Comments on: Tutorial: How to Make Environmentally Friendly Reusable Sandwich/Snack Bags

By: Allison Dey

Allison Dey — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:22:59 +0000

BTW, I do LOVE the way these bags look. If there was a completely food safe non-petrochemical see through material out there, I’d go for it. But plastics are all made from the wasted oil bits not used for fuel and so using plastic just increases our carbon footprint, even if we reuse it.

By: Allison Dey

Allison Dey — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:20:24 +0000

PUL, according to the companies that make it, is not recommended for food storage. Neither is vinyl which usually contains lead. PVC clear plastic is pretty much out. Mylar, a polyester and aluminum foil fused fabric is used for food storage and considered to be inert. However, you can just avoid the plastics altogether and just use – OMGosh! -unbleached cotton or linen fabric. I know that’s highly revolutionary, but that’s what generations have done. Either wrap sandwiches in napkin sized pieces and make some bags for snacks or add stainless steel containers or half pint sized glass canning jars which can be insulated for heat and cold and against breakage by putting them in a handmade drawstring bag made of quilted cotton muslin with wool or cotton batting between. There are lots of eco-unfriendly cotton manufacturing going on, so if you’re really into being careful, buy organic cotton or at least repurpose older cotton or linen clothing from the thrifts. Plastics can be avoided completely and food will still be fresh by lunchtime. There’s also the old standby – parchment or baking paper. Easy peasy if you don’t mind the paper issue. It can also be purchased recycled. But cloth is always the safest reusable option for bags.

By: Dot

Dot — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:36:51 +0000

Thanks fr all the feedback Sarranea! Please do post some pics when you find the perfect material and make them.

By: Sarranea

Sarranea — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:50:13 +0000

I keep coming back here because I like the design of the bag AND I keep running into more information, hahaha.

Silk….this was a suggestion, too, as it’s fairly non-breathable and will keep food fresh.

RipStop Nylon is the type that I referred to above that contains the PUL coating.

I’m still looking for the safest material…

By: Sarranea

Sarranea — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:45:00 +0000

I thought I was done, but I’m not.

There is even controversy over PEVA/EVA materials.

My original information came from HealthyChild.org, however a poster on there commented that PEVA/EVA materials also contain…are you ready for this…Formamide, Dimethylformamide and Methylformamide, all toxic and even acetophenone known as a harmful irritant to infants.

But EVA is often used in mouthguards for athletes!? Like I said, it is controversial. Belgium and France banned all children’s Puzzle Mats because they found most to contain harmful chemicals, inluding PEVA. So, this gets very confusing.

Another option that people use to make reusable bags is PUL coated Nylon and are certain to have the PUL on the outside, away from food. The more I research about vinyl, though, the more ify it becomes. Some don’t recommend it at all in addition to a caution about using manufactured oil cloth. There are instructions online for how to make your own Linseed Oil Cloth and Beeswax Cloth, both probably the SAFEST options, but less convenient if they are not machine washable. Beeswax cloth is not machine washable.

By: Sarranea

Sarranea — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:06:04 +0000

PUL (polyurethane) is controversial. Some people use this material for food bags, some don’t take the risk. Some have suggested using a double layer of PUL on the outside and cotton on the interior so the PUL is not in direct contact with the food, yet the PUL maintains the waterproof quality.

One of the most important warnings I have read is to avoid plastics that contain BPA (Bisphenol A) which is known to be estrogenic. Canada (of course!) was the first brave and sensible country to declare BPA a toxic substance one year ago in September, 2010.

One other caution I would like to mention is that some vinyls are pretreated with vinyzene to make it mildew resistant. This would not be considered food safe.

So, avoid Vinyzene, BPA, possibly PUL, and PVC.
Look for PEVA or EVA.

By: Sarranea

Sarranea — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:30:43 +0000

If I am correct in my research online, you should not use a vinyl or plastic that is made of PVC (polymerizing vinyl chloride). It’s the chloride in there that is not food-safe. When it gets wet or moist, it releases dioxin, a carcinogen.

The safer choice is vinyls or plastics made of PEVA/EVA (polyethylene vinyl acetate/ethylene vinyl acetate) which don’t contain chloride.

I have a shower curtain made of EVA that I haven’t used and was thinking of repurposing it for these reusable food bags.

By: Victoria

Victoria — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:40:01 +0000

What a great idea!! Perfect for back to school. I featured this on my blog today: http://vixenmade.blogspot.com/2011/09/last-minute-back-to-school-projects.html

By: MSRtech

MSRtech — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:54:52 +0000

Dabbled | Tutorial: How to Make Environmentally Friendly Reusable Sandwich/Snack Bags http://t.co/r8d9ZT2

By: so_white

so_white — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 03:34:10 +0000

http://tinyurl.com/3l4ldu9
Dabbled | Tutorial: How to Make Environmentally Friendly Reusable Sandwich/Snack Bags