6 Nontoxic Plastic Wrap Alternatives

Last Updated on February 28, 2024 by Nico

Single use plastics like plastic wrap are damaging to the environment and to our health. Here are some simple plastic wrap alternatives that are less toxic to our bodies and the planet.

Most people know that single use plastics are harmful to the environment. And plastic wrap is the poster child for why single use plastics are a problem. Not only does it not biodegrade, research has shown that the chemicals used to manufacture plastic wrap can leach into our food. And these chemicals have been shown to be toxic to our health.

There are many simple plastic wrap alternatives that are less expensive and less toxic. And you probably have most of them kicking around your home already! (Sneak peek: check out how to make DIY beeswax wraps without resin).

Table of Contents

What’s the problem with plastic wrap?

Made with chloride

The key chemical used in plastic wrap historically was polyvinylidene chloride or PVDC. It was originally discovered by a scientist who was tinkering around with two by-products of a dry-cleaning chemical: hydrocarbon and chloride. Understandably, when people became aware that they were wrapping their food in plastic made from chloride, the companies making plastic wrap changed their formulation slightly to avoid using such high levels of chloride.

However chloride-based plastic wrap is still used today, primarily in the meatpacking industry because it prevents food spoilage more effectively than the alternatives.

Health concerns

Today, most plastic wraps are made from polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). When these chemicals leach into your food, research has shown that they can cause hormone disruption and reproductive problems, asthma, irritation in your nose and throat, and more. Yuck.

Leaching is more likely if the plastic wrap is used more than once, heated, or used with foods with higher fat content like meat and cheese.

Very difficult and expensive to recycle

Because plastic wrap is such a thin plastic, it clogs up the shredders in the recycling machines. Recycling centres can buy specialised equipment that is able to handle plastic wrap but the cost of these machines makes the cost of recycling plastic wrap more than the cost of just making new wrap.

Not biodegradable

Plastic wrap takes hundreds of years to break down in the landfill meaning that all the plastic we’ve used in our lives is still somewhere on our planet.

Toxic by-products

When plastic wrap ends up in landfills, it can release the highly toxic chemical dioxin. Dioxin does not easily break down in the environment and can cause cancer and reproductive problems in humans and wildlife.

Simple plastic wrap alternatives

Thankfully there are a ton of plastic wrap alternatives that are much less toxic and less expensive. Better yet, you probably already have them kicking around your home.

Glass jars

While you could invest in a set of mason jars, you don’t need to buy anything new. Instead, just hold onto the glass jars your supermarket food comes in, like sauces or pickles. These make great and sustainable food storage!

Glass containers

Glass containers with airtight lids are a good option. I like to use pyrex glass containers because (at least in my experience) they can survive being dropped and last for many years.

Beeswax wraps

Beeswax wraps are a good option to cover bowls and smaller containers in the fridge. I like to use a rubber band to hold the sides down to make them more airtight. Here’s how to make your own.

Cotton bowl covers

Cotton bowl covers are another good alternative to plastic wrap. You buy them online or rub a small amount of avocado or coconut oil on one side of a piece of clean cotton and use a rubber band to hold them around your bowl.