Lupine*

Lupine is a product designed to replace wasteful plastic sandwich bags with economic and eco-friendly solution!  First let's take a look at the very familiar sandwich bag...

The shape of the bag is square making enough room to store sandwiches and snacks with minimal negative space.  There is a seal to protect from leaks and to keep items fresh.  The downside to this item is that it is not reusable and it is not earth friendly.  38 billion plastic bags are thrown away by Americans each year!  That is 38 billion pieces of plastic going in the landfill in the United States alone. 

Here is an example of a common solution I found.  This solution is good because it is reusable and more fun than the average zip lock but is not quite as capable.  The velcro presents a problem because you don't want food getting stuck in the material.  The cloth also presents a problem because the cloth breathes and is absorbent to moisture.  This can create a problem for carrying snacks such as fruit which tends to be wet.  This can also be a health hazard harboring mold.
My solution:

My solution comes from the Lupine Bush.  This plant has a beautiful yellow flower and thrives in the extreme desert heat.  The reason is the Lupine has a valve that regulates moisture and permeability.  What better technology to use for food storage.
Taking the technology from the Lupine we developed a bio-plastic.  Bioplastics are plastics derived from renewable biomass sources such as vegetable oil and starch. The plastics are ecofriendly and don't contain toxic chemicals.
The bags needed to be easy to clean as well.  For this aspect I was inspired by the sandal/shoe company Crocs.

One of the many wonders of Crocs was that you could simply throw them in the dishwasher!  What easier way to clean your snack sacks than to throw them in with the other dishes!
When designing the bags I chose the same square shape for its usability, compactness and easy to store/stack shape.  To stay kosher with mother earth, I also wanted to steer clear of any inks.  This one is always a bummer because everyone loves a fun print.  The solution I found were multi-packs of bright colors using vegetable dyes.

 
Replacing a lock system is an airtight zipper seal embellished with the Lupine logo.  The snack sacks lay flat and stack for easy stocking options in stores as well as easy stack and store options at home.

Lupine snack pouches are the first item to be released in a line of many earth friendly everyday solutions.  Lupine is committed to a healthier, happier life!

Lupine items can be purchased at your local grocer, outdoor/sports stores and via the world wide web!