As eco-conscious parents, most of us are constantly looking for ways to treat our tiny planet more kindly, and packing a waste-free lunch is definitely high on the list.
Fabkins ($22.95 for 5) has the right idea, and I really wanted to love this product. The thing is, most parents don’t pack napkins in our kids lunches. Also, just like the whole cloth vs. disposable diaper debate, one could argue that washing these napkins uses water, electricity and soap. I’m already washing my kids’ sleeves with the rest of their shirt,and if anyone knows how good her kids are at using their sleeves, it’s me.
They are adorable, but looks aren’t everything. Just ask Miss Teen South Carolina.
wonder how many kids will be tossing these straight in the garbage along with half-eaten sandwiches?
i’m with Jen. it’s a smart idea, and i’m glad that someone finally came up with something cute and the right size so it’s easy for the kiddos.
we should ALL be putting these napkins in our kids’ lunches — and maybe our own, too. (somebody lemme know when they come out with an adult version…)
LOL re: this concern about adding additional laundry – - did you NOT see the Oprah episode when she personally pledged to use two less paper napkins a day!?
Ladies, this debate is over – it’s all about cloth and reusable items. Just as we are supposed to use re-usable bags (versus paper or plastic), this is the best thing for the environment!
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Seriously: good for you for coming up with that itemized list. I guess I don’t care that much about the whole “Fabkins debate.” There are more important (and less necessary) things in the world.
a) i’ve ALWAYS put napkins in my kids’ lunch boxes. why wouldn’t you? it’s good manners, and why leave them stranded at the lunch table with crap all over their hands?
b) before fabkins (which looks amazingly darling, by the way) came out, this past year i started putting adult-ish cloth napkins in my kids’ lunches… and unless they were egregious/semi-egregious, i only washed them every 2-4 days. they never cared. and i, anal as i am, felt fine about it.
c) seriously – cloth napkins take up MINIMAL space in the washer/dryer. they’re just a single layer/piece of cloth. i don’t buy the argument that they’re worse for the environment. to me, they’re a last minute throw-in to an already started load of laundry.
Are you kidding me? My sons had peanut butter sandwiches the other day and the 3 year old wiped his face on the clean white towels I had *just* hung in the bathroom. It looked like someone had just crapped on our towel.
Sorry to be anal, (pun intended), but I would be washing those napkins. Uh duh.
I agree that you dont wash cloth napkins with each use. As, or more, importantly: you are teaching your kids not to (over)use napkins, paper towels, etc.
I do like the idea of fabkins with maps on them
I guess maybe they’re worse for the environment if you wash them every time you use them, but really? Who does that?
maybe if they made cloth napkins with maps on them……
I used to babysit for a family whose dad was head of an environmental organization. They never used cloth napkins. He said it was absolutely worse for the environment to wash them than to use paper napkins, which are biodegradable, I guess? I have no idea of that’s the consensus of scientific opinion, but it makes me feel good about being lazy . . .