Tupperware: What’s Old is New Again

Everyone has heard of Tupperware. A lot of us had moms or grandmas who taught us how to lift the edge and press the lid to create the best seal—it was called “burping” your Tupperware. Over the years it came to mean pretty much any container used to store leftovers. But back in the 1950s, Tupperware kind of changed the world.

The History of Tupperware

In 1936 a Massachusetts chemist named Earl Tupper created a new kind of plastic. In 1946, he turned it into the first piece of Tupperware. Tupperware containers were lightweight and so revolutionary that people needed help figuring out how to use them.

And thus, the Tupperware party was born. The unfamiliar products did not sell well in stores, so the company relied on direct sales through the now-legendary parties complete with demonstrations. Not only did those parties supply American households with as many burping, airtight canisters as they could afford, they also gave women a new opportunity.

Careers for American women dwindled in the 1950s as they were ejected from the workforce after WWII. As a Tupperware representative, they were able to have a career in a business filled with women. The extravagant celebrations of success known as “jubilees” continue to this day—large, themed parties celebrating the women who sell Tupperware.

Tupperware currently has 2.9 million Sales Force Members across the globe and their direct sales “party” has been copied by everything from jewelry lines to basket companies.

Tupperware Today

Plastic containers don’t seem environmentally friendly, but Tupperware has always had an environmental component, encouraging re-use and decreasing food waste.

Today they invest in eco-friendly materials and focus on reducing single-use plastic. They produce BPA-free products that don’t leach chemicals into food. They’re continuously improving and expanding recycling innovations for their products.

Looking at the variety of products Tupperware sells, it’s clear that they have moved beyond burping leftovers containers. They still have the classic tubs but have expanded into areas including cooking and baking products and kitchen tools.

Water bottles, reusable straws, craft storage, and an enormous variety of stackable containers help us both organize our kitchen space and reduce food waste at home.

Tupperware also carries microfiber cleaning cloths, a remarkable array of general kitchen gadgets, and even knives and scissors. What was once a brand synonymous with leftovers has become a one-stop kitchen reorganization and rejuvenation center.

Tupperware for Kids

Tupperware also carries toys, dishes, and utensils for kids. As parents we know that easy to clean is essential and Tupperware has got the goods. If you’re looking for BPA-free plastic products for your kids’ lunchboxes or toy boxes, you will find them at Tupperware.

If you have old Tupperware handed down from parents or grandparents, you might want to retire it now. The old plastics can leach chemicals into food, so if it’s a throw-back keepsake, fill it with non-edibles.

Once upon a time, Tupperware changed the world. And now it’s determined to keep up.

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