What do you know about disposable tableware?

Disposable tableware whose market share is large was first identified with paper cups. They were manufactured for hygienic purposes.

History of disposable tableware

Disposable tableware was first identified with paper cups. The first paper cups were produced in the late 19th century by Henschel, a bookbinder in Lückenwald. The aim of producing paper cups was to examine the hygienic aspects of food packaging. Leter in 1908, an American public health advocate from Kansas named Samuel J. Crombin launched a campaign to eliminate the commonly used utensils at the time. The campaign believed that common utensils were responsible for contagious diseases spread.

Later, Lawrence Lowlen and Hugh Moore from America invent lightweight paper cups. These cups were introduced to the market as single-use cups and had a cone shape. This is how the first disposable container was produced.

Why use disposable tableware?

These tableware are clean and light. They do not break when used. They are especially useful in places such as gatherings, sport centres or hospitals and kindergartens. Many people use disposable tableware in picnics. Disposable tableware is affordable. They are easy to transport. They are available everywhere. They do not need to be washed and are easily discarded.

Holding street food, mobile restaurants, festival food and events are often not possible without disposable tableware. Disposable tableware is useful when you have many guests to welcome.

Types of disposable tableware

Disposable tableware includes cups, plates, tablecloths, plastic cutlery, paper towels and more. These products are common in fast food restaurants, ready meals and airline meals. In private events, this type of disposable product has become very popular among consumers who prefer easy and quick cleaning after parties.

The market share for these containers is large. In the United States, $ 5.7 billion was earned in 2012. Disposable containers are usually made of paper or synthetic materials such as polypropylene and polystyrene foam. This tableware are often not considered environmentally friendly. We cannot ignore their harmful consequences, nor can we live without them. So the aim of this article is to know more about them. 

Disadvantages of paper tableware

Paper cups are one of the most widely used and best-selling paper products. The problem with paper containers is that they use a lot of pulp in the process of their production. Pulp paste is the result of cutting down many trees, which in turn causes great damage to the environment and can lead to global warming. Other synthetic materials used in their structure release toxins at high temperatures when they contact with hot food. Consequently, it is harmful to human health and is the source of gastrointestinal diseases. Also, paper tableware is not biodegradable. They remain in nature for thousands of years, which can be even worse than cutting down trees.

On the other hand, paper cups, are usually coated with petroleum products to prevent liquids from penetrating the paper fiber. This weakens the structure. People, however, think that these cups are better than foam cups. A better option for paper cups are those that are made from renewable sources such as corn starch.

Plastic disposable containers

Fast food is in line with modern fast life. Considering the growth of petrochemical industry, different types of plastics have been produced for agricultural and industrial products. However, these plastics are dumped in nature once they are thrown away. This type of environmental pollution caused by plastics is known as “white pollution”. To prevent this contamination, many countries have enacted laws to restrict the use of plastics.

What is the relationship between soil and disposable plastic containers?

When we think of the Pacific Ocean, the plastic debris dumped in the oceans suddenly distorts the image of a beautiful, dreamy place. Unfortunately, studies have shown that most of our plastic waste is inevitably flow in the ocean. This does not only threaten marine life but also our food chain. The oceans have become the ultimate destination for plastics.

Another important resource is soil. The life of many organisms depends on the soil. In 40 years, the world’s population will reach more than 2 billion. This indicates that at least 40% of food production should be increased. Most nutrients must be grown in fertile soil, which covers only 11% of the earth’s surface. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 75 billion tons of arable land, equivalent to 10 million hectares, are lost annually due to erosion and salinization. Another 20 million hectares will be unusable due to its soil quality.

According to recent researchers, most of our waste is in plastic packaging. What will happen to the plastic waste dumped in landfills or wastelands? These plastics eventually decompose in 100 to 500 years. But not even fully!

Irreparable damage of disposable plastic containers

Common plastic packaging (polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.) have stabilizers such as antioxidants for greater resistance to decomposition. Soil microorganisms, which can easily attack and degrade organic matter, cannot break the strong bonds found in most plastics. The following happens when plastic waste is mixed with soil:

• They contaminate the soil and create a growing environment for bacteria, germs and insects.
• Reduces water absorption and soil permeability. Therefore, it causes soil erosion.
• Restricts the growth of branches and roots and causes twisting of roots. Plants cannot absorb enough water and food, and complex roots become soft places for microbes to attack.
• Block soil pores. Therefore, they do not allow air to pass through. As a result, they suffocate living organisms in the soil. The structure of soil without living organisms like earthworms changes and becomes unsuitable for plant growth.
• Plastic forks, like other disposable plastic tableware, are made from petroleum products and may take between 10 and 100 years to decompose. These forks also release toxic substances into soil and groundwater during decomposition.

What about disposable plastic tablecloths?

Now we have talked enough about the negative impacts of plastics. However, finding an effective solution to eliminate this destructive effect sometimes it’s not as easy as we may think.

Unfortunately Plastics are everywhere. For example in case of disposable plastic tablecloth that you may use a lot, are toxic to human health! You may smell a special odor when you open them. This order is the result of a chemical gas being released into the air. The tablecloths are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). DEHP, which stands for di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, is a chemical produced that is typically added to plastics to make them more flexible. DEHP is used in many plastic products, especially those that are made from PVC. So what is a better? Products made from natural and organic materials such as corn or sugarcane could be the best alternative. These products are made from renewable sources. They are non-toxic and decompose easily in the soil in a short time.

What should we do from now on?

1. First we need to change our habits. For example we can do as follows:
   1. Reducing waste as much as possible;
   2. Changing the habit of disposing of waste and separate our waste in to the special bin system
   3. Using environmentally friendly packaging, such as biodegradable tableware or other packaging made from renewable sources.
   4. Many manufacturers claim that they are producing recyclable, biodegradable or environmentally friendly products. But they do not have any of the necessary national and international standards and certifications. Consumers should be more careful when buying their products and choose only products that have valid certificates.

Otherwise, it is possible that these producers will be accused of greenwashing.

hopefully, manufacturers of REAL biodegradable tableware have grown around the world, launching a variety of products. Among these, the brand “Behzist Biodegradable Tableware” have valid national and international certificates. These products are made from corn starch. Behzist products are carbon neutral, non-toxic and durable and can be reused up to three times.