What started as a quest to save landfills from hundreds of plastic baggies led two mothers to open a business enabling others to do the same.

Tina Ramirez and Hilary Lester started Mama Luvs reusable bags about a year ago. They’ll be one of about 60 vendors to set up at Renton’s Spring Festival this weekend.

Working at their kitchen tables, the women sew BPA-free, water-resistant baggies for kids’ lunches.

“It’s the perfect 100-calorie snack pack,” Lester said, adding adults love them too.

The brightly colored designs can be cleaned with the laundry or even in a dishwasher.

“It doesn’t have to be a big overwhelming thing to be green,” Lester said.

The women also make adjustable sandwich wraps, which double as a placemat for kids.

While some of the most popular fabric designs were pulled off the shelves by their children, the women have a fabric design for every personality.

“We have adults who love it just because it’s cute,” Lester said.

However, the two came up with the idea with mothers in mind.

Frequenting a Renton recreation center with their five children, Ramirez and Lester saw dozens of single-use plastic bags come out during snack time.

It was about the same time the Food and Drug Administration was questioning the use of plastics with BPA, a chemical which may be toxic.

“We were sick of this plastic bag stuff,” Ramirez said.

It was then they came up with the idea for reusable snack bags with a BPA-free nylon liner, she said.

Lester had been sewing since she was 6 years old, and the two began to work.

They also had the perfect test group, the moms at the recreation center.

“Since we have five little ones, we had plenty of kids to try it out on,” Ramirez said.

The women first sold their product at Renton River Days in July 2009. They’ve fulfilled orders from their Web site from about 12 different states and sewn about 2,400 bags since.

They enjoy being partners, taking turns working a booth at the Issaquah Farmers Market on Saturdays.

While the two would like a booth at Renton’s Farmers Market, which opens June 1, the market doesn’t accept crafters.

“We don’t have space,” said organizer Linda Middlebrooks, adding “people don’t go to the market every week to buy necklaces.”

However, the spring and harvest festivals give crafters an outlet at the Renton Piazza, she said.

While the spring festival will be packed with crafters, she’s also planning for farmers and non-profits.

“We’re excited about the spring festival,” she said. “It looks like it’s going to be in the 60s, and it may be clear.”