4 Eco-friendly Alternatives to Plastic Cling Wrap

 

Is it possible to live without plastic cling wrap? It’s one of the biggest questions most people ask themselves once they have started reducing their dependency on single-use plastic. Let’s be honest, food-grade plastic cling wraps are so convenient to use whenever you want to securely wrap food items (most especially leftover food) in containers to maintain their freshness over a longer period of time. However, the cost of its convenience is the accumulation of plastic waste that takes thousands of years to decompose in landfills. Luckily, we live in an era where there are already plenty of options available that could replace single-use plastic cling wrap. These alternatives are considered “greener” because they are either reusable and/or made from biodegradable materials.

1. Beeswax Wrap

Image Credit: Milea PH

Beeswax wrap is made from organic cotton fabric that has been infused with beeswax, resin (e.g. pine resin) and vegetable oil (normally either coconut or jojoba oil). Basically, you just need to use the warmth of your hands to soften the beeswax as you pressed the wrap around the food or container. As the beeswax cools down, it will harden to keep the seal intact. The beeswax also makes the wrap waterproof to protect the food from unwanted external moisture, thus preserving its freshness.

Beeswax wrap is especially recommended for wrapping dry food like fruits, vegetables, cheese and bread. It is not suited for wrapping wet food items like raw meat and raw fish. It’s also important to note that beeswax wrap is not suitable for microwave use since its high heat can completely melt the beeswax. On the other hand, it is refrigerator and freezer friendly.

It’s easy to reuse beeswax wrap as all you need to do is to hand wash it with cool water and mild soap, allow to air dry before folding it just like any cloth. However, the wax coating of the wrap will wear out over time (approximately after 1 year of regular usage with proper care). But there’s nothing to worry, beeswax wrap is biodegradable and compostable so it won’t pollute the environment once thrown out.

Overall, beeswax wrap is a pretty good alternative to plastic cling wrap, plus it is available in variety of sizes and designs. However, it is pricey and can’t be used in microwave as compared to other plastic wrap alternatives.

Where to buy in the Philippines:

Milea NatuWrap Beeswax Food Wrap – Milea PH

2. Silicone Cling Wrap

Image Credit: Kimmshops

Silicone cling wrap (also known as silicone saran wrap) is normally sold as a set of pre-cut silicone square sheets that can stretch double its size so that it can tightly wrap around food and containers of different sizes. It can stick well to any container (whether round, square or rectangle) with smooth surface like glass, ceramic, melamine and stainless steel. Since it’s made from food grade silicone, you can also safely use it to directly wrap partially opened food (e.g. half-cut apple).

Silicone cling wrap is refrigerator, freezer, microwave and dishwasher safe. It can be reused several times as long as you wash and dry it completely after each use. Again, it’s important to dry it really well before reusing otherwise it won’t stick to the container.

Where to buy in the Philippines:

4 Pieces Silicone Food Wrap – Kimmshops

3. Silicone Food Covers

Image Credit: Miki Mall

Silicone food covers are very similar to silicone cling wrap except that they look more like lids with tiny tabs on the edge for easy pulling. They are also available in different sizes, shapes (round, rectangle and square) and colors so you can easily find the one that fits your chosen container.

Where to buy in the Philippines:

6 Pieces Silicone Food Cover – Miki Mall

4. Compostable Cling Wrap

Image Credit: Hearth

Among all the entries on this list, this is the closest alternative to plastic cling wrap in terms of material and packaging. Unlike petroleum-based plastic cling wrap, compostable cling wrap is normally made from plant-based bioplastic that is derived from corn starch, cassava or sugar cane. This makes it a non-toxic “greener” plastic cling wrap that is both safe to the humans and the environment. Unlike traditional plastics that can take thousands of years to decompose, compostable cling wrap can only take less than 200 days to decompose in a commercial compost facility and 2-5 years in landfills.

Compostable cling wrap is refrigerator, freezer and microwave safe. Since it’s compostable, the cling wrap will naturally deteriorate after a year from its manufacturing date, so it’s best to only purchase what you need instead of stocking several rolls at once.

Where to buy in the Philippines:

Compostable Cling Wrap – Hearth

Have you tried any of the “greener” plastic cling wrap alternatives on this list? Share your experience in the comment section below J

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and purchase the products, I’ll receive some commission.