Silicone bags are the workhorse; beeswax wraps are the backup.

You can pack a lunch with zero single-use plastic using silicone bags for the wet stuff and beeswax wraps for everything else.

Silicone bags are the upgrade you’ll actually use. They handle sandwiches, apple slices, leftover pasta, or anything with a sauce. They’re basically Tupperware that bends, and you can toss them in the dishwasher. If you’re only buying one thing, get these. A couple of medium sizes will cover most of the week.

Beeswax wraps are thinner and pickier. They’re great for wrapping cheese, a bagel, or covering a bowl of cut veggies. They seal by the heat of your hands, so don’t expect a tight lock like a zipper. Keep them away from raw meat and anything hot, and rinse them with cold water after use. They do wear out after a year or so, but you can refresh them with a little more wax.

One practical tip: don’t jam a beeswax wrap around a dripping peach. Use the silicone bag for that. Wraps are for dry-ish stuff and odd shapes. And be honest with yourself — if you know you won’t wash out a silicone bag at work, just pop it in the dishwasher when you get home. That’s still zero plastic.

It’s a small habit change, but it kills a lot of lunchtime trash.