Despite criticism of disposable cutlery, sometimes we can&#;t avoid it. Can you imagine organizing a party at the office and bringing your own silverware and china from home? Or are there thousands of people eating food? This is not feasible. Sometimes disposable cutlery is unavoidable, and this is the only time you should use it. In fact, the concern about contamination and safety is that all of us should consider cutlery before opting for disposables.
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In this article, we will explore 7 materials used to produce disposable tableware and their advantages and disadvantages. Finally, we&#;ll tell you what&#;s your best bet&#;
Disposable Cutlery Materials: Pros and Cons
1) Paper
Speaking of disposables, paper sounds like a good choice since it&#;s mostly made from natural materials. But it&#;s better to find some recycled paper that is truly eco-friendly. In fact, recycled paper contains fewer chemicals, does not cause deforestation, and uses 40% less energy in the production process.
Paper cannot be used for any type of disposable cutlery like cutlery, but it can be a viable option for other types of items.
Another disadvantage of paper is that even recycled products can be bleached with chlorine or similar, a process that can disperse harmful fumes in the environment.
2) Plastic
Plastic is the most common material when it comes to disposable tableware. Disposable cutlery is usually made of polypropylene or polystyrene. Compared with other types of disposable tableware, its advantages lie in its hardware characteristics, as well as its high availability in the market. Plastic is a difficult material to recycle, for single-use items and anything else. Some types of plastic are not recycled by local councils, such as polystyrene1. Plastic can take up to 1,000 years to break down, and when that happens, it leaves contaminants in soil and water.
Another disadvantage is the use of chemicals in the production process, so there is the potential for food contamination, especially when plastics are used with hot food and beverages.
3) PLA plastic
Also known as polylactic acid, this is an eco-friendly plastic made from various renewable resources, depending on the country of production, such as cornstarch, starch, sugar cane and potato chips. This is one of the most commonly used biodegradable plastics in the world. This plastic, also known as corn plastic because of its origin, can be composted in proper facilities without releasing any harmful fumes in the process. Part from eco-friendly pla plastic, it&#;s also great for hot food. The downside is that it is not composted in nature, in fact, it has to be sent to a specific plant to dispose of it. It can also seriously contaminate other recyclable items if confused wrong.
4) Bamboo
Bamboo disposable tableware is environmentally friendly due to its main material, bamboo grows fast, so it is not too bad to use this material. These items are also biogradable and compostable.
Even this has an innocent look to the harsh chemicals and dyes used to get the finished product. Another disadvantage of bamboo is its fragile nature, the fact that one may use more than one fork, for example, because it will break, so more waste needs to be taken into account.
5) Wood
Some wooden disposable tableware is so similar to bamboo that you&#;d be hard-pressed to notice the difference.
Again, the advantages of wooden disposable tableware are related to its raw material, which is green and compostable. A variety of woods can be used to achieve the final product, and unlike bamboo, no harsh chemicals are required. Wood is also delightful to see and recall an eco-friendly idea. It&#;s also great to use with hot food.
However, due to deforestation, wood for single use appears to be a waste, so recycled wood is a better option. Wood is not very strong, which is why people need to be aware that debris may end up on their food. Also, some types of wood may release some oil.
6) Sugar cane (bagasse)
This is a by-product derived from the production of sugar cane products, basically sugar cane fiber. It&#;s a spectacular eco-friendly option because it doesn&#;t involve using trees. Bagasse products are fully compostable and decompose within 60-90 days. This product is a solid alternative to paper bowls and cups as it is also heat resistant. It&#;s also an option for takeaway restaurants because of their plates.
However, you won&#;t be able to find bagasse cutlery, so sugar cane isn&#;t yet the solution for all disposable cutlery. Also, it&#;s not ideal for food/drinks in high heat.
(7) Stainless steel coating and reusable
Stainless steel coated disposable cutlery is by far the most effective because it is high performance and extremely durable. So it won&#;t break, so it&#;s safer.
Typically, this disposable is not painted, but stainless steel, and in fact, no chemicals are used on the outside. Stainless steel is also a sustainable and recyclable material. But the real strength of this cutlery is its reusability. Stainless steel coated tableware products are believed to change everything from single-use designs to extended lifespans.
Reusability is always better than one use. Lastly, let&#;s say that it&#;s clear that sometimes we do need to use disposable cutlery, but the choice of which one to use is ours. Products that can be reused, like Vinzor Wood Products, can be reused up to 100 times, which is definitely a more environmentally friendly option.
In order to make a dent in the amount of plastic waste generated every day, you need to rethink your habits. In the UK, an estimated 8.5 billion plastic utensils are thrown away every year. These utensils, which include knives, forks, and spoons, are made from non-biodegradable materials like polystyrene and PVC, and take hundreds of years to decompose.
This creates a lot of unnecessary waste, and it's not just bad for the environment - it's also bad for our health. Plastic utensils can contain harmful chemicals like BPA (bisphenol A), which are known to cause cancer and other health problems.
In addition to the problems with disposable plastic cutlery, there are also concerns about the amount of non-reusable tableware products that are being produced and used every day. These items, which include plates, bowls, and cups, are often made from materials like plastic and styrofoam, which are not biodegradable.
This means that they will never break down or decompose, and will instead sit in landfills for hundreds of years. Not only is this bad for the environment, but it's also bad for marine life. Sea turtles and other marine animals often mistake these items for food, and when they do they can die from internal blockages or choking.
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According to Condor Ferries, a recent publication on Marine and Ocean pollution, statistics, and facts, -: "100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste alone. 100,000 marine animals die from getting entangled in plastic yearly &#; this is just the creatures we find! 1 in 3 marine mammal species get found entangled in the litter, 12-14,000 tons of plastic are ingested by North Pacific fish yearly."
By making the switch to edible cutlery, you can help reduce this number and protect our oceans and marine life. Edible cutlery is a great alternative to plastic, and also comes with many benefits of regular utensils.
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1.) Edible Cutlery Is Environmentally Friendly And Sustainable
The production of plastics contributes to around 3.8% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions throughout their lifecycle. These emissions contribute to climate change and global warming, which are already having a devastating effect on our planet.
It's not just plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions that we need to worry about, but also the environmental problems caused by the extraction and manufacturing processes. Plastic extraction and manufacturing alone use large amounts of energy, water, chemicals, and other non-renewable resources.
Stroodles' edible cutlery is 100% biodegradable and produced using less energy than regular plastic utensils, which makes them more sustainable. By ditching disposable plastic utensils, you can help reduce greenhouse emissions, water pollution, and littering in our oceans.
2.) Edible Cutlery Is Safe To Eat- Nutritious & Healthy
Edible cutlery is completely safe to eat. This makes them a much healthier alternative to plastic utensils, which usually contain harmful chemicals like BPA (bisphenol A). Some plastics can leach these chemicals into our food, which could have serious health implications.
By making the switch to edible cutlery you can reduce your exposure to these chemicals. Studies have shown that many people regularly ingest high levels of BPA and other harmful chemicals from their food containers and tableware.
Stroodles cutlery is made from all-natural ingredients like Wheat flour, millet flour, oat flour, rice flour, barley flour, chickpea flour. This means they are 100% safe to eat and come with many nutritional benefits.
3.) Edible Cutlery is Functional
Edible cutlery comes in many different shapes and sizes, which makes them functional as well as sustainable. They come in regular silverware shaped like spoons, straws, forks and knives, and more.
Many of these cutlery products look very similar to their plastic counterparts, which makes them a great substitute for when you're out and about.
They are completely functional- they can be used to eat soups, salads, pancakes, and more without breaking or melting. They are also suitable for both hot and cold foods.
4.) Edible Cutlery Is Strong And Durable
Plastic utensils are brittle and often break into shards after only a few uses. If you ever find yourself eating with plastic cutlery you'll know that the utensil often breaks in half, and it's very difficult to eat your meal.
Edible cutlery is strong and durable and can be used multiple times. Stroodles utensils are made from a variety of different ingredients that are both strong and flexible. They are just as functional as regular plastic utensils, but much more durable. But make sure not to put too much pressure on these utensils while using them - if pushed down with a large amount of force, they may crack.
5.) Edible Cutlery can be Flavorless or Flavorful
Stroodles' edible cutlery is made from all-natural ingredients, some of which are flavored. For example, the edible spoons can complement both sweet and savory catering events.
They can be used as part of a buffet spread or as a dessert spoon for ice cream and other sweet treats. The spoons come with choc flavor (gluten-free), oat flavor, and in Classic, Cocoa, Pepper, and Masala flavors, allowing you to choose the right flavor for your occasion. Plus, they are also vegan-friendly.
Stroodles Edible Spoons Mix
It's Easy To Make The Switch To Edible Cutlery
What's more Turtle friendly than having your food eaten by the sea turtle! If you're looking for a sustainable and healthy alternative to plastic utensils, then edible cutlery is the right choice for you.
It's easy to make the switch- all you need to do is order some of these sustainable utensils and see how amazing they are!
You'll be doing your part in reducing littering and protecting our oceans from further harm. Plus it's nutrious! In addition to being made from all natural ingredients, these utensils are 100% safe to eat and come in a variety of shapes and flavors. Now that's what we call Turtle friendly!
Buy cutlery today at Stroodles - home of sustainable tableware , where you can find everything you need for a delicious party!
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