The Plastic-Free Fix: How Lunchskins is Changing the Food Storage Game
- Molly Sneddon
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Self-described as "a women-led, B-Corp certified brand revolutionizing sustainable food storage," Lunchskins is shifting our everyday snack pouches into something more eco-friendly. Speaking with Shannon Peters, Lunchskins' Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), we explored the brand's origins, growth, and plans for the future.
"Lunchskins was born from a simple but powerful observation: the sheer volume of single-use plastic bags and wraps used every day—especially for lunches—was staggering," began Peters. "Our founders, three moms with a passion for sustainability, were frustrated by how few practical, affordable, and attractive alternatives existed for families like theirs." Kirsten Quigley, one of the founders, expands on this, realizing that the waste she created by "packing 20+ lunches a week and countless snacks on the go for classes, teams, and camps" didn't have to continue ("Our Story").
"They saw an opportunity to reduce plastic waste at its source by creating reusable and compostable alternatives. That spark—transforming everyday habits to make sustainability easy and stylish—has guided the ethos of Lunchskins from the beginning and still sets us apart today," noted Peters. This commitment to form and function is evident, with their website featuring artfully designed products with illustrations of fruit and animals - perfect for kids and adults alike. The charming designs are compostable and recyclable, aligning with their environmental mission.
"Sustainability is not just our selling point—it’s our DNA. Every product decision we make considers the full lifecycle of the item: from materials and manufacturing to end-of-life compostability" said Peters. While sustainability is an admirable trait for products, as Peters explains, it's beneficial beyond the environment. "This focus [on sustainability] also positions us to adapt quickly to evolving state and federal regulations on packaging and compostability. In other words, sustainability has been both our compass and our competitive edge—and the central ethos that informs every decision we make."
But, Lunchskins didn't magically become an overnight success. "We started small and scrappy. The first phase involved hand-sewing reusable sandwich bags and selling them at local farmers’ markets, school fundraisers, and community events" remarked Peters. Leveraging their community, as well as the economic value of their product, proved valuable in building their business. As Peters explained, "word of mouth was a huge driver—people loved the idea of a simple, reusable bag that replaced hundreds of plastic ones". She then elaborated on this approach, commenting that, "our growth has been driven by a mix of grassroots advocacy and smart digital strategy. In the early days, schools, environmental groups, and parents championed our products, creating authentic word of mouth. That grassroots approach helped us learn directly from our customers and build a loyal base early on, which has continued to shape our ethos of listening first and innovating second."
As Lunchskins continued to grow, they expanded their efforts. "Over time, we layered on social media campaigns, partnerships with like-minded organizations, and in-store demos to reach new audiences. As we refined our products and scaled up production, we reached out to local retailers, eco-focused boutiques, and eventually national chains. We’ve also invested in transparent storytelling about our materials and mission, which resonates with today’s conscious consumers. This combination of real-world community engagement and online reach reflects our ethos of authenticity and transparency."
Through this mindset, they have prospered, developing new products to meet their customers' needs. Peters revealed that, in the coming months, Lunchskins will be releasing their newest product: the Home Compostable Food Wrap, "a game-changing product designed to outperform traditional plastic wrap in every way while staying true to our environmental mission to make sustainable living the easy choice, not the hard one." This new product features 100 square feet of certified compostable wrap that is durable, flexible, food-safe, and leak-proof. As Peters explained, "unlike conventional plastic wrap, our PBAT-based film allows gentle moisture exchange—meaning food stays fresher with less condensation and spoilage. And because it’s certified home compostable, it can safely return to the earth rather than languish in landfills. We’re always innovating and finding ways to create easy access to sustainable alternatives to big plastic, and this launch is just one of many steps toward that vision."
Thank you to Shannon Peters for speaking with us! We look forward to seeing Lunchskins' future innovations in sustainable packaging.
To learn more about Lunchskins, visit the the Lunchskins website, or follow them on Instagram at @lunchskins.
To be featured on the blog, please contact us at smealsustainability@gmail.com.