How to Make a Reusable Sandwich Container
Milk Jug Craft Eliminates Plastic Bags from Kids’ School Lunchboxes
Aug 19, 2009
Parents who want to say no to plastic bags to hold their kids’ school lunch sandwiches and snacks can make a reusable sandwich container from an empty milk jug. This craft can reduce, reuse and recycle the amount of trash created by kids’ school lunches.
Making the Reusable Sandwich Container
There is a small supply list to make a reusable sandwich container similar to the one featured in the September 2009 Family Fun magazine. Before beginning, collect:
- Gallon-size plastic milk jug, rinsed and dry.
- Thumbtack.
- Large household scissors.
- Smaller, sharp scissors.
- Marker.
- Stick-on hook-and-loop closures (optional).
- Tape (optional).
Household scissors are necessary to make the first few cuts into the milk jug. The smaller scissor will make more precise cuts to ensure the edges are safe for children. Using blunt scissors or having ragged edges from imprecise cuts can create sharp edges. The edges of the milk jug will not be sharp as long as the cuts are smooth. Hook-and-loop dots or squares are used to keep the container closed. Masking tape may also be used.
From Milk Jug to Sandwich Storage Container
Before beginning, locate the seams of the plastic milk jug. There are small seams down all four corners and about 1½ inches from the bottom of the jug. The photo below shows the seams outlined with marker. This is for explaining purposes and not a part of the craft. Begin by using the thumbtack to make holes along the seam that is 1½ inches from the bottom of the jug. The thumbtack holes will create fold lines for the sandwich storage container.
Next draw cut lines on three sides of the jug as shown below. These cut lines will begin at one corner and make an arc to the next corner, extending about 2 inches above the thumbtack lines. The fourth side will be the cover of the sandwich container. Draw this cut line all the way to the top curve of the milk jug, also shown below. Note the cut lines form a small upside-down “Y” right at the thumbtack line. This will ensure the plastic folds into a box.
Begin by cutting the plastic milk jug with the large household scissors. Switch to the smaller, sharp scissors when approaching the bottom of the jug. Use the tip of the sharp scissors to form the “Y” and nip off the sharp triangle that is formed. The milk jug now has three short sides and one long side. Fold the short sides back and forth until they fold nice and flat. Fold the long side over the box and either affix with tape or use stick-on hook-and-loop closures to create a reusable closure.
Say No to Plastic Bags in Kids’ Lunchboxes
The reusable sandwich container can be used to hold anything that would normally go in a Ziploc plastic bag in kids’ school lunchboxes. Use the container for sandwich storage or for an assortment of cut vegetables and fruit. To further reduce waste and say no to plastic bags, use a half-gallon milk jug to create smaller containers. Modify the instructions so the longest side of the container covers the folded box but does not wrap around it.
Creating a reusable sandwich container is a simple, plastic milk jug craft. This craft teaches children to reduce wasteful plastic bags, reuse and repurpose resources and finally, recycle the sandwich containers when they wear out. To learn more about recycling items found in children’s lunchboxes, read “Start a School Recycling Program for Drink Pouches.”
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