Whether it's reusable straws or compostable bin bags, we're all making various swaps around the house to do our bit for the environment and reduce our use of single-use plastic.
One kitchen plastic product that it's a good idea to ditch is cling film - did you know it's generally not recyclable? If you find yourself regularly pulling off a reel of cling film, or popping your sandwiches into a plastic sandwich bag, it's probably a good idea to find a more sustainable option to keep your food fresh.
One eco-friendly alternative is beeswax wraps. They're very cute and very sustainable as they can be rinsed clean between each use.
Beeswax wraps are perfect for all sorts of storage, from wrapping up sandwiches, cakes or fruit to covering bowls of oats or cereal and pasta. It's worth noting that beeswax wraps aren't totally airtight however, so for items like raw fish or meat, you're better to use things like a Tupperware container to keep these items fresh.
The best beeswax wraps to buy
You can pick up ready made pack of beeswax wraps online in a huge variety of designs and sizes. Here's some of our top picks:
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Description
Coming in four different adorable designs and sizes, these wraps are great for using around the kitchen.
Description
These matching wraps come in a pack of six and are also fully compostable.
Description
More like an actual roll of cling film, this wrap is great if you want to cut your wrap to size. It's also printed with some lovely bees!
Description
Brighten up your sandwiches with this bright and summery wrap featuring flowers and birds.
Make your own beeswax wraps
If you're feeling creative, you can also have a go at making your very own beeswax wraps at home.
You will need:
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Cosmetic-grade beeswax pellets
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Scissors
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Baking paper
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100 per cent cotton fabric
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Baking sheet
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Paint brush
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Ruler
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Hanger
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Clothes pegs
Description
The wax pellets needed to make your own wraps can be easily picked up online. These from Amazon are natural, white in colour and can also be used for candles.
Method:
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Preheat your oven to its lowest heat setting.
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Cut the cotton fabric to the size of your baking sheet (tip: 14" by 14" will wrap and cover most sandwiches).
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Line your baking sheet with baking paper and pop your cut fabric on top. If your fabric has a pattern on one side, place the patterned side face down. If you're making multiple wraps, you'll need to use a fresh piece of baking paper each time.
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Sprinkle the beeswax pellets evenly over the fabric making sure the pellets are near the edge.
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Place this in the oven for around 5 minutes or until the wax pellets have all melted. Once melted, remove the tray and use the paintbrush to spread the wax out over the fabric. You'll notice that the wax sticks to the paintbrush so you might want to make sure you don't need this paint brush for anything else before using.
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Remove the fabric from the sheet using kitchen tongs and wave for a few seconds in the air to make it cool to the touch. Using your hanger and pegs, hang the fabric up to dry.
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Once it's set and isn't tacky, it's ready to use.
Want to see how it's done? Simply Klaire on YouTube has uploaded a simple video to show how she makes her own beeswax wraps:
Caring for your beeswax wraps
To make the most of your DIY beeswax wraps and keep them in the best condition, it's important to wash your wraps by hand in cool water with a mild dish soap. They should dry fine out on the washing line or a drying rack. Make sure you don't put them in the oven or microwave or in hot water to avoid the wax melting off.
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