What’s the Best Material for a Kids’ School Lunchbox?

When it comes to choosing the right lunchbox for your child, there’s more to think about than just the colour or pattern. What it's made from can make a big difference to your child’s health, your environmental impact, and how long the lunchbox lasts.

In this article, we break down the most common lunchbox materials—plastic, stainless steel, bamboo, glass, and silicone—and explore which one really is the best for school kids.

Things to consider when choosing a kids lunchbox:

• Safety - Is the material food-safe and free from harmful chemicals?
• Durability -Can it survive daily drops, kicks, and squashes in a school bag?
• Cleanliness - Will it stay hygienic and resist smells and stains?
• Weight -Is it light enough for a child to carry easily?
• Eco-friendly - Is it reusable, recyclable, and low impact to produce?
• Ease of use -Can little hands open it and pack it themselves?

The main materials used for kids lunchboxes

Plastic

Plastic is everywhere—it’s cheap, light and colourful. But it’s also the least eco-friendly option and, depending on the quality, can contain harmful chemicals like BPA or phthalates. It also sheds microplastics over time and can warp or crack with rough use or repeated washing.

Best for: Budget-conscious families

Drawbacks: Not durable, not eco-friendly, and not the safest choice for food storage

Bamboo

Often marketed as natural and sustainable, most bamboo lunchboxes are actually made from bamboo fibre mixed with resin (usually melamine). That resin can contain formaldehyde, which isn’t great for health or the planet. While lightweight and stylish, bamboo isn’t the hardwearing option many assume.

Best for: Occasional use at home

Drawbacks: Questionable safety, can degrade quickly, not oven or dishwasher safe

Glass

Glass is clean, non-toxic and doesn’t absorb flavours or stains. It’s great for adult lunches or storing leftovers. But for kids? It’s the most fragile of materials —not ideal for being tossed around in a school backpack! 

Best for: Older teens or adults

Drawbacks: Fragile, heavy, not great for younger kids

Stainless Steel

This is where stainless steel really shines—especially for school lunches. It's durable, totally non-toxic, easy to clean, and doesn’t absorb food smells or flavours. It’s also the most eco-friendly option, being infinitely recyclable and built to last for years (or even decades!).

Yes, it can be a little heavier than plastic, but the difference is usually minimal—and well worth the trade for peace of mind.

Best for: Everyday school use

Drawbacks: Slightly heavier than plastic (but way more durable)

To sum up

If you're packing a school lunch every day, you want a lunchbox that’s safe, easy to clean, and tough enough to handle the daily chaos of the playground. On every major point—health, durability, sustainability and ease of use—stainless steel comes out on top.

Plastic may be the cheapest option, but it’s not the safest or longest-lasting. Glass is lovely, but not practical for kids. Bamboo and silicone have their uses, but both fall short in terms of durability or eco-friendliness.

Our pick? Stainless steel. It’s the best all-rounder for your child’s lunchbox—and the planet.

→ Check out our range of stainless steel lunchboxes for kids

Why choose Elephant Box?

✔︎ All our lunchboxes are made from food-grade stainless steel, independently tested in certified labs

✔︎ Our lunchboxes are dishwasher safe with no hard to reach crevices for food to accumulate!

✔︎ Backed by a 15-year warranty

✔︎ We stock spare parts—so you can repair, not replace

✔︎ Ethical manufacturing with third-party certification

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Whatever you do… buy well, buy once.