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If you’re looking for plant based food wraps as a vegan alternative to beeswax, read on.
Beeswax wraps are a popular, plastic free way to wrap sandwiches, snacks & fresh food items. Natural, compostable & zero waste, Beeswax wraps are a sustainable alternative to plastic wraps such as cling film, or food coverings such as aluminium foil.
However, if you’re vegan or have a beeswax allergy, they’re not a suitable choice.
The good news is, you can now buy a number of ready made vegan wax wraps, which work in the same way as reusable food wraps made of beeswax.
Things To Look For When Buying Plant Based Food Wraps
Vegan food wraps use plant based alternatives to beeswax, such as soya wax or candelilla wax flakes. Plant based food wraps may also contain waxes such as carnauba, sumac & sunflower or rice bran.
To be as eco friendly as possible, you may want to consider plant based alternatives to beeswax that are soya or palm oil free. Both soy crops & the palm oil industry have been associated with negative impacts on the environment.
Commercially made wax wraps, vegan or otherwise, also usually contain plant based jojoba oil & pine resin to give the wrap its signature ‘stickiness’.
To be truly vegan, a wax wrap should also use vegan friendly, plant based dyes.
Also check reviews to see what people are saying on the ground, about a plant based food wrap. Vegan, or otherwise, if a food wraps starts to crack after it’s second wash, it’s not going to prove very sustainable product – for the environment or your pocket!
Vegan, Plant Based Food Wrap Alternatives
Here are 5 plant based food wraps that make great alternatives to beeswax.
1 – Bee’s Wrap Plant Based Food Wraps
From bread & sandwiches to snacks & fruit, Bee’s Wrap offer one of the widest ranges of sustainable, vegan friendly food wraps. Choose from reusable produce bags, vegan bread wraps, single sandwich bags or variety packs.
100% plant-based, food wraps are made from organic cotton, organic plant oils, tree resin & responsibly sourced plant-based wax.
2 – Bee’s Wrap Plant Based Food Wrap Roll
Want to customize your food wrap to a specific size? A plant based food wrap roll could be just what you need.
This vegan food wrap roll from Bee’s Wrap is 14″x 52″ & you can cut it to any size you want.
Use it to freeze dough, wrap baked goods or for a host of other food wrapping uses. A great option for home bakers.
3 – Reusable Vegan Food Wraps By EcoLiving (UK)
If you’re UK based, this pack of 3 hand made vegan food wraps by EcoLiving are made from a blend of vegan waxes. Waxes include olive wax, sunflower wax, rice bran wax & sumac wax.
Washable with cold or lukewarm water & gentle washing up soap, wraps should last up to a year if well cared for.
Advertised as compostable, wraps sizes are 20cm x 20cm (small), 25cm x 25cm (medium) & 30cm x 30cm (large).
4 – Vegan Plant Based Food Wraps On Etsy
Whilst stock can sometimes change quickly on Etsy, it can be a great place to look for plant based food wraps that are hand made & produced by small businesses. The number of items sold & reviews are often a good guide as to the popularity & quality of a product.
If you have any questions, you can also approach the seller directly & usually get a quick reply.
5 – DIY Vegan Food Wraps With Candelilla Wax
If you like crafting or simply prefer the homemade look, it’s actually not hard to make your own DIY plant based food wraps.
You’ll need a tutorial, some cotton fabric, baking paper & baking tray, scissors & a plant baxed wax, such as candelilla flakes and an oven (see tutorial ideas below).
You can also add tree resin & jojoba oil for added stickiness & pliability.
How To Make Plant Based, Vegan Wax Wraps
If you’d like to make your own DIY plant based food wraps, it’s surprisingly easy to do.
Simply use a plant based wax, such as candelilla wax flakes, in place of beeswax, to make the wraps vegan friendly.
Here’s a tutorial on how to make beeswax wraps in 7 steps (simply switch beeswax for a plant based wax in step 4).
Alternatively, here’s a dedicated DIY vegan food wrap tutorial from Thrive Market, which uses candelilla wax & jojoba oil. You’ll also need some cotton fabric, parchment paper, scissors & an iron.
Are Plant Based Food Wraps Compostable?
Like beeswax wraps, plant based food wraps are made from natural ingredients. This makes them an eco friendly alternative to single use food wraps such as cling film, as they’re both biodegradable and compostable.
As long as it’s 100% cotton, even the cotton in plant based food wraps will get broken down by microorganisms and bacteria just like everything else in the compost bin.
Vegan Plant Based Food Wraps – Conclusion
Beeswax wraps are easy to use as a sustainable alternative to plastic wrap.
But as an animal by-product, beeswax isn’t a vegan friendly product, nor is it a safe choice if you suffer from a beeswax allergy.
Thankfully, there are now a number of plant based food wraps available, which are both vegan friendly & an alternative to beeswax.
You can either buy your plant based food wraps ready made, or try your hand at making your own.
