Get round to it: Discover fun and functional ways to give your plastic deli tubs a striking second life

Since I started the online raw deli business, I’ve tried lot of different types of packaging to keep the food I make fresh.  By far the best option has been the resealable strong plastic tubs that I use to package nuts, crackers and other dehydrated goodies. Whilst I haven’t yet found a suitable compostable solution that does the job – anything the dehydrates can rehydrate if the seal isn’t good – it is possible to give these tubs a second or even third life.

The plastic tubs with lids in the deli are in varying sizes, such as 180ml, 240ml, and 440ml – there are also some products use the square ones too. Once you’ve enjoyed the delicious, raw contents from the shop, the containers can be repurposed in numerous ways, ranging from food storage to organizing office supplies. Here are a few creative ways to use these tubs for various applications in the home, garden, beauty, and travel. Be sure to click through to part 2 for more ideas.

Food Storage and Organisation

Leftovers storage: Store leftovers securely in the fridge. They effectively keep food fresh and organised, making meal planning a breeze. You can label them with masking tape that peels off easily with the food type and date for easy identification.

Use for prep for your mise en place (as pictured here): they make great containers for organising your ingredients before plating.

Pantry organiser for nuts, seeds and seasonings: these are perfect airtight organizers for pantry items like nuts, seeds, spices and spice mixes. Your pantry will be more organized, and your food will stay fresher for longer.

Fridge and freezer organisation: Use these containers to keep the fridge and freezer neat and tidy. The stackable design will save space and make it easy to find what you need when it's time to cook. Round tubs are also great for freezing soups, broths, and sauces portion sizes.

Containers for homemade granola, trail mix, or sauces:  You can make your own granolas and trail mix once you’ve finished mine. Fill the tubs with your homemade granola, trail mix, or dips, and enjoy them on the go.

The tubs make great single-portion containers for yogurt, granola, or dessert cups: Prepare single-portions of yogurt parfaits, granola, or other desserts in these containers for a quick and easy breakfast or snack on the go.

Storage for coffee, tea bags, or herbs: ideal for organising and storing coffee grounds, tea blends, or dried herbs in the pantry. They keep the items organised and fresh, making it easier to enjoy a perfect cup of coffee or tea. Try making this chai latte blend.  

Containers for homemade baby food, sauces, salad dressings, and dips: These tubs are perfect for storing homemade baby food in portion-sized servings. The airtight lids keep the food fresh, so it's ready when needed. They also work great for homemade sauces, dressings, and dips.

Home Organization

Drawer organisers for hairbands, clips, and other accessories: Use these tubs in drawers to keep small accessories organized, so you can easily find what you need.

Desk organisers for office supplies: Round tubs can hold an assortment of office supplies such as paper clips, rubber bands, and the taller ones for pens. They can be easily placed on your desk or in a drawer, keeping your office tidy and your supplies accessible.

Beauty and personal care storage for homemade products, makeup, and nail polish: Store your homemade beauty products like face masks, scrubs, or lotions in these round tubs. They're also great for organizing makeup, such as eyeliner or mascara, and for storing nail polish in a neat and presentable manner.

Medicine cabinet organiser: Use these round tubs to arrange your medicine cabinet items. Store items like band-aids, cotton swabs, or even medications in separate containers to make them easy to locate.

Pet food and treat storage: Store pet food and treats in round tubs to keep them fresh and organised in your pantry.

Gardening

Herb planters and seed starters: Start an indoor herb garden by filling the tubs with soil and planting herb seeds. The lid creates a mini-greenhouse effect, helping herbs grow faster. Use the tubs to start seedlings and sprouts for your garden by adding drainage holes, filling with soil, and planting the seeds.

Outdoor planters for flowers or small plants: Create outdoor planters with the round tubs by drilling drainage holes in the bottom, then filling with soil and your favorite plants.

Storage for gardening tools and accessories: Round tubs can hold small gardening tools and items such as plant ties, labels, and wire, keeping your gardening work area neat and organized.

Crafts and Hobbies

Gift packaging: Use these round tubs to hold small gifts such as jewellery, homemade treats, or candles. Decorate the outside with ribbons or stickers for a personalized touch.

Bird feeder creation: Make a simple bird feeder by creating a small hole in the lid, filling the tub with birdseed, and hanging it from a tree branch.

Storage for arts and crafts supplies: Use the round tubs to separate and store various crafting supplies such as beads, buttons, and sequins. They can also be used for organizing paint, paintbrushes, and other art tools.

Travel

Car organiser for tissues, napkins, and pens: Use the round tubs to keep your car organised and clutter-free. Place tissues, napkins, pens, or other small items in the tubs, so they're easily accessible when needed.

Travel toiletry containers: Use the round tubs to hold travel-sized toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, sanitiser, body scrubs and lotion. Cotton wool and cotton buds fit well into these containers, too.

Emergency kit containers for first aid supplies, flashlights, and batteries: Create a compact emergency kit using the taller round tubs. Fill the containers with essential items such as band-aids, medications, flashlights, and batteries. Store the kits in your car, office, or home for easy access during emergencies.

Medications: Use the tubs to take your medications dry, organised and accessible.

Travel jewellery organizer and containers for earrings, rings, and styling products: Use the round tubs to store your jewellery while traveling. They protect your valuable items from damage and tangling. The containers can also hold travel-sized hair styling products and accessories.

Containers for snacks and condiments while camping or hiking: Pack snacks like trail mix, granola, or dried fruit for your camping or hiking trips in the round tubs. They can also hold condiments for a mess-free picnic experience.

Transforming these deli containers can make an impact on your home organization while minimizing your carbon footprint. With a little creativity, you can upcycle these multipurpose tubs into valuable organisational items.

Check out more hacks for these tubs in part 2.

If you are in the UK, you can order from the Deliciously Raw Deli for home delivery. You can browse the shop here.