The waste associated with kids' school lunches is something we've noted before, particularly when we covered Kids Konserve's reusable lunch kits last year. Zeroing in on paper napkins—USD 200 of which the average kid uses each year—North Carolina-based Happikins recently launched an eye-pleasing line of reusable lunch box napkins.
Available in packages of five, Happikins are 12-by-12-inch cotton or cotton-blend napkins featuring kid-friendly colours and designs. Each set comes with a durable pouch that fits neatly in a lunch box and can even be written on with a dry-erase marker to send little messages to the kids who use them. Both the napkins and the pouch are machine-washable, and Happikins can even be monogrammed. Sets include designs on the themes of "Critters and Creatures," "League of Sports" and "Sugar and Spice." Pricing begins at USD 29.95 per set of five. Bulk orders for "Clean Cafeteria" and fundraising programs are also available.
And so another bit of waste bites the dust, thanks to some green, and eco-iconic, innovation. Coming soon to a lunch box near you! ;-) (Related: Happy healthy meals.)
Website: www.happikins.com
Contact: info@happikins.com
Spotted by: Andy Louis-Charles
We've been using and LOVING fabkins -- super sweet cloth napkins for our super sweet kiddos! We love the affordable price $23 for a 5-pack, and that we're cutting down on trash. Our kids love the fresh designs -- basketballs, butterflies, and animals...and more! www.fabkins.com
Am I missing something? Weren't napkins ALWAYS reusable? Made of linen or cotton, you used them and washed them and used them again. Those of us not eating fast food all the time are still using the "non-disposable" napkin - so what's the big deal with these?
Andrea -
You may want to head over to their site and see how much waste - the specific target market - school lunch napkin use - is generated.
Perhaps you and your kids are at Choat with linen napkins - but environmentally - it saves on waste to the masses who go through 18k tons a year.
I have no idea what the fast food comment is all about...