Packing a lunch for kids tends to involve a variety of plastic packaging, bags and wrappers that are harmful not just to the environment—heading directly to landfills as they so frequently do—but also, potentially, to the kids themselves. Whereas Kids Konserve's plastic-free lunch kits were driven by environmental considerations, a new line of stainless steel lunch containers was inspired instead by concerns over bisphenol-a, or BPA.
Several studies have contributed to fears that BPA—a chemical widely used in plastics for baby bottles, beverage and food containers, and linings in food cans—may be linked with cancer, diabetes and hyperactivity, among other disorders. Though by no means conclusive at this point, such concerns were strong enough to motivate the Canadian government recently to ban the chemical's use in baby bottles. Working on the premise that it's better to be safe than sorry, California-based LunchBots now offers a line of brightly coloured, stainless steel containers for kids' food. The LunchBots Uno is a 6.25-by-4.5-by-1.75-inch container made entirely of stainless steel with a powder-coated blue lid. The LunchBots Duo, meanwhile, is the same size but features an orange lid and two compartments. Both are dishwasher-safe and priced at USD 14.99; special pricing for school fundraisers is available.
Health fears aside, of course, reusable containers are also better for the environment, and crafting them from stainless steel is bound to make them more durable and longer-lasting—all benefits that could appeal to parents around the globe. LunchBots, however, currently ships only within the United States; one to help bring to the little lunch eaters in your part of the world?
Website: www.lunchbots.com
Contact: info@lunchbots.com
Spotted by: Brian Ghidinelli
This is in existence for over 2 decades in India. You can get lunch boxes in different shapes and designs all over India. Is this something new in other parts of the world? That is surprising. I don't see any innovation in this except probably the packaging.
http://www.netspaze.com.
Truly Agree with Rajesh's comment. Even the most famous "Mumbai Dabbawala's" are also serving the whole city with their 6 Sigma delivery system. This is very common in Indian House-holds.
In India and Singapore (where I grew up) lunches are delivered, hot, in Tiffins, steel stacking containers with a click-off handle/ fastener.
This would be great for the take-away industry where so many plastic food containers are wasted...take your clean tiffin set and they fill it up.
The only thing about steel is the microwave issue.
i truly don't understand something, if these are new trends or innovative business ideas across the globe, then how is it that they have not seen what is in india. Like said bu other's on this innovation, its been in India, since way before 2 decades. There is nothing innovative about any feature on this. They are reheated in ovens or microgrills.
Maybe one should start looking more carefully around the globe, rather than just the USA and EUROPE.
Rajesh -- featured on your own blog this week are umbrellas, nail clippers and laptops for women. None of those ideas are uniquely new, but each adds something that was missing in other versions. Likewise, the new business ideas we feature are often improvements or adaptations of existing ideas.
We're familiar with tiffins, the round and stacked metal containers that are used widely in India. They're extremely useful, especially for hot foods in a semi-liquid state. For a square or rectangular sandwich, however, they're not as ideal. Which is where the Lunchbots come in. On a smaller scale than the amazing dabbawalla system, they're trying to fill a consumer need. Why the need to be negative about that?
Cat -- I agree that tiffins would be perfect for take-out. Not sure how that would work with health & safety regulations. But it could be a good business opportunity! :-)
Smita -- we rely on our network of Springspotters to point us to smart new concepts. I hope you'll sign up and tell us about new businesses in India that you think we should cover! http://www.springspotters.com