Vegan Lunch Box reader
Lilia saw my recent
post on Wrap-N-Mats and wrote in with these pictures and comments:
I saw your post about the Wrap- N-Mats and your dislike of the plastic smell. I found a solution and thought you might want to share with your readers. I made my own cloth diapers for my dd who is now 2 1/2 and potty trained. I have tons of PUL left over. This is polyurethane laminate coated fabric. After I read your post last night, I decided to wrap my sandwich in it. I made the sandwich last night, refrigerated it overnight and carried it in my insulated lunch bag. My sandwich was nice and soft at lunchtime. It didn't get stiff. I will be making more of these now for my family and my friends.
To get an idea about what the fabric looks like you can go to Diaper Shop. It's fairly soft considering it's coated, especially if the material that was coated is a knit. A little more stiff if it's a woven, but still folds up more like a thick napkin than plastic. I bought lots of "diapercuts" from Diaper Shop. You can get a nice variety of fabric choices this way, without having to buy a full yard. They run about $3 a cut. and could probably get 4 out of one 20x20 cut. Much more affordable than the Wrap-N-Mats.
As you can see from Lilia's pictures, making a PUL wrap looks easy, with no layers of fabric and plastic to sew together. And the fabric selection is great, with both fun prints and plain solids.
Thanks, Lilia!
This is brilliant! My inner designer has been working away, trying to figure out how to make my own wrap n mat type cover, but I was not aware of the existence of PUL. (and now I am!) Great contribution. As always, I learn so much from veganlunchbox and this community.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great idea, but I'm not sure that PUL has been shwon to be food safe. I'd be a little concerned about having it in direct contact with my food.
ReplyDeleteHere's a response from Lilia (who can't log in to Blogger from work):
ReplyDelete"Somebody was concerned about PUL being food safe. Here's what I found. I got it from amitymama.com who makes Sandwich bags out of the PUL (at www.thediaperpail.com). She researched it when concerns were brought up about those.
"After some more web research and two phone calls, here's what I've found.
PUL is used in many food applications like this one: https://nt1.adventuresports.com/shops/wildmountainonline/WMmain.asp?Option=Detail&ID=335&Category=Hiking
The only difference between the PUL I used and the PUL they used is the AMOUNT of PUL used in the application of it. Mine is thinner, and theirs is thicker. This makes sense because they are using it to hold water; it's water tight, where the baggies are not water tight. They just make it hard for moisture to escape all over your lunch bag. The food grade aspect of PUL doesn't increase its safety--it increases the AMOUNT of PUL on the fabric. PUL is PUL. It is all polyurethane laminate, whether it's 2mils or 15mils.
I think the long and short of it is, it's a plastic. If you currently use and throw away plastic, saran wrap, or even aluminum foil (don't want to even go there!) for your lunches, then this might be a product for you. If you do not use plastic (ziplocs, tupperware, saranwrap), then this product might not be for you.
Thanks for bringing this up! I enjoyed doing the research! :)"
Maybe I missed something, but is Lilia wraping her sandwiches in her child's old diapers?! Yuck.
ReplyDeleteI'm confused on how to get the cuts. I just see the fabric by the yard.
ReplyDelete"I made my own cloth diapers for my dd who is now 2 1/2 and potty trained. I have tons of PUL left over. This is polyurethane laminate coated fabric."
ReplyDeleteroxy: just leftovers of fabric, not actual diapers.
Glad to see roxy's post above that you are using leftovers of fabric, not the actual diapers! LOL!
ReplyDeletethat's so funny.. i make my own cloth diapers too (err, for the kids, not me! LOL) and i probably have a bunch of PUL sitting in my fabric stash!
ReplyDeletewhat a cool tip!
ReplyDeleteWe nominated you for a Thinking Blogger Award.
ReplyDeleteI also have a Wrap-N-Mat and struggled with it because I didn't like the plastic smell, didn't like the concept of plastic, and didn't really feel like I could get it clean. Then my friend had a Eureka ! moment and just pulled the plastic off leaving a cloth mat. Without the plastic, the mat can be rinsed off in the sink and then go right in the washing machine. Even really gooey sticky sandwiches like PB&J haven't leaked. And, it's easy to make your own mat out of cloth and velcro.
ReplyDeleteYou have to be careful because some plastics are not safe for food contact. They contain pthalates which are estrogen-like substances linked to cancer and abnormal reproductive changes in boys. For more information go to www.silentspring.com and www.noharm.org
ReplyDeleteI'm confused like missy. How do you order "Diapercuts"? I didn't see anything but by the yard of one color/pattern...I checked "remnants" and they were out of them...
ReplyDeletewhat are PULs? This wrapping method is amazing though, no plastic to throw away, absolutely cool, I love it!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this and would really like more info on safe wrapping materials. Would baby bib vinyl safely work? (((((HUGS))))) sandi
ReplyDeleteDo not use vinyl for anything!!! And babies should definitely not have vinyl bibs!
ReplyDeleteI just can't get over wrapping my food in a diaper.. it's like eating poop.
ReplyDeleteHi there everyone... new to this!!
ReplyDeleteThe whole purpose of using PUL would be to get rid of the bad PVC in the wrap-n-mat right?!
But my research (what little I could find) said PUL may be made from polyester, and polyester is a type of polymer, and polymers contain polycarbonate, and polycarbonate is what leaches BPA's. I have just switched from all my avent bottles to born free due to this.
So I really LOVE the idea of DIY PUL wraps, but wouldnt it just be easier to buy the premade ones if the PUL ones still aren't totally safe?
Just curious - I really would love some of these - I just need to find the right "PLASTIC" to use..LOL
Thanks for listening!
thank you
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Check out this site for something new and different - dishwasher-safe, food-safe and cool reusable sandwich bags! www.3greenmoms.com
ReplyDeleteBut my research (what little I could find) said PUL may be made from polyester, and polyester is a type of polymer, and polymers contain polycarbonate, and polycarbonate is what leaches BPA's. I have just switched from all my avent bottles to born free due to this.
ReplyDeleteSo I really LOVE the idea of DIY PUL wraps, but laptop battery wouldnt it just be easier to buy the premade ones if the PUL ones still aren't totally safe?
I have a certificate of compliance, directly from Fabrite, the manufacturers of PUL, showing that their PUL is Lead and Pthalate free. They had to have it tested to comply with the CPSIA regulations.
ReplyDeleteI also have these certs, they are lead and phalate free and Green textile is getting their certs. If you are worried about, line it. If the sandwich isnt hot it isnt going to leach anything from the PUL even if something was there. I make bread bags, lunch bags, sandwich bags, diapers, pullups, lots of things out of wool. You can also choose nylon and other semi waterproof fabrics, but you dont really know what they coated with either. I am as green as I can be, and I do trust that PUL is safe though I line with cotton and just own a ton so I just toss the used on in the wash bucket! As I buy some foods from a grocery store, some things like crackers start out in a plastic. we grow a lot or buy in bulk but the plastic, as of yet, is occasionally ineveitable.
ReplyDeletePUL is not a food safe product. There are other laminated products that are food safe; PUL is not one of them. The material is made by Fabrite. Anyone can google their company, click on contact us and get the low down direct from them. They do not recommend using PUL for products that come in contact with food.
ReplyDeleteDo you still have 'tons' of PUL left?? If so, would you be willing to sell it??
ReplyDeleteYes, I was going to reiterate, PUL is NOT FDA approved for food, therefore not food safe. It should not be used with food products. Poster above is right, you can call them and verify...otherwise these would be on the market right now...made by us...LOL!
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