Bee’s Wrap Review

We purchased the Assorted 3-Pack of Bee's Wrap so our reviewer could put it to the test in her kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.

If your family is anything like mine, you go through a lot of food storage items like plastic wrap, sandwich bags, and tin foil, all of which eventually end up in the trash. So when I heard about Bee’s Wrap, a reusable and eco-friendly alternative to these single-use products, I wanted to test it to see if it would keep food fresh and contained on the go. 

Bee’s Wrap was started in 2012 by a mother in Vermont who was looking to cut down on her own use of plastics, and it's since grown into a certified B Corporation, which means it adheres to the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance. The company works to support the bee population, reduce plastic waste, and support other local businesses, and I love the idea of patronizing companies that support good causes—but does its product live up to the hype? Read on to see what I thought.

Design: Cute and trendy 

If you want to create a buzz with your packed lunch, Bee’s Wrap looks incredibly trendy, thanks to its variety of stylish prints. I chose the Honeycomb print for its subtle nod to the beeswax that’s included in the materials, but all of the options looked great.

I tested the assorted three-pack set, which came with three different sizes. The smallest size, which measures 7 x 8 inches, was just right to wrap around a half-eaten apple that my toddler wanted to put in the fridge. 

For items in packed lunches, I used the medium and large sizes, which are 10 x 11 inches and 13 x 14 inches, respectively. If you're only going to get one size, I recommend going bigger, as I found the larger wraps to be more versatile. 

Material: Eco-friendly and sustainable

Bee’s Wrap is made from organic cotton infused with beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin, and every material used in the wrap is sustainably sourced. Some studies suggest that beeswax may have antibacterial properties that help keep food fresh, and the material is supposed to stick to itself when warmed, allowing you to form a seal around food.

Because it's made from natural ingredients, Bee’s Wax is 100 percent biodegradable. Once a sheet has reached the end of its usefulness (the brand says it will get thin and soft after around a year of use), you can simply cut it into strips and add them to a compost pile, effectively keeping the material out of the landfill. 

Performance: Hard to shape

To wrap the Bee’s Wax sheets around food, I used my hands to mold it into shape, as directed by the instructions. This worked well for items like apples and oranges, but it was almost impossible to do with softer items, like sandwiches. When I tried, I had to choose between crushing my food and wrapping it well. As a workaround, I folded the Bee’s Wrap into a pocket, which only worked when I used the largest size sheet.

During testing, I used the Bee’s Wax to wrap up sandwiches and snacks to take on a family trip to the zoo, and by the time we were ready for lunch, our sandwiches were smashed and some of our pretzels had spilled out of the makeshift pouch I made. Fortunately, they were inside a washable bag, but it could have caused a big mess otherwise.

When storing food in my refrigerator at home, I used the Bee’s Wrap to cover a cut cantaloupe and half of an avocado. It was difficult to cover the food sufficiently without crushing it, especially when I was trying to create an airtight seal to store an avocado.

Overall, I thought the Bee’s Wrap was difficult to shape, and it just doesn’t stick to itself in the same way that tin foil or plastic wrap does. I was excited to use this product and potentially reduce the waste coming out of my home, so I was disappointed that it didn’t perform as well as I hoped.

Cleaning: Rinse and reuse

Another selling point of Bee’s Wrap is that it’s reusable—the company says it can last up to a year with proper care. Washing the wrap is as easy as rinsing it in the sink with cool water and dish soap. I laid it on our drying rack to air dry, but the brand also has a designated Bee’s Wrap Drying Rack available. 

To prolong the life of each piece, it’s best not to use the Bee’s Wrap around heat—that means no storing hot food, putting it in the microwave or oven, or washing with warm water. The brand also doesn’t recommend using the material to store raw meat or fish.

Price: Expensive for occasional use

At $18 for an assorted three-pack, Bee’s Wax is a pricey item compared to a single roll of tin foil or plastic wrap, which you can generally pick up for a few dollars. 

If you plan to use Bee’s Wax often for an entire year, it could prove to be a more economical choice, as well as a more eco-friendly one. However, if you need something that doesn’t leak or get crushed, you’ll probably only use the Bee’s Wraps occasionally.

Competition: Cheaper, more effective options

Reynolds Wrap Recycled Aluminum Foil: For a food storage option that works well and is still eco-friendly, Reynolds Wrap 100% Recycled Aluminum Foil provides the best of both worlds. It works just like traditional tin foil, but the foil, packaging, and cardboard core are all made from recycled materials. Plus, clean aluminum is infinitely recyclable, meaning it can be reused again and again as long as you toss it into the proper recycling stream.

Saran Cling Plus Plastic Wrap: While not nearly as eco-friendly, Saran Cling Plus Plastic Wrap is a great option when you need a tight seal for your food. I typically keep some on-hand for items that need an airtight seal, such as avocado or dishes that are likely to spill. It’s not reusable or recyclable via your curbside bin, but you can drop it off at plastic bag disposal locations for recycling.