Bee's wraps are a super smart alternative to plastic wrap or aluminum foil when it comes to storing or taking your food away. These are single-use items with a heavy carbon footprint. Aluminum is hardly recyclable, that being is you even recycle it. Plastic wrap isn't even recyclable and goes straight to landfill.
Bee's wraps are an alternative made of wax and fabric. It is reusable, durable and can be made at home. Many stores now carry them, but I find them quite expensive still, and I can make my own, so why would I buy them?
You will need:
A piece of fabric you like
Wax (make sure to use a natural wax like soy wax or bee's wax - not vegan: I personally recycled an old bee's wax candle I had made)
An iron - if you don't have one you can use your oven as well
A sewing machine (yours or borrowed)
Parchment paper (you can reuse it for other wraps or take a clean used one)
First of all, cut the piece of fabric f the size you want. You can make them specifically to fit a container, or the perfect size for your everyday sandwich. Then, I recommend doing a zigzag stitch around the fabric so it won't lose threads. If you want, you can stitch a OURLET all around, it will definitely look neater.
Now, put your fabric on one layer of parchment paper. Then, spread some wax on the fabric - be careful to spread it evenly. Put a second parchment paper and iron the whole thing. The wax will melt and get into the fabric. The parchment paper layer will prevent wax from going through it.
if you don't have an iron, you can use your oven. To do this, preheat it to approximately 100° C, put your fabric on a tray with parchment paper and spread the wax evenly. Put it in the oven and take it out when the wax has melted. You can always add some more wax, I'd rather do it in many times than have too much wax.
Use your bee's wrap to cover leftover containers or pots or wrap your snack or sandwich. I am sure the uses are multiple.
Clean it with a wet cloth, and don't use it to store meats and fish - bad bacteria may get on it and make you sick.
This wrap makes a nice present, is easy to make and low cost.
Happy DIYing!