The Best Plastic Wrap Alternative - Reusable Lids and Covers

The Perfect Plastic Wrap Alternative

Looking For Something To Use Instead Of Plastic Cling Wrap?

Want To Save Money In The Process?

Silicone makes a great alternative, and it’s totally reusable!

Nearly every household has some version of plastic storage film on hand to cover dishes, wrap produce, or save leftovers. Plastic wrap makes the ideal all-purpose cover for nearly anything, and it helps to preserve freshness when saving food for later. If you don’t have a lid that fits, or if you need to cover a dish or bowl that never came with one, cling wrap is the perfect solution.

It sticks onto common container materials, and it seals securely to create an airtight lid. You really can’t beat plastic wrap for convenience and utility, but many people prefer a more sustainable option because it helps avoid the downside of using so much plastic. Although many alternatives are impractical or expensive, when you switch to a high quality, silicone-based, plastic wrap alternative, you will quickly begin to save money, reduce waste, and increase convenience.

What Is Plastic Wrap?

Incredibly thin and flexible, plastic wrap is a smooth, see-through plastic film that was actually created by accident. When working on other projects, scientists discovered a stubborn substance clinging to the bottom of a beaker. After some experimentation, they adapted the substance, and it began to be used by the military to line boots and airplanes due to it’s ability to repel water.

Later commercial and home uses were discovered, and now millions of tons of plastic wrap are produced every year to satisfy consumer demand. Today, we use derivatives of the original formula to wrap and seal all sorts of stuff, in a wide variety of settings.

The primary material used in plastic wrap is polyethylene, a type of plastic derived from crude oil or natural gas. Polyethylene is a versatile and widely used plastic that can be made into various forms, including thin films like plastic wrap. It is known for its transparency, flexibility, and ability to cling tightly to surfaces, making it ideal for wrapping food and creating airtight seals.

Plastic wrap is often used to cover leftovers, fruits, vegetables, sandwiches, and other food items to extend their shelf life and protect them from drying out or absorbing odors from other foods. It is also commonly used for microwave-safe food coverings and preventing splatters during reheating.

While plastic wrap is convenient and widely used, it has significant environmental drawbacks due to its single-use nature and its contribution to plastic pollution. As a result, many people are seeking more sustainable alternatives, such as beeswax wraps, silicone lids, and reusable food storage containers, to reduce their reliance on plastic wrap and minimize plastic waste.

Why Plastic Wrap Is Bad

You may have heard that plastic wrap is bad because it’ll contaminate your food in some way, but current science indicates that this is probably false, and is not something you should worry about. You would never want to ingest any plastic because that would actually be bad, but there’s no reason to worry when using it to cover your food.

There are definitely dangerous chemicals involved in the creation of plastic wrap, but they pose a greater risk to the environment, and the real danger only arises as the plastic begins to break down, well after it’s been disposed of. Outside of the inconvenience of running out, or the high cost of repeated purchases, the main reason that most people consider plastic wrap to be a bad option when covering leftovers is due to the amount of waste it creates.

Very few people rinse and recycle their wrap, so most of it goes in the trash, and ends up in landfills. Once there, it takes an incredibly long time to break down as the PVC material is not biodegradable.

You can avoid adding to the mountains of plastic trash that already exist by recycling your wrap instead, but flimsy film isn’t easy to deal with, and even the professionals have trouble processing it. Without specialized equipment the film will actually clog the machines. And there is no real incentive to do it because when making new wrap from recycled material it costs more money that using freshly sourced materials.

When cling film eventually ends up in a landfill or incinerator instead, the WHO claims that it will release a toxic chemical called Dioxin.

Top Reasons To Avoid Using Plastic Wrap

There are many reasons to switch from expensive plastic products, and use something else. Whether you’re looking to save money, or save the environment, if you stop using plastic products to cover your leftovers you can easily makes steps towards accomplishing both goals. Below are some of the top reasons to consider an alternative product to replace plastic wrap and cling films in your home.

The Environmental Impact:

Plastic wrap is a single-use plastic product that contributes to the global plastic pollution problem. It is made from non-renewable fossil fuels, and its production leads to the release of greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants. Once used, plastic wrap often ends up in landfills or the environment, where it takes hundreds of years to decompose, causing harm to wildlife and ecosystems.

To Reduce Plastic Waste:

The extensive use of plastic wrap generates vast amounts of plastic waste that is challenging to recycle and dispose of properly. Recycling rates for plastic wrap are generally low, leading to a significant amount of plastic ending up in the environment.

Avoid Chemical Migration:

Some people think that plastic wrap may be able to leach harmful chemicals into food, especially when it comes into contact with hot or acidic items. Some studies suggest that certain chemicals found in plastic, such as phthalates and bisphenol-A (BPA), may pose health risks, including potential hormone disruption.

Plastic is Non-Biodegradable:

Plastic wrap does not biodegrade like natural materials, such as paper or cloth. Instead, it breaks down into smaller microplastic particles that can contaminate soil and water, harming wildlife and entering the food chain. This fact alone is a great reason to switch to a plastic wrap alternative.

Plastic Products Result In Resource Depletion:

The production of plastic wrap requires significant amounts of natural resources, including oil and natural gas. By reducing our reliance on plastic wrap, we can help conserve these valuable resources.

Wide Range of Sustainable Alternatives:

There are numerous Eco-friendly alternatives to plastic wrap, such as beeswax wraps, silicone lids, and reusable food storage containers. These alternatives are reusable, biodegradable, and often made from sustainable materials. Why not switch to something that is better.

Composting Issues:

Most plastic wraps are not compostable, and when they end up in composting facilities, they can contaminate the compost and disrupt the composting process.

By avoiding plastic wrap and choosing reusable, Eco-friendly alternatives, we can reduce plastic waste, minimize environmental pollution, and promote healthier and more sustainable practices in our daily lives. Making small changes in our consumption habits can collectively have a significant positive impact on the environment.

Popular Plastic Wrap Alternatives

Once you realize that you want to make the change, you’ll be faced with a variety of options that can fill the void. Alternatives to plastic wrap are gaining in popularity due to the benefits involved, and some of the most popular options are listed below. These great products and techniques will help you to avoid single-use plastic, but if you want an even better option, continue past the list to read about the best alternatives that follow.

Beeswax Wraps:

Beeswax wraps are made from organic cotton infused with beeswax, resin, and jojoba oil. They are flexible, sticky, and can be molded around food items or containers, creating a seal. They are reusable and can be washed with cool, soapy water and air-dried. These won’t cling as well as plastic, but they do provide good protection.

Reusable Silicone Food Storage Bags:

These bags are made from food-grade silicone and come in various sizes to store food items. They are airtight, leak-proof, and can be used for storing both dry and wet foods. They are dishwasher-safe and reusable. This option is not a cover, and is more like a container, but it is totally reusable, and it will keep food fresh when stored inside.

Mason Jars and Glass Containers:

Mason jars and glass containers with tight-fitting lids are excellent alternatives for storing leftovers, meal preps, or dry goods. They are durable, non-toxic, and can be used in the fridge, freezer, or pantry. Due to the size, the stuff you can store will be limited, and as with the bag option above, jars are not covers, so they would not be a direct replacement for plastic wrap. Jars and glass containers do offer good protection and preservation when used to store food.

Cloth Food Covers:

Cloth food covers are breathable and can be used to cover plates, bowls, or even directly wrap certain food items. They are washable and reusable, making them an Eco-friendly choice. Cloth covers will protect food, but they will not keep it as fresh when compared to plastic alternatives. Also cloth won’t cling like plastic either. You can wash the cloths and reuse them, but they will not be as convenient for everyday use.

Parchment Paper or Wax Paper:

For covering baking dishes or wrapping certain food items, parchment paper or wax paper can be used. While these papers are disposable, they are often compostable or biodegradable, making them more Eco-friendly than plastic wrap.

Aluminum Foil (with caution):

While not entirely Eco-friendly, aluminum foil can be a better alternative than plastic wrap for certain applications. It can be reused if cleaned properly and can be recycled in some areas.

Cloth Napkins or Towels:

Large cloth napkins or kitchen towels can be used to cover bowls or wrap food items temporarily. They are washable and reusable.

By incorporating these plastic wrap alternatives into your kitchen routine, you can significantly reduce your plastic waste and help protect the environment. Reusable options not only save money in the long run but also reduce the demand for single-use plastics that have a negative impact on the planet.

The Best Plastic Wrap Alternatives

If you want something that performs just as well as plastic wrap, and something that’s just as convenient, continue reading to learn more about our 100% silicone storage solutions. They are just as clingy, super stretchy, and totally washable and reusable. You’ll be able to cover all of the same stuff, but instead of throwing the cover away when your done with it, you can just toss it in the dishwasher to use over and over again.

Unlike other alternatives that are expensive and don’t perform as well, our high quality silicone wraps and covers offer incredible performance at an affordable price. When you switch from plastic to silicone, you won’t have to worry about waste, you won’t be making the job more difficult. With repeated use, you’ll begin saving tons of money.

1. Silicone Stretch Lids

Our universal stretch lids provide a secure lid on a wide variety of containers. You can use them as a replacement for lost lids, or as an extremely adaptable option when covering all sorts of stuff. Although they are round in shape, you can use them to create an airtight lid on square, round, rectangle or oval containers.

The deep lids grip tight to the sides of the dish or pot you’re covering, so even when stretched to the max, they will stay securely in place. Thanks to the superior silicone material with no filler plastics, these lids can flex and stretch to adapt to most containers, but they will never lose shape or become less effective. You can use them over and over again, and they’ll be just as clingy and stretchy as they were when new.

Anyone can switch and get great results. The versatile lids are simple to use, and thanks to the high quality construction, the performance is nearly fool-proof.

We have a large stretch lid that’s available individually, but we also carry sets of lids that come complete with a variety of sizes. Each one is incredibly stretchy, so they can adapt to fit on all shapes and sizes of containers.

How To Use Them:

Step 1: As you can see in the image above, you simply select a lid that’s smaller that the item you’re covering, then just pull it to stretch and cover securely.

Step 2: To begin covering, just position the lid over one edge of the dish. The ridges inside the lid, and the sticky material will cause the silicone to grip tightly to the material.

Step 3: Now just pull the opposite side, and stretch to cover the whole dish. To ensure a secure fit, make sure that the edge of the lid is pulled down far enough to grip the rim of the dish on all sides.

The picture above shows a large dish after it has been covered. The tight lid will keep stuff fresh inside, and it’s way more rigid than plastic film, so it’ll provide more protection in comparison, and it’ll also allow for stacking.

When you have a full set of stretch lids on hand, you’ll be prepared to avoid plastic wrap in all situations.

What You Can Use Them On:

Quickly cover a bowl of leftovers from dinner, or stick an airtight lid on a mug, cup or can to keep the beverage fresh for later. You can easily preserve food with the help of these lids, no matter what size or shape container it’s in. In fact, our silicone stretch lids will cling and cover tightly in many situations where plastic wrap would fail.

Not only can you cover regular stuff like bowls, plates and mugs, but with these versatile lids, you can also cover and preserve other stuff like produce. Stretch a lid over the half of a melon for a quick and easy way to save it for later. Regular wrap would just slide right off, but our silicone lids will grip tight to ensure your food stays covered. Never worry about brown or mushy fruit, but don’t force yourself to consume the whole thing in one sitting. Simply pop a cover over the end you cut, and it’ll stay perfectly fresh for several days.

2. Silicone Cling Film

Although our stretch lids are perfect for a variety of situations, they can be too bulky, too large, or just overkill for others. Also, some people just like the simple function of a flat sheet. For this reason, we also have silicone cling wrap too.

It’s also super stretchy, and able to cling to a variety of materials, and you can use it over and over again after washing. It makes a great alternative to regular plastic wrap. Our premium quality silicone stretch film is the perfect solution for quickly covering a dish of food before reheating in the microwave, but it also provides a long-lasting, secure cover, so you can use it for long-time storage in your fridge or freezer too.

In the picture above, you can see how it clings tightly to the bowl in order to protect and cover the food. When used as a microwave cover, it’ll block any splatters, but also hold in steam to help cook food more evenly.

Much thicker than regular plastic wrap, our silicone cling film alternative performs in the same way. It’s still extremely stretchy and flexible, so you can apply it to anything you would normally, but once in place it’ll provide stronger, longer-lasting protection.

How To Use It:

Each set includes a variety of sizes, and each piece of cling film is square in shape. With all sizes available, you should be able to cover and seal most common container sizes.

Step 1: To use it, just stick and cling to any dish you need to cover.

Step 2: Once the silicone is clinging to one side, pull to stretch it tight over the dish, and then press to seal it in place. The flexible material will adapt and conform to stick perfectly to any shape container.

It has a studded texture on one side to help you grip and stretch it, and the other side is totally smooth and extra sticky. The reinforced corners allow you to pull and stretch without worry, and the strong silicone material will never warp or tear. As with the lids mentioned above, the 100% silicone construction makes each piece of film dishwasher safe and completely reusable.

Quickly cover bowls of food, or leftover beverages, but never hassle with ripping and tearing annoying plastic film. These thick sheets will never shred apart, or ball together, so you can quickly grab one to cover your dish without frustration. They’re totally temperature safe, so you can use one to store stuff in your pantry, in your fridge, in your freezer, or in your microwave.

Stop creating so much trash, but don’t try too hard, or spend too much money in the process. Our universal silicone storage lids and stretch wraps are the easy way to avoid using plastic wrap. You won’t have to put in any extra effort, and it won’t cost you a dime. Over a short period these lids will easily pay for themselves, and they couldn’t be easier to use.

They are functionally very similar to regular plastic, but with added advantages. Your food will be more protected, and it will stay fresh longer. As an added bonus, you’ll never wonder if you have wrap in the drawer, and you’ll never have to run to the store last minute if your out.

Quality Matters – Choose The Best

Be careful when trying similar plastic wrap alternatives sold elsewhere. Our products are thoroughly tested, and they have been sourced from the best manufacturers. You may see similar looking stuff, but in most cases the silicone material will be lower quality. When trying to use low quality silicone, or silicone with other plastic fillers to cover your food, it won’t cling as well, it won’t hold as long, and it may just pop right off. If you want to ensure a snug fit and long-lasting performance, be sure to get the high quality products that we carry.

Bottom Line

It’s easy to avoid using plastic wrap, and if you do, you can save money and reduce waste in the process. Some plastic wrap alternatives will require you to give up convenience or level of protection, but when you choose a better alternative you’ll avoid the downside.

Silicone stretch lids and silicone cling films act just like regular plastic wrap when covering leftover foods, but they are totally washable and reusable later on. Get an airtight seal in just a few seconds, and keep stuff fresh for long periods. Anyone could easily make the switch without any hassle, and you’ll quickly rack up savings as you avoid buying refill rolls at the store.

Got a better way to avoid using plastic wrap? We would love to hear it. If you share your method in the comments section below, we’ll be sure to share with everyone else.