PaperlessKitchen Blog

Back to School Sale at Paperless Kitchen!

It's that time of year! The little ones head back to school, making mornings stressful and your family's impact on the environment potentially greater. At Paperless Kitchen, we've been busy curating the best Back to School products for you and your family.

To make this Back to School season more affordable, we're offering 10% off all orders on the site through September 15th, 2015. Just use coupon code backtoschool10 for 10% off all orders! And remember that all orders over $50 receive Free Shipping! Coupon code expires September 15th, 2015.

  Bamboo Studio Bamboo Kids 5 Piece Butterfly Set - $23.99

 Lunchskins Sandwich Bag in Navy Shark - $12.95

Green Sprouts Safari Backpack - Blue Hippo - $20.95

Do you like our Back to School Best Sellers? Then you should also check out our blog posts on the Top Green Disposables for Back to School and the Top Green Reusables for Back to School. Remember that you can get all these great Back to School products for 10% Off through September 15, 2015 using coupon code: backtoschool10

And remember that all orders over $50 receive Free Shipping! 

Love any other products that are perfect for Back to School Season? Share them with us in the comments section!

Top Green Disposables for Back to School

Let's face it--disposable bags and food containers are convenient. When you're
stressed to get the kids ready for school in the morning and exhausted after running
to after school activities and finishing homework, sometimes you just don't want the
hassles of dealing with things you have to wash and reuse. But that doesn't mean
that back to school season has to mean compromising your green principles!
These disposable products will keep your life simple when the school year starts but
won't leave you with guilt over contributing to the planet's waste problem.

1. BioBag Resealable Sandwich Bags. The convenience of zip lock sandwich bags
without any of the plastic waste! These sandwich bags are made from a corn-based
plastic, and they're perfectly sized for sandwiches and snacks at 6.5 inches by 6.7
inches. You can buy them in single boxes of 25 or in cases of 12 to stock up for the
school year.
                                                

2. Eco Products Portion Cups. 2 and 3 ounce portion cups are perfect for fresh
fruits, pudding, applesauce, yogurt and dressings and dips. These ones are made
from a plant-based plastic called Inego, so they're 100 percent biodegradable. They
come in massive bulk packs, so you won't have to worry about running out any time
soon.

3. LeafWare Sterling Collection Silverware. Disposable silverware that doesn't
break! Leafware Sterling Collection forks, knives, spoons and sporks are fashioned
out of renewable birch wood. They're incredibly sturdy and perfect for slipping into
your kiddo's lunch box.

                                                      

4. Eco Product Clamshells. Want to send along leftovers that don't fit easily into a
baggie? Biodegradable disposable clamshells are the perfect solution. Eco Products
makes them out of foam like material similar to styrofoam and out of clear plant-
based plastic to suit your lunch-packing needs.

5. BioBag Plastic Wrap. Worried about something leaking in the lunchbox? Wrap it
up in BioBag plant-based plastic wrap! This cling wrap is strong and sturdy, but it's
completely free of toxic chemicals.

Are you already using any of these green disposables around the house? If so, tell us
about it in the comments section!

New Green Sprouts Products Available

We have gotten some rave reviews of our Green Sprouts products and have decided to expand our inventory and carry some new products from this green, BPA-free brand for kids. Some of the new pieces you'll find in our collection include:

- Green Sprouts Aqua Bottles - Sold in 5 colors, these toddler water bottles are unbreakable and have integrated straws.

- Green Sprouts Eco-Friendly Cornstarch Dinnerware - Made from corn-based plastics, this dinnerware line includes a bowl, a divided plate and a utensil set.

- Food Storage Cubes - Stackable, freeze-able and completely nontoxic, these are great for baby food.

- Green Sprouts Garden Lunch Line - This line of matching lunch bags, snack bags and nontoxic ice packs makes lunchtime greener.

- Green Sprouts Safari Utensil Set - Ready to travel with the included carrying case, this set includes a fork, a spoon and chopsticks.

- Green Sprouts Safari Bento Box in Blue Hippo - Toddlers love the Safari bento boxes, which are shaped like animals. We're pleased to offer the hippo to join the crocodile, the monkey and the lion.

These are just a few of the new Green Sprouts products in our collection. Check out the whole product line today.

5 New Ways to Pack Your Lunch with Fit & Fresh

During back to school season, we added two Fit & Fresh products to our collection, and after getting great feedback about them from our customers, we've added some new Fit & Fresh products to the Paperless Kitchen collection. Here are 10 of the latest and greatest items you'll find right here on our site:

1. Fit & Fresh Fruit and Veggie Bowl - This handy container has a built-in ice pack, four sections for fruits and veggies and a central lidded container for dip or dressing.

2. Fit & Fresh Jaxx Shaker - Available in four colors, this handy shaker is perfect for mixing weight loss shake and protein shakes because of its unique agitator.

3. Fit & Fresh Lunch Pod - This durable hard plastic container has a built-in ice pack and plenty of room for your sandwich.

4. Fit & Fresh Lunch Set - A set of three nesting containers, this set lets you bring a sandwich and two sides while keeping everything cool with a built-in ice pack.

5. Fit & Fresh Salad Shaker - With this container, you just pour in the salad dressing, turn the knob and shake to distribute it all over your salad when it's time to eat. The design includes an ice pack.

All Fit & Fresh products are free of BPA, making them nontoxic and safe for your family. Check out the entire collection to find the best way to pack your lunch!

10 Great Green Gifts for College Students

If you'll be visiting with college students over the holidays and want to give them a present they really can use, green gifts for dorms and off campus housing are ideal. Check out these 10 best sellers:

1. Bambu Bamboo Veneerware Silverware Set

College kids each tons of takeout, and with this silverware set, they'll always have forks, knives and spoons on hand for supper. The utensils are disposable and made out of bamboo.

2. Casabella i-Clean

This foldable microfiber cleaning cloth is perfect for smart phones, tablets and laptop computers. It removes oily fingerprints, dust and even food debris without water or cleaning products.

3. Eco Lunch Box Three-in-One Set

When they're packing up snacks to enjoy between classes, these nontoxic stainless steel lunch tins will come in handy.

4. Oots Luncbox

Perfect for picnicking on the lawns on a warm day, this Oots Lunchbox helps to keep food at the perfect temperature and is 100 percent nontoxic.

5. SKOY Deluxe Kitchen Set

The 12 cellulose cleaning cloths in this set are washable and reusable. College students can use them for cleaning sinks, dishes and bathrooms in en suites.

6. ThinkSport LiveStrong Stainless Steel Sport Bottle in Silver

Perfect for hot beverages and cold beverages alike, this nontoxic stainless steel water bottle can go to class, the library or the gym with ease.

7. To-Go Ware RePEat Complete Bamboo Utensil Set

This set of four reusable bamboo utensil sets comes with carrying cases that can clip onto backpacks or be hung from a convenient spot in the kitchen area.

8. Toockies Circulation Gloves

Help her get her skin smooth and soft with these circulation gloves, which are handmade out of organic cotton.

9. Twist Naturals Set

With the four cleaning tools in this set, there will be no excuse for leaving the dishes in the sink until tomorrow.

10. People Towels Don't Panic Set

These hip and colorful organic cotton towels are perfect for the gym, hand-wiping or even cleaning up a spill.

The Paperless Future of Textbooks

Textbooks are an important part of learning in schools and colleges, but they are also a significant consumer of paper. In many subjects, particularly scientific fields, new editions are released annually, so students cannot even opt for used books to conserve paper.

    One company, Trunity, is seeking to reduce the amount of paper used for textbook printing while helping educators access timely, useful material for their classes. The company has developed a cloud platform and has uploaded articles and other resources that schools and universities can access by paying a fee per class. New information is constantly being added with older information regularly updated and removed when needed.

    Trunity is not the only company interested in taking textbooks paperless. Several major textbook publishers, including McGraw Hill, now offer electronic versions of popular titles. Not only are the electronic versions greener, but they're also less expensive. In some cases, the e-books cost only one-third of the paper versions.

    If you're a college student, check out the electronic options for textbooks as the new semester gets underway. While not all titles are available in e-book format, the number is increasing rapidly.

Healthy Child Healthy World's New e-Book Can Help Make Schools and Daycares Greener

Throughout the country, schools are back in session, and in honor of back to school, I wanted to share a great e-book that I stumbled upon from Healthy Child Healthy World. If you're not familiar with the organization, they are a nonprofit based in Los Angeles, California. Their mission is to spread the word about the dangers of toxic chemicals and how they impact children. The organization is involved in a lot of activities from lobbying Congress to petitioning companies that use dangerous chemicals in children's products to educating parents through various outreach programs.

The e-book, "Easy Steps to a Healthy School," focuses on eliminating chemicals from daycares and schools. The book is free and available to browse in full color online. The guide is divided into sections, the first eight of which focus on greening a particular aspect of the school with chapters devoted to cleaning supplies, art supplies, food, pesticides, air quality, the playground and daycare and preschools. The final chapter discusses challenges that could stand in the way of schools' efforts.

Completing the e-book are sections about being an advocate and taking action and a list of resources. The entire guide is very well written, insightful and easy to read. It's an eye-opening e-book for parents as well as for teachers and administrators. I encourage anyone with children to check out the free e-book. Let us know what you think once you've read it by posting a message in the "Comments" section.

Paperless Kitchen Tested: thinkBaby Bento Box

Recently, I reviewed the thinkBaby Kids Cup, a product that we recently added as a part of our Back to School collection. I'm back this time with the thinkBaby Bento Box to see how it fares in my kitchen road test.

The Basics

The thinkBaby Bento Box is a BPA-free polypropylene snack container with a BPA-free stainless steel liner. I was sort of surprised by how small it is. I was envisioning something that I could put a sandwich in, but it's really more of a snack container. Even though Bento boxes are normally compartmentalized, this one does not have any dividers.

The Test

Although I was disappointed by the size of the bento box, I did find that it was the perfect size for carrots and apple slices. I packed up my box and put it in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Then, I left it out for 2 hours to simulate being at school. The metal inside of the bento box was still a little cold to the touch, and my veggies and fruit were still delicious. The apple hadn't even browned that much the way it would in a plastic bag.

The Wash

The bento box was simple to clean in the dishwasher. I put it on the top rack, and it came out looking as good as new.

The Takeaway

The thinkBaby bento box is definitely made for little ones because of its size, but an adult could use it for snacks, especially for ones that you' like to keep cold. The lid is very easy to open, but it's also easy to lock in place. I imagine a child would have an easy time with it, and after turning it over, I can tell you that it doesn't leak when the lid is on as well as when one of the four flaps on the lid wasn't turned over. The only thing I don't like about the bento box is that the stainless steel has a bad smell that is more metallic than my cup. It seems to have diminished some since the first wash. I hope it continues to fade.

Paperless Kitchen Tested: thinkBaby BPA Free Kids Cup

As a part of introducing our Back to School collection on Paperless Kitchen, I've spent some time investigating some of our newer products. First up is the thinkBaby BPA Free Kids Cup.

The Basics

The thinkBaby BPA Free Kids Cup is a BPA-free drinking cup intended for children. It is outfitted with a removable stainless steel liner and has an orange plastic exterior with a handle. The cup holds about 9 ounces of fluid. When I first opened the package, I was struck by how heavy the cup is. You can tell that it's really solidly crafted. It doesn't have that chinsy, flimsy feeling in the handle that you find in a lot of plastic cups.

The Drink

Since I know of only one way to test a cup, I filled it up with some coffee. Even though the cup doesn't have a lid, I felt like my drink stayed a lot hotter than it did in an ordinary coffee cup. The cup also didn't feel hot to the touch, so it was easy to drink from. I was worried that the liner would move when I sipped because it lifts out really easily, but I was pleasantly surprised. It didn't move at all.

The Wash

I decided to give the cup a wash up in the sink and wash it in the dishwasher for my road test. It was really easy to clean both ways and looked good as new after washing it in the bottom rack of the dishwasher.

The Takeaway

I know this cup is for kids, but I intend to keep using it. It just says "Think" on the front, so I think I can get away with it. Even if I can't, it's too good of a cup to care.

Introducing...Fit & Fresh

As a part of our Back to School department, we've added some new brands to the Paperless Kitchen family. One such brand is Fit & Fresh, a company committed to limiting our exposure to the harmful toxin BPA.

We've added a few different Fit & Fresh products to our collection, including:

- Fit & Fresh Kids 1 Cup Chill Container - This plastic bag alternative has a built-in icepack to keep lunches cool.

- Fit and Fresh Kids Hot Lunch Container - Your kids will get a hot lunch without eating cafeteria food when you bring home this container. It even has a lower compartment for storing crackers for soup.

Be sure to check out these green lunchtime solutions and let us know what you think!