These Budget Food Storage Items From IKEA Are Perfect For Sustainable, Waste-Free Camping

KEA has some excellent camping supplies to buy and it's the perfect place to shop if you want to reduce waste at your campsite. Outdoor recreation fosters a deep appreciation for the natural world. Travelers who enjoy activities like hiking, paddlesports, cycling, and camping often develop a profound connection with nature overtime which causes them to value environmental sustainability and waste reduction. The two go hand in hand because when we love something our instinct is to protect it.

It's easy enough to choose environmentally friendly products to use in our kitchens at home. There are plenty of food storage options on the market to help us live more sustainable lives, but when we're camping it may seem simpler to throw those good intentions out the window in favor of convenient disposable options.

Packing all of your reusable kitchen storage essentials for a camping trip would be impractical due to their weight and bulkiness. You can find lightweight food storage products specifically designed for camping and backpacking, but they're often expensive — and crafted from non-sustainable materials like plastic. If you're looking for the perfect sustainable, eco-friendly, and zero waste food storage solutions at an affordable price, look no further than IKEA. We scoured the internet for camping hacks and read dozens of customer reviews to bring you the best of the best when it comes to IKEA's waste-free camping gear. These products are durable, lightweight, and crafted from eco-friendly materials so that you can enjoy all of the joys of camping — without any of the guilt. 

At home, glass food storage containers are an ideal choice if you're trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Glass is non-toxic and heat resistant, but it's much too heavy for camping. Plus, it's fragile. Broken glass in your camping food could really put a damper on an otherwise lovely dinner around a campfire. Stainless steel is an ideal alternative for eco-friendly camping because it's extremely durable. Gear that can stand up to the elements is crucial, and stainless steel is rust resistant, rugged, and long lasting. You could probably drop it off a cliff and it would still be usable. 

If you're planning a camping trip and looking for a high quality and reusable way to store your food, check out IKEA's stainless steel containers with bamboo lids. Stainless steel is recyclable and bamboo is super sustainable because it's a renewable resource. It is one of the fastest growing plants and matures in just a few years. The combination is great for campers who wish to reduce waste. The containers are airtight, lightweight, and stackable — so they're ideal for packing your camping lunches. You can organize them neatly within your cooler or a food storage bag to keep your campsite clean. When empty, you can nest them together to save room.

The bamboo and stainless steel containers come in two shapes – square and rectangle. The square container is 20 oz and the rectangle is 24 oz. They cost $8 and $13, respectively. Similar products sell for around $40, so the IKEA containers are an awesome deal.

If you're someone who can't fully wake up before you've had your morning cup of joe, making coffee at camp is going to be essential. Some minimalist backpackers opt for easy instant coffee packets, but for those of us who self-identify as coffee snobs – they simply won't do. 

IKEA's RÖDMULE coffee canister is the perfect way to store your favorite ground coffee beans for camping. It's crafted from lightweight bamboo and is about 9 inches tall with a diameter of just under three inches. It's small enough to tuck in your backpack or camping tote. As previously discussed, bamboo is an excellent eco-friendly material. The best part is that it costs just $5.

Complete your campground cafe with the ÖVERST stainless steel coffee filter and the SLUKA vacuum flask. The filter is small and light, and the pour over method of making coffee is ideal for campers. Allow your coffee to drip directly into the SLUKA coffee pot and then screw on the lid. It will stay warm for hours. Serve up a steaming cup in IKEA's GRILLTIDER stainless steel mugs which cost $5. The coffee filter costs $18 and the vacuum flask costs $30. The entire set up to prepare and serve gourmet cups of coffee at your campsite will only cost about $60. A good cup of coffee can transform your basic campsite into a luxurious glamping experience. 

Disposable plastic sandwich bags like Ziplocs are a tempting option when it comes to camping, but they create a lot of waste and they're are difficult to recycle. Most recycling programs don't accept them at all. It is possible to reuse them a few times, but cleaning them isn't easy and they can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Similarly, plastic wrap usually ends up in the landfill after a single use. Plastics are not biodegradable and it can take hundreds of years for them to break down. Instead, consider IKEA's silicon alternatives.

Silicon isn't the most eco-friendly material on the market. While it's not biodegradable and it's difficult to recycle, it's much more durable than single use plastic and creates a lot less waste. A single silicon bag can replace hundreds of single-use bags over time. IKEA's FILFISK silicone rubber bags come in a pack of three for $18. They are airtight, leakproof, and freezer safe. The set comes with three colored bags (pink, blue, and white) in various sizes. They're awesome for storing all kinds of camping food, and a good choice if you're packing snacks to help prepare you for a hike. 

The ÖVERMÄTT silicone food covers are a superb replacement for plastic wrap. They're extra stretchy and serve a variety of purposes. You can use them to keep flies out of your drink and store leftovers. A set of three small covers costs $6, and a set of two larger covers that could fit over a big bowl of fruit salad costs $8.

IKEA is a great place to find home essentials that are crafted using natural fibers. If you're attempting to cut down on your plastic consumption, it's a really good place to start – especially if you're on a budget. When you're embarking on a car camping trip, you'll need a way to pack your dry goods neatly in the car and store them at your campsite, and the GULLRISMOTT bags from IKEA are an ideal choice.

The large GULLRISMOTT bags come in a two pack for $5 and have a 9.5-quart capacity. They're crafted from natural jute, and the handles are 100% cotton. Jute and cotton are both natural fibers that are low in toxins and are made using renewable resources. They're a super sustainable choice. When you've finished your food and are ready to return home they can be folded and stored flat to save room. Their flat bottom allows them to sit upright which keeps your food organized.

The GULLRISMOTT 3.5 quart bags are a wonderful way to store dry food while camping. Oatmeal is one of the simplest breakfasts that still tastes delicious while camping, and these bags are perfect for storing your oats at camp. They have a drawstring top, a flat bottom, and are crafted from 100% cotton. A two-pack only costs $4.

Insulated stainless steel water bottles and cups are super popular right now. You've probably seen them all over your social media feed. Insulated stainless steel is amazing because it can keep food and beverages hot or cold. It can even keep ice from melting for hours, which is crucial if you're camping on a hot day. You don't need something stylish or expensive to get the job done though. IKEA's HETLEVRAD vacuum flask is only $13. It's perfect for storing ice cold cocktails on a relaxing summer afternoon at the campsite. Plus, it can fit easily in the pocket of your backpack should you choose to go on a hike. The lid is totally leak proof, so you don't have to worry about it spilling all over your camping gear.

When prepping for your camping meals, it's a good idea to keep things simple. A big pot of chili tastes amazing around the campfire on a cool autumn night, and you can keep leftovers warm for hours with IKEA's EFTERFRÅGAD vacuum flask. It has a super wide mouth that's perfect for enjoying hot food on the go. It costs $13 and is crafted from stainless steel. The lid ensures that you won't have any unexpected spills if you want to throw it in your backpack for a warm picnic lunch.

If you're in the market for a classic stainless steel water bottle that is sustainable and lightweight, the ENKELSPÅRIG bottle from IKEA is perfect. At $7, it's a bargain compared to similar bottles that go for around $40.

In order to formulate our list of the best budget friendly food storage options for waste free camping, we browsed through IKEA's entire product line. We searched social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram for influencers suggestions, and read through dozens of customer reviews. We aimed to choose products made with durable eco-friendly materials  that will last for years. When possible, we chose options that are able to be recycled when you no longer need them. All products on our list are designed to be used multiple-times to reduce waste when camping.