Health counselor and organic foods chef Charita Singh is passionate about living a zero-waste lifestyle. So passionate, in fact, that she started her own company offering plastic-free lunch boxes, food containers, and more.
The cornerstone of her company is the tiffin, a traditional Indian food carrier composed of stackable tiers. "I have been using tiffins and other stainless steel kitchenware from India all my life," Singh says. "It wasn't until I had a child and started going to playdates and parks that people would come up to me and ask me where I got my tiffins from."
To make these tiffins more accessible in the US, Singh started OM Goods, which carries 2-, 3-, and 4-tier tiffins ($12-20) and other stainless steel food containers and dishes manufactured in India.
In addition to the environmental benefit, stainless steel doesn't absorb food flavors and odors. Singh says they are also easy to clean: "The best way to clean them is with hot soapy water and dry them thoroughly. The dishwasher works wonderfully, although I do not recommend using a conventional detergent but rather a natural one with no harsh chemicals, like Ecover tablets."
To further support the zero-waste lunch movement, OM Goods also carries cloth napkins and tiffin bags. Singh designed the bags herself, adding a side pocket that fits a 12-ounce reusable drink bottle.