Packaging
The brand avoids traditional single-use plastic packaging for most products. For example, its compostable bag sets are sold in recyclable cardboard boxes (with eco-friendly inks) rather than plastic. The large paper lunch sacks do come bundled in a thin polyolefin film wrapper, but this wrap is recyclable through store drop-offs and comes with clear instructions for consumers on how to recycle it. In Lunchskins’ case, the use of FSC-certified paper and recyclable packaging film shows a shift away from virgin plastic packaging. However, the brand has not eliminated plastic packaging entirely.
Material Sustainability
Lunchskins’ product materials are generally eco-friendly and rank in the higher tiers of sustainability, especially compared to conventional plastic bag alternatives. All major materials fall into top ingredient sustainability tiers of our rubric. The brand favors renewable, plant-based inputs and responsibly sourced fiber.
Lunchskins uses FSC-certified paper for its disposable sandwich bags and lunch sacks. These papers are uncoated (no petroleum wax or plastic lining) and naturally grease-resistant (glassine paper). Virgin fiber paper, even when sustainably sourced, is not as low-impact as recycled paper, but it is significantly better than plastic.
For its reusable-style bags, Lunchskins developed a proprietary compostable bioplastic blend of PBAT, PLA (polylactic acid), and cornstarch. This blend is certified to break down in home and industrial compost, indicating it contains no conventional polyethylene at all. In sustainability terms, PLA (made from corn sugar) is a renewable polymer with a lower carbon footprint than petro-plastic, and PBAT is a biodegradable polymer that aids flexibility and compostability.
Overall, Lunchskins’ decision to use plant-based and compostable ingredients instead of traditional plastics shows a strong commitment to sustainable materials. Every product we examined is free of PVC, polycarbonate, or other Tier-5 plastics.
Energy & Footprint
In terms of energy use and carbon emissions, Lunchskins provides minimal information. There is no public data on the brand’s manufacturing energy sources, carbon footprint, or emissions reduction initiatives. Production occurs in China/Hong Kong, and the company notes that local North American manufacturing isn’t currently feasible due to material requirements. This implies that products travel long distances to reach customers, adding to carbon emissions (shipping from Asia). We found no mention of renewable energy usage in factories or corporate offices, nor any carbon offset or climate-neutral pledges. The B Corp Certification suggests Lunchskins has measured some aspects of its environmental impact, but if so, those metrics (e.g. carbon footprint) are not shared publicly.
Waste Management
Beyond packaging and materials, we examined Lunchskins’ efforts to minimize waste across its product lifecycle and supply chain. Here, the brand shows good intentions but limited formal initiatives. On the positive side, the very concept of Lunchskins tackles waste at the consumer end: every compostable bag or reusable pouch sold is intended to replace dozens of single-use plastic bags (the brand claims 3.4+ billion plastic bags replaced so far). By making products that biodegrade or last for many uses, Lunchskins helps keep waste out of landfills and oceans.
Business Model
Lunchskins strikes a balance between a traditional product sales model and a mission-driven, low-waste ethos. On one hand, it sells consumable goods (paper bags, wraps) which by nature require repurchase and could encourage repeat consumption. On the other hand, the brand’s mission is to reduce harmful single-use consumption. It’s effectively trying to make lunch-packing more sustainable without changing the convenience factor. The frequency of product launches or style turnover at Lunchskins is low. The product line is relatively timeless (sandwich bags, snack bags, wraps, etc.) and not tied to fleeting trends. While Lunchskins does offer various colors and prints (e.g. fun designs like apples or sharks on bags), these serve to broaden appeal rather than push overconsumption.
