How to take guilt out of clingfilm

My clingfilm guilt is real. Convenient to use, yes - but that stuff is an environmental shocker once it's served its single purpose and been chucked in the bin. These beeswax wraps are a wonderfully sustainable alternative. They're reusable, biodegradable and delightfully fancy. They don't taint your food and are easy to care for. They use specialty ingredients, which I detail below, but everything you need can be picked up readily from local online retailers.

To use them, simply wrap them around your food or bowl rim and press. The warmth of your hands softens the wax and forms a seal in a matter of seconds. Beeswax wraps are the ideal way to store cheese, bowls of leftovers, loaves of bread, sandwiches. Picnics have never been prettier.

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WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Cotton fabric - you want 100 per cent cotton and a close weave Quilting fabric is ideal: itcomes in a vast range of colours and is often sold in small pieces (called "fat quarters").

• Pinking shears if you have them, or scissors.

• 100g of beeswax - mine came in white pellet form from purenature.co.nz. If yours comes in a block, grate it first to assist melting.

• 30g natural damar gum - from shaman.co.nz or Trade Me. This gives your wraps their stickiness. If it's in rock form, you can give the bag a bash with a rolling pin to break it up a little.

• 2Tbsp jojoba oil - also from purenature.co.nz. You can use different carrier oils (almond, coconut) but jojoba is good because it has antimicrobial properties and a long shelf life.

• An old paintbrush (you'll need to discard it afterwards).

• Baking paper.

• Oven preheated to 160C.

STEP ONE

Cut your fabric to shape.

I went for a variety of rectangles starting at about 15cm x 20cm (for covering small dishes of leftovers) and going up to 35cm x 35cm (for big bowls). Use pinking shears if you have them to prevent the fabric from fraying.

STEP TWO

In a saucepan, melt the beeswax, damar gum and jojoba oil over a low heat. Stir to remove any lumps.

STEP THREE

Line an oven tray with baking paper and lay a fabric rectangle on top. Use the old paintbrush to brush the beeswax mixture liberally over the fabric. Work quickly as it will start to harden. Aim for full and even coverage, without leaving pools of wax.

Pop the tray in the oven for 3-4 minutes to melt out any lumps. Take the tray out of the oven to check the fabric is evenly saturated, both front and back. If there are any dry bits, apply more wax and return to the oven for another 3 minutes.

Hang to dry, and away you go.

CARE OF YOUR BEESWAX WRAPS

Use cold soapy water to wash your wraps. Rinse off and leave to dry before folding and storing. Avoid heat, like hot water and microwaves, as it will cause the wax to melt.

Don't use them for wrapping raw meat. Your wraps will become creased with use but with proper care should last for about a year.