Glossary
A reusable, sustainable food storage alternative made from cotton fabric coated with a mixture of beeswax, pine resin, and jojoba oil. Beeswax wraps mold to food and containers using hand warmth, are antimicrobial, breathable, and can replace single-use plastic wrap for most food storage applications.
Beeswax food wraps use the thermoplastic properties of beeswax: at room temperature, beeswax is firm and slightly tacky. When warmed by your hands, it becomes pliable and adheres to itself and to smooth surfaces (bowls, plates, food). This allows the wrap to be molded around food items (cheese, bread, fruits, vegetables) or pressed over bowl openings to create a seal, similar to plastic wrap but reusable, biodegradable, and antimicrobial.
A standard beeswax wrap coating contains: beeswax (provides the moisture barrier and thermoplastic properties), pine resin (adds tack and stiffness, making the wrap adhere to surfaces), and jojoba oil (keeps the wax flexible and prevents cracking). The ratio is approximately 4 parts beeswax to 1 part pine resin to 1 part jojoba oil by weight. The mixture is melted together and applied to organic cotton fabric through dipping, brushing, or ironing between parchment sheets.
Beeswax wraps can replace plastic wrap for: covering bowls and plates, wrapping cheese, bread, fruits, and vegetables, storing herbs, wrapping sandwiches for lunch. They should NOT be used for: raw meat or fish (cannot be washed at temperatures high enough to sanitize), hot food (heat melts the wax), or microwave use.
The average American household uses approximately 1,500 square feet of plastic wrap per year, contributing to plastic pollution that persists for centuries. A set of beeswax wraps lasts 6 to 12 months with proper care, replacing hundreds of single-use plastic wrap sheets. At end of life, beeswax wraps are fully compostable, returning to soil within weeks.
Wash in cool water with mild dish soap. Do not use hot water (melts the wax). Do not put in the dishwasher. Air dry. For sticky residue, a gentle scrub with a soft brush works. Re-wax every few months when the wrap starts losing its tackiness: place on parchment paper, grate fresh beeswax over the surface, and iron through another sheet of parchment until the wax melts and absorbs.
With proper care (cool water washing, air drying, storage away from heat), beeswax wraps last 6 to 12 months of regular use. They can be refreshed once or twice by re-waxing. When the cotton eventually wears out, compost the entire wrap rather than sending it to landfill.
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