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Do you ever find yourself at the French Broad River staring at piles of plastic litter wondering what you can do to stop this?  Asheville GreenWorks and our sister page, Going Plastic Free, are here to help you make this happen! Mind Your Plastic May is a month-long campaign to inform you about the grave social and environmental harms that ensue from plastic waste and equip you with the knowledge to reduce plastic in your own life.  

All month long, we will be sharing plastic reduction tips, volunteer opportunities to address plastic waste, educational materials featuring local Asheville businesses, and much more. We aim to foster knowledge and encourage mindfulness around plastic consumption and disposal for individuals and business owners. This month, we hope you will follow us on Facebook and Instagram, where you will gain valuable knowledge about how to refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics, as well as learn about local waste reduction efforts.

Join our 
Race2Reduce and commit to decreasing your plastic usage for the entire month of May. Sign up here to join the challenge and earn points to win a $25/$50/$75 gift card to Ware!

Many thanks to the businesses and restaurants who supported this effort and are working hard to reduce their own plastic waste. #goingplasticfree

Join us in our love for the planet as we
 address and defeat our global plastic addition.
Donate now for a plastic-free future
Mind Your Plastic May is meant to encourage and challenge us in our journey to live plastic free. These posts are created by GreenWorks staff. If you've found these posts helpful and encouraging, please consider making a donation to support this work. If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

How to Make Beeswax Food Wraps - A Reusable Cling Wrap Alternative

5/14/2020

2 Comments

 
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By Laura Anderson

​Ready to reduce your plastic and stop buying cling wrap at the store? Look no further! Beeswax food wraps are the perfect go-to for foodies who always have leftovers, optimistic savers and their half-used produce, or for wrapping up lunches when you’re always on the go. Beeswax wraps can do everything cling wrap can do -- and more!


Beeswax is naturally antibacterial, antifungal, and watertight-- locking in moisture but not allowing it to build up. Unlike plastic wrap, beeswax wraps allow food to breathe, which in turn allows the food to last longer. These will not only decrease your plastic, but also your food waste!
Beeswax wraps are perfect for saving mushrooms, produce, breads, and cheeses. Toss them on top of your baked goods or prepared meals, and off to the potluck you go. They also work great as a plastic bag alternative, just tie them up like a present and you’ve got a cute sandwich wrap that will make all your coworkers envy your stylish sustainability. 
​
Purchasing these wraps online can cost about $15 for a 3 pack, but you can get way more bang for your buck when you make them at home. Plus, they’re super easy, quick, and you can pick out all kinds of funky designs -- keep them to yourself or shower your friends and family in a unique gift that they’ll always love to use!

Supplies:
  • Food Grade Beeswax Pellets (~$12/lb)
  • 100% Cotton Fabric (~$6/yd)
  • Wide Paintbrush (~$2) 
(make sure you don’t mind donating this brush to the cause because it will be forever coated in wax) 
  • Cookie Sheet 
  • Parchment Paper 
  • Scissors
Optional:
  • Ruler
  • Hanger 
  • Clothes Pins
  • Pinking Shears (~$18)

Step 1: 
Cut the fabric -- this can be the classic square, circle, or rectangle. Measure it out or just wing it!
I cut 8” (S), 10” (M) and 12”(L) squares which covers all your basic needs. Normal scissors work great or I’ve used pinking shears to give it that extra pizazz. 

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Step 2: 
Preheat oven to 200 degrees 
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Step 3:
​Line the baking sheet with parchment paper, this will protect the cookie sheet from getting any beeswax on it.
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Step 4:
Lay the fabric on the parchment paper and then sprinkle it evenly with beeswax pellets. This doesn’t have to be perfect but make sure to get the edges. 
I used about 2.5tsp to cover a 12”x12” square.
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Step 5:
Place the cookie sheet in the oven for about 5-8 minutes or until all the wax has melted.

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Step 6: 
Use the paintbrush to spread out the melted wax till it completely covers the fabric. Make sure to flip the fabric over and spread it out on both sides. Work fast, the wax quickly hardens!
 * If there are any dry spots, put more beeswax pellets on those areas and stick it back in the oven *
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Step 7: 
Hang the fabric to let it dry and you’re done! Congratulations on your new favorite food storage accessory :)

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Care:
After using your beeswax wraps, wash them off with lukewarm water and a mild soap, then hang to dry. These wraps can be used at room temperature, in the fridge, or even covering food in your freezer.
 * Do not use these wraps for raw meat and keep them out of the microwave to avoid melting * 

With the proper love and care, these wraps can be reused for at least a year! If they start to decrease in quality, just heat them up in the oven and add some more wax pellets.
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Laura is Asheville GreenWorks’ Water Quality Coordinator, AmeriCorps Member, and Co-Staff Liaison of the Plastic Reduction Task Force. She’s dedicated to stopping single-use plastics at the source -- keeping it out of our waste streams and our waterways! Together we can make a better tomorrow.

2 Comments
Miriam Freeman
5/16/2020 01:03:07 pm

Where can I buy food grade beeswax pellets in Asheville?

Reply
Kris
5/17/2020 05:10:02 pm

Fantastic! Does the cloth have to be cotton? What about an old polyester tee shirt?

Reply



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​Asheville GreenWorks is a 501(c)3 non-profit environmental organization, governed by a Board of Directors. Established in 1973, GreenWorks mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize individuals and communities to take care of the places we love to live.
  • Hard 2 Recycle
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      • How to Apply
  • Programs
    • Bee City USA Asheville >
      • 10th Anniversary Yearlong Pollination Celebration
      • Native Pollinator Plants and Nurseries
      • Pollinator Garden Certification
      • Pollinator Gardens & Meadows Project
    • Education
    • Urban Forestry >
      • Cool Green Asheville
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        • Treasured Trees Calendar
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