Guest Blogger
Cristina and Kirsten
Cristina Mendoza Bourelly and Kirsten B. Quigley are the two inventors of LunchSkins reusable sandwich and snack bags. They were neighborhood friends and in 2008, they became partners on a mission to reduce plastic waste. After hearing a staggering statistic while sitting around a kitchen table - more than 20 million plastic baggies from school lunches go into U.S. landfills every day - they leapt into action. With a combined total of seven children using dozens of plastic baggies daily, they set out to design a food-safe, convenient and stylish replacement to the plastic baggie. A year later, their eighth labor of love - LunchSkins - were born.
Three years later, LunchSkins have saved an estimated 120 million plastic baggies from entering the waste stream. They are made from a dishwasher-safe, European fabric which has been tested lead-free, BPA and phthalate free. LunchSkins are hand-sewn in the United States and are screened with colorful, mod designs which appeal to the kid in us all. Since the two moms launched their company, LunchSkins have been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, US Weekly, Parents, Martha Stewart's Everyday Food, Parenting, Family Circle and All You Magazine, and on The CBS Early Show. The co-founders have been interviewed by The Washington Post, Treehugger.com and appeared on the Bill Handel radio show. In March of 2011, the press voted LunchSkins one of three best new products in the Best of the West competition at the Natural Products Expo West show.
Co-Founder Cristina has three kids, ages 12, 10 and 8. She is a graduate of Duke University and Northwestern University School of Law. In her down time, she enjoys being outside hiking, horseback riding, skiing or hanging out on the beach or in the mountains with family and friends. Her favorites include olives and salsa music. Stanford grad Kirsten has four kids ranging in age from 13 to 7. During her free time, you can find her pulling weeds in the garden or on her bike with any one of her active kids. Favorites include frogs and thunderstorms.
You can find more information about LunchSkins, and plastic pollution in general, at www.lunchskins.com.
www.lunchskins.com
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