U Konserve (7)

Here are some dire statistics: 50 percent of the plastic used in the United States is only used once, then thrown away, and Americans toss more than 30 million tons of plastic a year. Even more surprising? Only eight percent of that plastic gets recycled! The rest of it sits piled in landfills or adds litter to the land. Our oceans don’t fare much better—today there are more than five trillion pieces of plastic floating in our oceans. And take the typical scenario of school lunch prep, which happens in homes around the country on a regular basis. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a school-age child using a disposable lunch container generates approximately 67 pounds of lunch waste in a school year. The numbers might be grim, but there have been some promising developments in the world of reusable containers, such as companies like U-Konserve. Read on to learn how this brand is helping us reduce our reliance on plastic, one container at a time.

The History of U-Konserve

In the mid-2000’s, Lynn Julian and Chance Claxton both had growing families and were struggling to be environmentally conscious consumers. Every time they packed school lunches, these moms knew the plastic bags and drink cartons they used would end up in a landfill. In 2008, the first U-Konserve product launched: a waste-free lunch kit. What began as a way to have a lasting impact among school-age children has grown into a movement to offer reusable and responsible solutions for every type of food storage need.

U-Konserve Company Mission

U-Konserve’s mission is to offer smart, affordable solutions to reduce our planet’s reliance on plastic, and to inspire families to reduce their environmental impact. To help support this mission, the brand passes on a 20 percent discount to school families, and supports schools to have waste-free lunch sales to stock up on reusable storage at an even greater discount.

Benefits of U-Konserve

When you invest in reusable food storage (like lunch boxes, straws, and cups), it creates a ripple effect around the planet. In the case of plastic straws, Eco Cycle reports that Americans use 500 million straws per day. “Based on this national average, each person in the United States will use approximately 38,000 or more straws between the ages of 5 and 65.” To do its part, U-Konserve estimates the brand has helped keep 74 million plastic straws out of the waste stream. As a Certified B Corporation, the brand has met and exceeded rigorous standards focusing on environmental and social impact, and is committed to supporting the environment. All of U-Konserve’s products are non-toxic and tested by CPSIA-accredited independent labs to ensure that they’re free of BPA, phthalates, and lead.

Top U-Konserve Products

Our members love U-Konserve products. Check out some of their favorites:

Stainless Steel Straws, 2 pack

Try this duo to help curb your reliance on plastic straws. BPA-, phthalate-, and lead-free, they’re just the right size for sipping smoothies, iced lattes, cocktails, and more.

Round Nesting Trio, 3 Pack

This trio of round containers is the perfect way to save leftovers, transport snacks, or pack a homemade lunch. They nest for easy storage, and help keep plastic out of landfills.

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