Alternatives to KeepLeaf and Roll’eat: 5 reusable
lunch bags compared

Anyone who stops using disposable lunch bags will quickly discover that KeepLeaf and Roll’eat are the best-known brands. But they’re by no means the best choice for everyone. The differences in material, size, and ease of use are greater than you might think at first glance.

We’ve compared five alternatives side by side: Retulp Fridgebag, KeepLeaf Baggie, Roll’eat Boc’n Roll, Bee’s Wrap, and Broodnodig rPET. We compared them based on material, size, closure,
ease of cleaning, and price.

A reusable lunch bag sounds simple, but the differences between models are quite significant. Size is the starting point. A compact 15×15 cm bag is enough for a single slice of bread. If you’re packing a full lunch with fruit, bread, and a drink, you’ll need more space. Some models are expandable, making them more versatile than they appear at first glance.

The material determines how durable and easy to clean the bag is. Cotton with a waterproof lining keeps bread fresh and is machine-washable. Recycled materials are a good choice if you’re particularly focused on circularity. Beeswax is completely natural but requires more careful handling.

The closure is an underrated factor. Velcro works well for dry lunches but wears out with heavy use. For moist items like cucumber or fruit, a model that seals tightly is essential. Ease of cleaning is also important to many people. A bag that you have to wash by hand every day disrupts your daily routine. Dishwasher safety or machine washability up to 30 or 40 degrees makes the difference between a bag you’ll use for years and one that ends up in the drawer after just a month.

KeepLeaf makes stylish lunch bags and wraps from organic cotton, produced under Fairtrade conditions in India. The bags are widely available and popular among people who are conscious about their lunch choices. Still, there are reasons to look elsewhere. The price is higher than that of comparable models. The standard size is compact, which can quickly become too small for larger lunches. And for those looking for a lunch bag that’s immediately practical in terms of both size and price, there are more appealing options.

The Boc’n Roll by Roll’eat is a compact, foldable lunch wrap that also doubles as a placemat. The Spanish brand offers a smart solution and a convenient size for on-the-go use. However, there are some limitations. The wrap is flat and flexible, so it offers less protection for fragile contents than a sturdier model. With moist foods, you’ll need to make sure the closure stays securely shut. And for anyone who wants to pack a full lunch—including fruit, bread, and a drink—the Boc’n Roll is simply too small.

The Retulp Fridgebag is a reusable lunch bag made from 100% RPP non-woven fabric, crafted from recycled plastic sourced from old refrigerators. Refrigerators contain a huge amount of plastic in door hinges, handles, and freezer compartments. That plastic usually ends up in a landfill. Retulp transforms it into a sturdy lunch bag.

The Fridgebag is available as a compact lunch bag measuring 29x23x14 cm with a 9-liter capacity, and as a backpack. That size is spacious enough for a full lunch with bread, fruit, and a drink, while still fitting into most school bags or laptop bags. The interior can be wiped down with a damp cloth, making cleaning a matter of seconds. Priced at 9.95 euros, it’s both the largest and the most affordable model in this comparison. For every purchase, Retulp donates 1,000 times the bottle’s capacity in clean drinking water through Made Blue. Retulp is part of Social Enterprise Nederland and supports WWF as a Business Supporter.

Pros
• Large size and also available as a backpack
• Lowest price of all alternatives in this comparison: 9.95 euros
• Cleaning: Wipe the inside with a damp cloth
• Made from 100% recycled plastic from old refrigerators
• Part of Social Enterprise Nederland and a WWF Business Supporter

Things to Consider
• Not machine washable; wipe clean only
• Larger and sturdier than a traditional lunch wrap or bag

Our verdict
The Retulp Fridgebag combines the largest size with the lowest price and the easiest maintenance. For daily use at school or the office, that’s a strong selling point.

The KeepLeaf Baggie is a reusable lunch bag made of 100% organic cotton with a waterproof polyester lining. The bag closes with Velcro and is available in several sizes: from a small version for a snack (approximately 18×19 cm) to an XL size (46×36 cm) for larger lunches. It is manufactured in India under Fairtrade conditions. The bags are dishwasher- and washing machine-safe up to 40 degrees and designed to withstand long-term use.

Pros
• Organic cotton, Fairtrade certified
• Wide range of sizes and cheerful prints
• Dishwasher-safe or machine-washable up to 40 degrees
• BPA-free, lead-free, and phthalate-free
• Lightweight and compact, takes up little space

Points to Consider
• Higher price
• For larger lunches, you’ll need the more expensive XL version
• Velcro fasteners wear out with intensive daily use

Our verdict
KeepLeaf is the choice for anyone looking for a lightweight and stylish lunch bag with a Fairtrade background.
For a full lunch, go with the XL version.

The Boc’n Roll by Roll’eat is a foldable lunch wrap made of polyester or cotton with a TPU lining. When folded, it measures just 11×15 cm, and when unfolded, 32×54 cm. That makes it compact enough to carry with you at all times. The waterproof interior is easy to wipe clean, and the wrap can be machine-washed at 30 degrees for stubborn stains. While eating, you can unfold it to use as a placemat.

Pros
• Compact: only 11×15 cm when folded
• Folds out into a placemat during meals
• Multiple designs for kids and adults
• Washable at 30 degrees

Points to Consider
• Small when unfolded; less suitable for a full lunch
• Offers less protection for fragile contents than a sturdier model
• Quite expensive

Our verdict
Roll’eat is the choice for anyone who wants to carry as little bulk as possible and also uses their wrap as a placemat
. It’s too compact for a full lunch.

Bee’s Wrap is a wrap made of organic cotton soaked in beeswax, resin extract, and coconut oil. The wrap softens with the warmth of your hands and then molds itself around the food. No closure needed. It’s compostable and completely free of synthetic materials, making it the most natural option in this comparison. However, beeswax is an animal product, so the wrap isn’t suitable for vegans.

Pros
• 100% natural material, no plastic
• Compostable at the end of its life
• Conforms to any food shape
• Suitable for bread, cheese, vegetables, and fruit

Points to Consider
• Requires more care and attention than the other options

Our verdict
Bee’s Wrap is the most natural choice for anyone who wants to avoid synthetic materials entirely. It requires more care than the other options in this comparison.

Broodnodig makes reusable lunch bags from 100% recycled PET bottles. The material is sturdy, lightweight, and durable enough for daily use. The bags are washable at 30 degrees and freezer-safe, making them ideal for meal prep. The closure uses a snap button, which seals more securely than Velcro. Broodnodig is widely available through bol.com and is one of the most highly rated options in this category.

One point worth noting: Broodnodig’s bread bags don’t keep bread as fresh as the other models in this comparison. Because of the material, bread dries out faster than in a bag with a better seal. You’ll notice that difference with sliced bread or sandwiches that you’re storing for half a day.

Pros
• Made from recycled PET bottles, a circular material
• Freezer-safe, also suitable for meal prep
• Machine washable at 30 degrees

Points to Consider
• Bread bags don’t keep bread as fresh: bread dries out faster than with
other models
• More limited color selection

Our verdict
Broodnodig is an affordable option for those who want circular materials. For bread that you want to keep fresh for longer than a few hours, the other models in this comparison are a better choice.

The choice depends entirely on what you pack and what your daily lunch looks like.
• Do you want to pack a full lunch in the largest size for the lowest price,
and clean the bag quickly? Choose the Retulp Fridgebag.
• Do you want a lightweight and stylish bag for bread or snacks with a Fair Trade background?
KeepLeaf Baggie.
• Do you want to take up as little space as possible and also use your wrap as a placemat?
Roll’eat Boc’n Roll.
• You absolutely don’t want any synthetic materials and are willing to put in a little extra care
? Bee’s Wrap.
• Do you want an affordable bag made from recycled bottles that can handle the freezer and
don’t use to store bread? Broodnodig rPET.

It depends on the material. The Retulp Fridgebag can be easily wiped down with a damp cloth, making it the easiest option to clean. Cotton bags like KeepLeaf can be washed in the washing machine or dishwasher at 30 or 40 degrees. BreadNodig rPET bags can be machine-washed at 30 degrees. Bee’s Wrap should only be cleaned with cold water and mild soap. Always avoid hot water when cleaning models with a wax coating or TPU lining.

With a 9-liter capacity and dimensions of 29x23x14 cm, the Retulp Fridgebag offers the most space for 9.95 euros. This makes it both the largest and the cheapest model in this comparison. It fits in most school bags and laptop bags and is also available as a backpack for even more space.

A reusable lunch bag replaces hundreds of plastic bags per year when used daily. A high-quality bag will last two to four years. The Retulp Fridgebag goes one step further: the material comes from old refrigerators that would otherwise end up in a landfill, and through Made Blue, drinking water is donated with every purchase to people without access to clean water.

Looking for a reusable lunch bag that’s big enough for a full lunch, easy to clean, and affordably priced? Check out the Retulp Fridgebag at shop.retulp.com.