The world today wants a sustainable way of life, which can have a positive impact on future generations to come. This why most people foster an eco-friendly way of life so as to retain the bio-diversity of the environment. The greatest endeavour furthering in this regard is the reduction in the use of plastic in various forms. Cutlery and utensils are also no exception in this mission of giving away with plastic usage. We all know the traditional disposable tableware adds a lot to landfills, and most of the time, it’s non-biodegradable. These disposables accumulate and contribute to land pollution and environmental degradation to a considerable extent.
But the good news is, there are many eco-friendly options to choose from, and they are compostable, use waste resources and lesser energy to make. Given below is a list of 11 most popular eco-friendly cutlery items for you to know of and use.
1. Biodegradable Coffee Cups
The caffeine driven world dumps tonnes of plastic coffee cups, which end up piling the landfills and contaminating the land. A solution to this can be substituting them with bio-degradable paper cups which are environment friendly. Biodegradable coffee cups are compostable in a commercial composting facility, as they are lined with PLA, a substance derived from the renewable plant-starch instead of plastic. These, in turn, get absorbed by the land when they are dumped and thus prove to be an amazing eco-friendly option.
2. Biodegradable PLA Clear Wine Goblets
Enjoy your booze without harming the environment with PLA Wine Goblets. These are transparent cups that are made of polylactic acid, and thus they can be easily bio-degraded. Also, they look absolutely like glass so your class remains! Unlike standard plastic cups, they will break down in a commercial composting facility. Cups come in a variety of sizes, and the goblets come as pieces that are put together. So pour that glass of wine and cheer for the environment with it.
3. Bamboo Pulp Plates
Bamboo Pulp plates and bowls are home compostable. They are an eco-friendly choice you can make, every time you have a party at home or have guests over. They have a light brown texture, which makes them really popular because of the elegance they bring along. You can get a wide variety of options to choose from. From small round bowels to large oval plates, they have an array of designs and shapes, providing for diverse customer choices.
4. Areca Palm Leaf Plates
Tracing the Indian roots of eating on banana leaves, there has been an influx of various eco-friendly cutlery, made from leaves of various plants. Areca Palm Leaf Plates are of one such kind. They are made in India from the natural fallen outer sheath of the betel nut palm tree. There is no chemical process involved in their manufacture. They are simply cleaned, steamed, and pressed. These have gained huge popularity in weddings and corporate events in recent times. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes.
5. Wooden Cutlery
Wooden cutlery is made from plantation birch, which is compostable. This is an amazing substitute for plastic cutlery. The range includes forks, spoons, knives, sporks, teaspoons, and stirring sticks. They also have a textured feel which can add to the aesthetics of your dining table, especially when your guests come over.
6. PLA Cutlery
PLA based eco-friendly cutlery is a must-have for every environmentally conscious person who plans to contribute to sustainability and promote an eco-friendly way of living. It is biodegradable and compostable in a commercial composting facility. Made from CPLA, a derivative of naturally grown corn starch, it uses non-toxic inks to make the products vibrant and colourful.
7. Bioplastic Tablecloth
Plastic covers can be seen in most homes, but again, they contribute to polluting the landfills and posing serious environmental threats. So an American company made an attempt to create the world’s first bioplastic table cloth, which can be used on your dining table or tea table. These tablecloths are very pleasing to the eyes and add to the taste of your home furnishings. You can choose from a variety of options for wide, vibrant colours. Now, technically not an eco-friendly cutlery item but it will go well in the whole setup right!
8. Wooden Skewers
Made from bamboo or plantation birch, wooden skewers are a tremendously awesome eco-friendly cutlery option for finger foods. Next time you have a party or an event, make sure you use these wooden skewers to serve your delicious kababs! Since these are made of wood, they are biodegradable and hence are gentle on the environment.
9. Biodegradable straws
Paper Straws are made from food-grade bleached paper and are coloured with FDA approved food-safe ink. They come in a variety of designs and colours. PLA straws are made from bioplastic derived from plan based starch. These straws prove to be an amazing substitute for plastic straws. So make your summer drink health yet environment friendly with these eco-friendly straws.
10. Recycled Sugarcane Napkins
Recycled napkins are unbleached and made from 100% recycled fibre, meaning that no trees were harvested to make them and materials used to make them aren’t filling up landfills. They can be recycled or home composted. Sugarcane and bamboo mix napkins are made from sugarcane/bamboo mix fibres. They are environmentally friendly. They can be recycled or home composted. They come in a variety of shapes.
11. Edible jowar spoons
Made from a flour mix of jowar, rice, and wheat, Bakeys Foods offer lunch spoons. Once you have used the spoon and are no longer keen on eating the rest, you can add water, and it decomposes naturally. It can even be fed to stray animals. This replaces the use of toxic plastic spoons, which pollute the landfills and clog the drains of the sewage management system.
So, which one of these eco-friendly cutlery options are you buying? click here to read more about eco-friendly tips for beginners.
SOME FAQ’S
What are the benefits of buying sustainable goods and services?
Buying sustainable products can procure several benefits. But how can I be benefited from buying sustainable products? Let’s quickly uncover top benefits one by one.
1. Save Money- Sustainable products are relatively cheaper as compared to their counterparts. So, eventually, it is also a cost-effective way for industries to reduce materials, equipment and running costs.
2. Improve Reputation- Using eco-friendly products improve reputation among colleagues, staff and the public.
3. Attract lenders and investors- Being proactive in making the environment sustainable allows you to take your interest ahead and share your opinions and work with top investors and business personalities.