Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

yep, I wrap my bento box in cloth (to be used as a lunch mat- double duty), put in a cloth bento bag, then bring my own chopstick in a chopstick case. But my bento box is plastic- I bike to work so heavy containers are out.

I use plastic containers, but I try to use a little ceramic bowl I bought from Pottery Barn to heat up my leftovers. The bamboo utensil set looks fantastic--I'd love to stop using plasticware everyday if I can help it.

However, I may investigate the Pyrex--and I have a money-saving tip: if you're not far from a decent Corningware outlet, Pyrex can be got at a very fair price (and usually they're having a sale on something or other, which is a nice bonus).

I LOVE my Pyrex containers. I agree with annet The "3-cup Rectangular Dish" is an excellent lunch container. Only warning...watch your Pyrex like a hawk. I've had a couple containers "walk" from my office fridge. Booo.

I have a ridiculously large bento collection. Everything from Mr Bento and his spouse to kawaii to my very favorite bento ever.

Some of my bento's have chopsticks in them and Mr and Mrs Bento have built in sporks.

If glass were lighter I'd use it. If I could nuke in Stainless, I'd use it, but I can't, so I don't. Most of them are of a very hard plastic, the name of which I will never remember, and while not recyclable, does not leach out bad chemicals.

Laptop lunch boxes!! I love mine and have now got 4 other co-workers with the same ones. It makes bringing lunch fun in addition to good for the environment.

@chisai, I have a problem with my bento box (which is designed for females...too small!) and regretting that I should've gotten a men's bento box.
I apparently eat more than standard Japanese females. lol

that tiffin container is pretty sweet!
just saw a headline on the tv saying that grocery sales are rising as more people eat at home-yay! i think that's an awesome upside of the recession.

I'm a huge fan of the Pyrex bowls. I also keep a set of silverware in my desk drawer, next to my coffee mug. I have a Mr. Bento, but I found if I put hot food in it, it's not only still hot by lunch, it's also overcooked and mushy.

On the matter of silverware...I bought this folding knife/spoon/fork that slots together from SIGG (http://www.mysigg.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=313) that's pretty awesome, in case you need your silverware to be mobile and compact. I also got the My Cutlery set, designed by Benetton, while I was in Taipei back in January: http://www.designkeeper.com/2008/09/my-cutlery-benetton-kitchen-design.htm. Haven't used it as much as the SIGG one, and also it's plastic, but it's cute and fun - you can swap the handles from the fork and spoon to the chopstick attachments!

I use a lunch bag from Built...it is made from a durable wet-suit material and is machine washable!

http://www.builtny.com/showPage.php?pageID=1570#

At my office we are treated to a company lunch DAILY. You have no idea how much waste we have at our office! A refrigerator full of styrofoam !!
I have always stayed in and brought my own food.
Not only does it reduce the styrofoam intake..but, I have managed to keep off the extra lbs. that come along with the daily company lunch!

On the rare occasion I eat out, I bring my own "to-go"containers..I checked with my local health department to be sure this is ok, because I wouldn't want to jeopardize anyone's place of business. Once your restaurant of choice gets on board...they actually appreciate the savings!

Oh, this is a GREAT post! I'm forever washing and hang-drying little sandwich bags, etc. I'm not much of a browser or shopper so I didn't realize there are so many other alternatives! Not only that, but my tupperware/ziploc containers are really getting old! I'm definitely going to follow up on these suggestions!
Thanks!
Cindy H
Pots Boiling Over?

instead of ziploc you can wrap sandwiches and other dry to dryish food in aluminum foil, which can be rinsed and recycled with aluminum cans. aluminum can be recycled indefinitely without degradation, unlike plastic, and uses only 5% of the energy needed to extract aluminum. i think you can buy 100% recycled foil in most places now, so it's almost a complete loop.

I like to transport vinaigrette in a tiny little jam jar that I saved from a buffet breakfast. Keeps the leaves from getting soggy and doesnt leak like most of my tupperware tends to!

I use wax paper bags from whole foods which decompose quickly instead of plastic bags. You can find great lunch bags at Home Goods a division of TJ Maxx. I got a great little insulated bag there for my work lunches!

My family eats Chinese take-out once a week and it usually results in at least one plastic won ton soup container. I save them all and now have enough to start my own restaurant, but I use them for taking my lunch to work, which I do every day, and for freezing stuff. I'd like to say good bye to plastic baggies, however. I will get out my ol' Singer soon.