Bamboo plates and bowls alternatives

Disposable plates and bowls are an important part of any event that involves eating. It could be large events like weddings and festivals or small get togethers like picnics and garden parties.

With the rise in awareness about disposable products made of plastic and its harmful effects on the environment, people have been resorting to more eco-friendly options.

One of the popular eco-friendly option is bamboo plates and bowls. Bamboo dinnerware looks attractive and is lightweight, sturdy and easily biodegradable.

Not all bamboo dinnerware is eco-friendly

Bamboo grows easily and does not require fertilisers or pesticides. It is sturdy, heat resistant and highly durable. With these amazing properties, bamboo may seem the perfect raw material for making plates and bowls. However, this is not the case.

The process through which bamboo dishes are made is rather polluting. Melamine, a chemical known for its toxicity, is used as a binder in bamboo tableware.

In manufacturing bamboo dinnerware, the balance between the amount of bamboo powder and melamine is critical. Poor processes lead to sub-standard end products with non-bounded melamine. These items, when used, release chemicals that could contaminate the food.

Bamboo contributes to deforestation and decreased biodiversity

One of the downsides of large scale commercial production of bamboo is deforestation. The exponential increase in the use of bamboo products in the recent years has led to cutting down of existing forests to support new bamboo plantations.

Bamboo is generally grown in mono plantations. This means bamboo is the only plant grown in these plantations.

Mono crops are a serious threat to the bio diversity and could lead to an imbalance in the surrounding eco system. Increase in diseases, global warming and species extinction are some of the impacts of decreased biodiversity.

Eco-alternatives to bamboo plates and bowls

Luckily, there are many old and new eco-friendly dinnerware options available. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages.

Bagasse plates and bowls

Bagasse is a popular choice for disposable dinnerware. It is one of the by-products of sugarcane processing. It is fibrous and when mixed with certain binding agents, make beautiful plates and bowls.

The main advantage of bagasse plates is that they are heat resistant. Even though they look like paper plates, they are much sturdier. They are also biodegradable and compostable, decomposing in 1-6 months, which is a great contribution to landfill reduction.

Unbleached kraft paper board

Unbleached kraft paper board is one of the fastest biodegrading materials available in the market. It is hard, yet lightweight, making it a good alternative to bamboo plates.

Though eco-friendly and sturdy, the raw unbleached paper gives a dull brownish appearance and may not be aesthetically appealing.

Biodegradable propylene, the eco-friendly plastic

Plates made of biodegradable propylene are a recent entry in the market. These plastic plates contain certain additives that make them bio degradable. However, the process will take one to two years. These plates can also be recycled to form other products.

Propylene plates look and feel like plastic plates. Though biodegradable, they require industrial composting facilities to breakdown. Considering that most compost units don’t facilitate products for more than a few months, these plates may easily end up in landfill and cause pollution.

Palm leaf plates and bowls

If you are looking for an alternative that not only looks good but is also eco-friendly and biodegradable, then palm leaf plates and bowls are the best option.

Palm disposable dishes are made from dried palm leaves that naturally fall from the trees. The leaves are washed and moulded into desired shapes. No chemicals are involved at any stage in the manufacturing process.

Palm leaf tableware – the perfect alternative to bamboo plates and bowls

The leaves of palm tree are naturally strong. The dinnerware made from these leaves is rigid and do not bend over due to the weight of the food.

They are also lightweight making it easy to carry around. This works well for events that do not have a seating facility and the food is expected to be held in hand.

The plates can be used for all types of food. They don’t soak up moisture or become stained with oil. They are also resistant to heat and can be used in the microwave for a few minutes.

If used with dry food, the plates can easily be wiped and stored for future use.

Palm leaf plates have zero environmental impact

Palm leaf plates and bowls are completely biodegradable and have zero impact on the environment. They can be disposed off in the compost bin where they will naturally decompose in two to three months. No harmful chemicals are released as none is used in the production process.

Eco-friendly and budget friendly tableware

FOOGO green is built on longing to bring eco-friendly products to everyone’s reach. We believe that making planet-friendly choices should be the norm and does not have to be costly. That is why we sell eco-friendly palm leaf plates and bowls at a modest price.

We source our products directly from manufacturers. We buy in bulk and avoid all intermediary, keeping our costs low. Our effective supply chain helps us transfer the savings directly to our customers.

Eco-friendly palm leaf dinnerware for all occasions

Visit our shop, for an extensive range of palm leaf dinnerware for every occasion. The plates and bowls are available in multiple quantities that suit events of all sizes.

Cutlery is an essential component of any party. We sell disposable eco-friendly wooden cutlery that come as sets of forks, knives and spoons. The cutlery can be purchased on its own or as combo packs with palm leaf plates.

Our eco-friendly bowls made from palm leaves are another party essential. We have bowls of different sizes ranging from large serving bowls to mini dip bowls.

If you have any questions about our eco-friendly product range, please do not hesitate to reach out to us or visit the FAQ’s section.