My Sustainable Swap ~ By Emily Robben

Despite my degree and career in sustainability, I am pretty skeptical about eco-friendly fads. When I first heard about beeswax-coated fabric wraps a few years ago, I decided to wait it out and read the reviews. Would they make my food soggy? Would they absorb food smells? Would they seal?

I am a stubborn person, and certainly don’t like to admit to being wrong, but these wraps have turned into one of my favorite sustainable swaps. I only wish it hadn’t taken me three years to finally try them out.

Smell? The lack of stink is incredible. They don’t absorb smells at all—not even onion or steamed cauliflower. It’s magical. My fridge even smells better. Some wax wraps have a strong, earthy resin smell, these are just right because they’re made with right combination of tree resin, 100% pure beeswax, and jojoba oil.

Stickiness? What’s more satisfying than perfectly stretched plastic wrap? Well…not much. But these beeswax wraps hold just as good a seal over casserole dishes or around half-cut vegetables as plastic or foil. It did take me a few tries to figure it out, but once I got the technique down, they’re easy to use. Simply warm the wrap with your hands as you crimp and pleat the wrap onto itself, the self-sealing wax sticks to itself no problem.

Freshness? I like to pack my lunch for work the night before. But an overnight in the fridge usually means my chips get a little soggy and stale tasting. With plastic bags, I would squeeze out as much air as possible, and this would help, but wasn’t perfect. These wraps keep all my salty snacks and my sandwiches fresh. Both beeswax and jojoba oil contain natural antibacterial properties that keep foods fresh. And, the seal created keeps air out. All of the wraps offered by What’s Good can be used to create bags just by rolling three sides with a little crunch to seal, then fill and close the top opening. They’ve stayed shut in my lunch box so far, but if you have a kid that likes to swing their stuff around, one of the wax coated wraps with a button and twine closure might be a more secure option.

Washing? I hate dishes, and I was worried about washing them (as opposed to tossing plastic bags). It is so easy. A quick wipe with a sponge is all it takes. I’ll be honest, I don’t always wash them! Breadcrumbs, pretzel bits or carrot juice just wipes off with a clean sponge or rinse. When something sticky or sweet like peanut butter and jelly goops it up, you can wipe down more thoroughly with mild soap and cold water.

Long story short, everyone I know is getting a set for Christmas. These beeswax wraps are a great alternative to plastic wrap, plastic sandwich bags, and foil. Unlike other beeswax wraps, these are made by pros using 100% pure beeswax, nothing imitation or mixed with paraffin. What’s Good has you covered with combo packs, sandwich sets, and casserole sized wraps. If you haven’t tried them yet, you are missing out.

About Emily:

Hi! I’m Emily Robben and I am thrilled to be a content creator for What’s Good. I first became interested in environmental science in high school. I had one of those really cool teachers who an infectious love for the subject. I caught the bug and studied sustainability in college. A year abroad in Switzerland opened my eyes to just how far the US has to go to reduce our environmental impact.

I have a background in waste reduction and am currently working as a scientist at a global environmental consulting firm. I love helping companies improve their triple bottom line:  the environmental, social, and economical aspects of their companies. While I believe companies have a huge role in reducing society’s environmental impact, we all play a part. From choosing to support certain companies, investing in reusable products, or reducing energy consumption, no action is too small to matter!