Thinking inside the box

Costco lunchbox supplier PlanetBox offers a strong take on food storage

There are a number of reasons why BJ Stein is passionate about PlanetBox, the company he works for. He notes that the plastic-free, stainless-steel lunchboxes they make are sturdy, sustainable and convenient. And more importantly, he says, the boxes— which feature playful children’s themes— received the sign-off from his 5- and 7-year-old daughters.

“For some families, making lunch can be a chore, but with our lunchboxes, it’s an activity that my whole family gets involved in and has fun with,” says Stein, a Costco member and division president of Lifetime Brands, which purchased PlanetBox from its founders.

PlanetBox began in 2009 when Robert and Caroline Miros of northern California sought to create a long-lasting lunchbox. “They were focused on making sure their children’s food was healthy and safe,” says Sarah Quill, vice president of PlanetBox.

Costco buyer Matthew Barton reached out to the company in 2021 after discovering the boxes and buying one for his son.

The PlanetBox team designs, tinkers with and tests new ideas in an office in downtown Seattle, not far from the Space Needle. Their lunchboxes are stackable with a sealing latch to preserve freshness. Magnets with kid-friendly themes, which are included, allow children to personalize their boxes, and a carry bag—made from recycled polyester—features compartments for a water bottle, ice pack, utensils and extra snacks.

The dishwasher-safe boxes’ stainlesssteel construction offers an alternative to plastic containers that can contain BPA or phthalates, Stein says. “Many people are concerned about food safety and not having any plastic or any other chemicals in contact with any other food,” he adds.

Part of the reasoning behind the bento-style design of the lunchboxes is to accommodate those who don’t like their food touching, notes Stein, adding that using PlanetBox boxes also presents an opportunity to educate children about sustainable practices, like reusing items. “It becomes educational and interactive,” he says. “They get to play a role in reducing the number of single-use plastic bags entering landfills.”

A hope, Quill says, is that PlanetBox will help create healthy habits that last a lifetime, with a lunchbox that could last just as long. “You just need one, from kindergarten to the 12th grade and beyond,” she says.

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