottle a bit better but it’s still not 100% plastic free because of the mouthpiece.
  • I would love to see a silicone version of the Owala at some point!

Favorite plastic-free lunch box utensils:

PlanetBox Utensils:

  • Magnetic silverware so they always stick together. 
  • They look and feel like regular silverware and pick up food well
  • Grip is non-slip silicone in your hands. 
  • Love them so much just snagged the other two colors for 3 sets to use and rotate. 
  • *might be too long for tiny toddlers
PlanetBox utensils
PlanetBox utensils

Bumpkins Toddler Utensils:

  • I used these Bumpkins Toddler Utensils for my daughter when she graduated from a baby spoon/fork and have multiple sets. They are easy to grip and the fork isn’t too sharp.
  • My daughter is almost 3yrs and we still rotate these for meals with the PlanetBox, although the PlanetBox fork has much sharper points and can stab food better. 
Bumpkins utensils toddler
Bumpskins utensils toddler

Ezpz Mini Utensils

  • Great for beginner toddlers 12+ months
  • Showing below the Mini Fork and the mini spoon (can’t find my other slightly larger spoon for a photo!)
  • Our daughter started with these, they were great before transitioning to larger metal utensils (the Bumpkins ones)
  • Made with Silicone + Nylon (BPA, BPS, PVC, phthalate and latex free)
  • They also come in a larger size called “Happy Utensils” and these would be for older toddlers as it includes a small knife as well. We don’t have this set but now that I see it’s available I want it for my kiddos!
Ezpz utensils Mini and tiny

Others with silicone/stainless steel/non-plastic:

Plastic-free snack bags that are great to have on hand:

Stasher bags – reusable alternative to plastic bags and ziplocs

  • I love having the snack size and mini Stasher bags on hand to put snacks in for school! Stasher bags do a great job of keeping food in. 
  • Seal really well
  • Easy to clean
  • Dishwasher safe! 
  • I actually plan to buy a few more of the snack size and mini size as they’re perfect for little kid snacks like cut up veggies or pretzels or cereal and puffs! 
  • Have a recycle program with Terracycle (I mentioned above) for damaged or no longer loved Stashers so they can become something else! How cool is that?
Stasher Bags in assorted sizes

LunchSkins – disposable alternative to plastic bags and zip-locs

  • Lastly these are a great plastic free lunch bag to use for sandwiches or any kind of snack really that isn’t at risk for leaking. 
  • I’ve even used these to store crayons in my diaper bag and honestly they do hold up to a bit of wear and tear despite feeling thin.
  • The Recyclable + Sealable Glassine paper bags are basically like a waxy coated paper bag with a peel and stick option to close. 
  • Features:
    • The Glassine paper bags can be used for short-term freezer shortage. 
    • The paper bags are Microwave-safe (1000W (or less) microwave). Microwave for up to 2 Mins.
    • They are free of toxins including: BPAs, Lead, Phthalates, PFAS.
    • Their wax coated bags are made of: made from all natural unbleached glassine — a translucent but very durable form of paper from FSC-Certified forests.
    • Their paper compostable bags are made of: 100% FSC-Certified Kraft paper.

Other safe plastic free lunch boxes, bags and snack containers that I haven’t tried but would totally try next! 

If you’re thinking are my plastic lunch boxes safe for my kiddos, the answer may be that there are better options out there. If the PlanetBox Rover isn’t a good fit for you, check out some other fabulous options below that I looked into before deciding on the Rover. There are many versions out there of similar styles, so you can pick what best fits your needs.

Stainless steel lunch box/bento box options:

  • LunchBots – comes in a few configurations, small, medium or large. The smallest are best for toddlers with 3 or 6 compartments. The medium and large come in 1 to 5 compartments.  Doesn’t have an easy open latch like the PlanetBox styles do.
  • WeeSprout – similar to LunchBots, has 3 compartments. Also has a silicone holder to prevent sliding on table and tiny dipper container similar to PlanetBox. 
  • They also make a ton of silicone and bamboo products with stainless steel and are a fabulous brand to check out for all your toddler and kid eating and drinking needs!
  • ECOlunchbox – more of a one compartment style bento with insertable dipper container and many smaller snack containers
  • Bentgo stainless steel – this is the best alternative to the ever popular classic plastic Bentgo lunchboxes – all stainless steel and silicone so you get the same classic shape and and leak-proof-ness, but with the durability of silicone and stainless steel, and no plastic! 

Silicone lunch box/bento box options:

  • LunchBots Build-A-Bento – classic 3 compartments medium or large sized bento
  • Austin Baby Co – most similar to PlanetBox in terms of compartments, has 5 compartments for food storage – this is the one I want to grab next as a backup! 
  • Pottery Barn Kids – smaller 3 compartment bento
  • Ali & Oli – classic 3 compartments 

Plastic-free snack containers:

Final thoughts

If you’re questioning are plastic lunch boxes safe, I hear you. If you’re looking for a plastic free snack bag or a plastic free lunch box I hope this review is helpful! We really love our PlanetBox Rover and all the accessories! You can shop for them at my link here! They have their up to 60% off back to school sale right now so hopefully you’re able to snag some goodies while they’re on sale! If I were to choose another option to have as a backup, I would choose the Austin Baby Co for the similar style to PlanetBox, but in a smaller, lighter weight and leakproof design to try next. 

What plastic free lunch accessories do you use? Let me know in the comments below or on Instagram! 

xo – Sarah