10 Reusable Tools for a More Eco-Friendly Picnic

When you're planning a picnic, choosing what you use to transport your food and drinks is just as important as the menu. Enter these reusable tools and products, which can help you pull off a lovely meal al fresco while cutting down on waste.

For an eco-friendly picnic, look for lightweight, durable, and easy-to-clean products. In addition, consider whether the items can be recycled or composted when it's ultimately time to dispose of them. We looked at a variety of products for your outdoor picnic, including cloth napkins, reusable bottles, flatware, plates, storage containers, travel coolers, and plastic-wrap alternatives. One of our favorite reusable tools for an eco-friendly picnic is Bee's Wrap, which is made of organic cotton and can be hand-washed and reused.

Here are the best reusable tools for an eco-friendly picnic.

Bee’s Wrap

One simple way to make your next picnic eco-friendly is to skip the plastic wrap and opt for reusable Bee's Wrap instead. One of our favorite tools for a waste-free kitchen is also perfect for transporting food on the go. Made from organic cotton coated with beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin, you can use Bee's Wrap to keep cheese, vegetables, snacks, and sandwiches fresh.

Bee's Wrap is plastic and silicone free, available in three sizes (small, medium, and large), and has several colorful patterns. This sturdy wrap is easy to clean; hand-wash in cold water and dish soap, and air dry. Bee's Wrap is also biodegradable and compostable. Once it's time to replace your Bee's Wrap, you can place it in your compost pile.

Note that Bee's Wrap does not recommend using the wrap for raw meat and fish.

Bee's Wrap Assorted 3-Pack, $18 at amazon.com, crateandbarrel.com, and surlatable.com

Price at time of publish: $19

Flatware

Knork's flatware has a "recommended lifetime of 400 washes," per the company's website, so you'll get plenty of use out of it. It can go in the dishwasher—Knork doesn't recommend "prolonged exposure" at temperatures higher than 200 °F—and is biodegradable, designed to compost "within two years of disposal." Food52 has 24-piece and 48-piece sets available, and smaller sets can be found at Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Knork Flatware Reusable & Biodegradable Astrik Flatware; $18 at bedbathandbeyond.com and amazon.com

Price at time of publish: $18

Plates

These chic bamboo plates (pictured) designed by Xenia Taler are made from bamboo fiber and rice husks. They're dishwasher-safe (not microwave-safe), reusable, and biodegradable.

Xenia Taler Bamboo Dinner Plates, $48 at xeniataler.com

Price at time of publish: $48

Water Bottles

Whether you're transporting iced lemonade or warm coffee, you'll want a reusable bottle that can maintain your drink's temperature. This Klean Kanteen bottle (pictured), holds 32 ounces and can keep drinks hot for 24 hours and iced for 90. Hydro Flasks are also a great reusable option, and we found they came out on top for everyday water bottles in our roundup of the best reusable water bottles. (They'll keep your drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12.)

Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Double Wall Insulated Water Bottle with Loop Cap, 32-Ounce, $31 (list price $37) at amazon.com; Hydro Flask Water Bottle Wide Mouth 2.0 with Leak Proof Flex Cap, $65 at amazon.com

Price at time of publish: $33; $72

Straws

Klean Kanteen also makes reusable straws, and we found that its silicone-tipped stainless steel straws were among the best reusable options. They're dishwasher-safe, too, so you can clean them with ease.

Klean Kanteen Straw 4 Pack, $7 (list price $10) at amazon.com

Price at time of publish: $10

Silicone Bags

Stasher bags are another product you'll frequently find in our roundups, as they're a great alternative to plastic food storage bags. They're made from platinum silicone and free of BPA, BPS, lead, latex, and phthalates—they also come in several sizes, from sandwich to snack.

Stasher Stand-Up 100% Silicone Reusable Food Storage Bag, $20 at amazon.com

Price at time of publish: $22

Portable Wine Glasses

If you're planning on bringing wine, these Yeti Rambler tumblers received great reviews across several retailers. Thanks to double-wall vacuum insulation, your drinks will stay cold (or hot). They're also durable, described as "puncture- and rust-resistant." Wash them in the dishwasher after use—the lids are sold separately.

YETI 10 oz. Rambler Wine Tumbler, $25 at yeti.com

Price at time of publish: $25

Coolers

We've often touted Yeti coolers, and the Hopper Flip 18 soft cooler is excellent for travel. It has several handles and a strap for easy carrying, with the capacity to hold 24 pounds of ice. Looking for a hard cooler? Give the Tundra 35 a try.

YETI Hopper Flip 18 Soft Cooler, $300 at yeti.com, williams-sonoma.com, and dickssportinggoods.com

YETI Tundra Cooler 35, $250 at yeti.com, williams-sonoma.com, and dickssportinggoods.com

Price at time of publish: $300; $275

Cloth Napkins

Instead of disposable paper napkins, go for reusable cloth napkins like these linen ones from Sur La Table, which can you can toss in the wash and tumble-dry after use. There are 11 colors available, including blue (pictured), white, and "honey."

Linen Napkins, Set of 4, $40 at surlatable.com

Price at time of publish: $50

Storage Containers

These sturdy glass Pyrex containers come with silicone-rimmed glass lids. The set includes five different sizes so that you can pack a little (or a lot) for your outdoor meal.

Pyrex Ultimate 10-Piece Glass Storage Set, $63 at williams-sonoma.com and crateandbarrel.com

Price at time of publish: $80