Beeswax wraps and silicone bags are the whole game.

Packing a lunch without plastic wrap, foil, or disposable baggies is pretty easy once you have three things: beeswax wraps, a couple of silicone bags, and one decent container with compartments.

Beeswax wraps are the direct replacement for plastic wrap and foil. They cling to themselves when you warm them with your hands, so you can wrap a sandwich, a hunk of cheese, or half an avocado and it stays put. They’re washable in cool water and last about a year. The vegan versions work fine too if you’re not into beeswax.

For snacks like grapes, cherry tomatoes, or trail mix, skip the baggy entirely. Get a silicone Stasher-style bag or just toss them into your main lunchbox if it has dividers. If you don’t want to buy anything new, use a small jam jar for berries or cut fruit. Wet stuff like dressing or yogurt goes in a tiny jar too.

The biggest mindset shift is to use a bento-style box instead of a plain one. With dividers, you don’t need to package each thing separately at all. Put the sandwich directly in, pile the carrot sticks next to it, and close the lid. Nothing touches everything, and you’re done. A cloth napkin can double as a wrap for bread if you’re going out to eat later and don’t want it crushed.

You don’t need to drop a hundred bucks on fancy zero-waste gear. A pack of beeswax wraps and a couple of silicone bags will cover most lunches, and any jars or containers you already own fill in the gaps. The only real expense is the first purchase, and it pays for itself in about a month of not buying sandwich bags.

Future you gets to stop feeling guilty every time you toss a plastic ziplock, which is worth more than the convenience.