Lunchskins launches biodegradable straws and sandwich bags kit for plastic-wary consumers
08 Jan 2020 --- Reusable and recyclable products brand Lunchskins aims to replace two of the world’s greatest plastic pollutants – the plastic bag and the plastic straw – with its newly launched Plastic-Free Starter Kit. Its dual set of biodegradable paper straws and compostable paper sandwich bags provides consumers with a convenient way to reduce throwaway plastic consumption, without compromising on durability or usability. The launch comes as consumers are increasingly seeking plastic-free alternatives to everyday items and the EU’s 2021 ban on the ten most polluting single-use plastic items, including straws, begins to impact the food and beverage industry.
“As all of our products are packaged with recyclable packaging, we hope to inspire consumers to stop single-use plastic products and switch to sustainable and responsible packaged products,” Shannon Peters, CFO at Lunchskins, tells PackagingInsights. 
The starter kit includes both the straws and the sandwich bags in one package.The new Lunchskins kit features 25 compostable and recyclable paper sandwich bags and 25 long-lasting biodegradable paper straws. Suitable for both hot and cold beverages, the Lunchskin paper straws punch above their weight in terms of longevity, lasting well over three hours in contrast to standard paper straws, which typically lose their shape after 30 minutes. To guarantee this, the company sources high-quality, durable Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified kraft paper along with other proprietary manufacturing processing.
Also sourced from FSC-certified forests, the paper bags are made from high-quality, non-wax kraft paper. “The lunch bags are grease-resistant, making them ideal for subs, hoagies, baguettes and all sorts of other dry good foods. Our paper bags are uncoated and unbleached, without undergoing treatment with any type of wax, such as petroleum-based paraffin wax,” Peters affirms.
The kit’s convenient quantity and affordability ensures an attractive choice for consumers looking to reduce their plastic footprint. Striving to make the sustainable choice a convenient one, Lunchskins products are available wherever natural and organic products are sold, both on- and offline.
Responsible business
With sustainability being the name of the game, Lunchskins ensures that its production process balances out the net environmental impact of its paper products. “The materials used to make our paper bags will be 100 percent sourced from forests that are managed responsibly. Given that trees remove carbon from the atmosphere, FSC-Certified forests replace the trees that are cut down, which helps to offset the climate change impact,” Peters explains.
Not only does Lunchskins aim to bring awareness to plastic alternatives but also fill gaps in the sustainability marketplace and simultaneously fulfill the needs of its customers. “People want portability, affordability and accessibility from sustainable products, but they also want something that functions well. Our new products tick all of those boxes,” says Kirsten Quigley, CEO and Founder of Lunchskins.
Last August, Lunchskins launched reusable food storage bags, which can easily biodegrade and be recycled, tapping into a growing desire for environmentally-friendly options. “The bag represents a new paradigm in plastic-bag-free food storage. Every Lunchskins product helps heal the planet and promote consumer wellbeing, while also delivering on convenience, affordability and style,” Quigley concludes.
By Anni Schleicher
