5 Brilliant Reasons to Switch to Biodegradable Cutlery – Your Eco-Friendly Party Hero!

I’ve hosted over 200 major parties, at least 60% of which were before I became environmentally conscious and started my journey toward sustainability. I now use biodegradable cutlery for any gathering, whether it’s a casual get-together, a kid’s birthday party, or a grand celebration.

My sustainable journey began when I took a hard look at the plastic waste I was generating daily. It didn’t take long to identify the main culprits which is the most common items we use on daily or monthly basis. I took some small steps but ensured to replace these items to biodegradable or zero-waste items. For more information on how I made these adjustments, you can read my other post here. This change did not stop with me; it spread to my family, and we all acquired these new habits over a year.

Once these changes became second nature, I focused on my household’s biggest source of plastic waste: disposable tableware from our frequent family and friend gatherings. Hosting more than 15-20 guests weekly made the prospect of doing dishes after a fun-filled night unpleasant. So I decided to use disposable biodegradable cutlery, as I wanted to ensure it didn’t contribute to waste and end up in landfill or sea.

Fortunately, we have a composting facility nearby, which I used before installing my own composting unit at home. This made all the difference. Before I show you the great biodegradable cutlery that I’ve been using, let me explain why this switch is necessary.

Why To Choose Biodegradable Cutlery

Plastic cutlery is typically made of non-biodegradable materials such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), which do not degrade naturally in the environment. Instead, they undergo photodegradation and will gradually breakdown into smaller fragments known as microplastics.

The degradation timeframe for plastic cutlery varies depending on environmental conditions such as sunshine exposure and oxygen levels. However, the following are some rough estimates:

• 100-200 years to break down into smaller pieces, but it does not fully biodegrade.
• 500-1,000 years to totally dissolve, but still exist as microplastics.

Given the environmental impact of single-use plastics specially cutlery and bottles, it is critical to move to more sustainable options such as biodegradable cutlery made of bamboo or palm leaves.

We’ve all wondered at some point, “Why should I make this change alone?” or “What difference can I make on my own?” Don’t worry—every great change starts with little steps, and each of us has a role to play. Together we are and we will make the difference.

If you or anybody else doubts the importance of making this change, simply share this picture to dispel any doubts. Every step counts.

Every time we replace a plastic item with a biodegradable choice, we assist to minimize pollution and save the environment.

Biodegradable Cutlery: Sustainable Alternatives To Plastic Cutlery

It can be daunting when we decide to replace plastic disposable cutlery with biodegradable alternatives for our gatherings and parties. With so many options accessible both online and in stores, it might be difficult to choose the correct one. Every manufacturer and marketer claims their product is the best for the environment, but making an informed selection is difficult without all the facts.

In this guide, I will give you detailed information on numerous biodegradable cutlery alternatives to plastic. I investigated and tried five different types of cutleries, decomposing them in both a community composter and my home composting unit. This extensive study will assist you in selecting the most sustainable and eco-friendly disposable cutlery options for parties.

Sugarcane Bagasse Cutlery

Composting Time: 60-90 days

Sugarcane bagasse cutlery breaks down relatively quickly in a composting environment, turning into nutrient-rich compost within a few months. This time frame can vary slightly based on the conditions of the compost pile, such as temperature and humidity levels.

Cornstarch-Based PLA (Polylactic Acid) Cutlery

Composting Time: 90-180 days

Cutlery made from cornstarch-based PLA takes a bit longer to decompose but at the same time you really can’t make out any difference between this and plastic cutlery. They can also be used more than once if washed, to give you even more value out of each unit. The issue with this cutlery is that it require an industrial composting facility where higher temperatures and controlled conditions speed up the breakdown process. I am yet to find any cutlery made of cornstarch which I can compost in my personal or community composter. So i personally won’t recommend this but this might be an option if you have a very large event and waste can be sent to an industrial composter.

Bamboo Cutlery

Composting Time: 4-6 months

Bamboo cutlery is made from natural bamboo fiber. Bamboo has the fastest growing rate, hence it has very little deforestation impact too. Bamboo cutlery is quite sturdy, hence suitable for the main course too. Bamboo utensils can decompose within four to six months in a well-maintained compost pile. One of my personal favorite.

Palm Leaf Cutlery

Composting Time: 45-60 days

Palm leaf cutlery decomposes rapidly, often within two months. This is due to its natural composition and the fact that it’s made from fallen palm leaves without any additional chemicals or binding agents. Color may not be the same for all products, some products may be darker in color as they are made from natural leaves.

Why biodegradable cutlery is better for both Human and Environment

Most people want to use biodegradable cutlery for all their events. This is an action worth praising. I moved away from disposable plastic cutlery to biodegradable cutlery around 5-6 years ago, though it was much more expensive at that time but I made a decision if I am spending so much cash on other items, let me spend little extra on biodegradable cutlery and be responsible.

Biodegradable cutlery has emerged as a viable alternative to traditional plastic cutlery, offering numerous benefits. Here are some compelling reasons why you should choose biodegradable cutlery:

Reduces Plastic Waste

Biodegradable cutlery is made from natural materials like cornstarch, sugarcane, or potato starch, which can easily decompose, reducing plastic waste. My favorites are cutlery made from fallen palm leaves and Sugarcane bagasse cutlery. I use either of them depending on which one is on offer on Amazon and I also ensure to compost them in my house composter.

Non-Toxic

Plastic cutlery is made from all chemicals which is very unhealthy for our health. Any hot food served in a plastic plate is an open invitation to sickness due to the release of chemicals in the food. Biodegradable cutlery is free from harmful chemicals, ensuring that your food is safe and healthy.

Compostable

Biodegradable cutlery can be composted, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating nutrient-rich soil. I do personally compose all my disposable cutlery. I am so proud of doing that I ensure to put the bins on display in the party itself. This has inspired a few of my friends and with my and the internet’s help, they also started composing at their homes.

No Compromise With Convenience

I surely don’t want to do dishes after a big party (actually irrespective of the size of the party, i hate doing dishes even after a small family get together too). It will be a nightmare to do the dishes, i think that was the main reason of the popularity of plastic disposable cutlery back in 60s or 70s. But I can ensure you that you will not be compromising with your convenience by replacing plastic cutlery (which actually looks little ugly to me now) with beautiful biodegradable cutlery. You can set beautiful dinner tables with it and you can also carry it for any outdoor event. Its pretty light weight, though a little heavier than plastic cutlery but its worth the weight.

Switching to biodegradable cutlery is a simple yet impactful step towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Whether you’re hosting a large gathering or just enjoying a meal at home, these eco-friendly alternatives offer a practical solution to reduce your environmental footprint.

Biodegradable Cutlery for Kid’s Parties and School Events

Organizing kid’s parties and school events is a lot of fun for kids but a very challenging task for teachers and parents, especially when the event has to be sustainable for the environment too. I thought hard about it and my first thought went to the disposable cutlery. I changed plastic disposable cutlery to biodegradable cutlery and talked about it to all the kids during the party. They all loved the amazing facts of biodegradable cutlery and agreed with me to do their part in reducing the plastic waste. They are now my ambassadors to ensure that their family use only biodegradable cutlery at all home parties too….. I killed two birds with one stone 😊

Below are the main reasons I moved to biodegradable cutlery and talked to kids about it.

I pay upmost attention to my younger ones hence Safety First for me

Non-Toxic Materials: Biodegradable cutlery is typically made from natural materials like cornstarch, bamboo, sugarcane, or palm leaves and is free from harmful chemicals. This ensures that the cutlery is safe for kids to use, even with hot foods and drinks.

No Sharp Edges: Many biodegradable cutlery options are designed with smooth edges to prevent accidental cuts and injuries, making them ideal for young children.

Environmental Responsibility

Teaching Sustainability: Using biodegradable cutlery at children’s events is a great way to teach kids the importance of sustainability and environmental responsibility. It sets a positive example and can inspire them to make eco-friendly choices in the future. Kids are very fast learner and the if taught in fun way, they absorb things really fast.

Reducing Waste: Traditional plastic cutlery can up to 1000 years to decompose, contributing significantly to landfill or sea waste. Biodegradable cutlery, on the other hand, breaks down naturally and more quickly, reducing the overall environmental impact of our events. I set up the separate bins to decompose food waste and biodegradable cutlery.

Convenience and Kid’s Participation in Cleanup

Lightweight and Durable Biodegradable cutlery is lightweight, making it easy for kids to handle. Despite being eco-friendly, it’s also sturdy enough to handle all types of party foods, from cake and ice cream to hot dogs and pasta.

Easy Cleanup After a fun-filled party or school event, the last thing you want is a tedious cleanup process. Biodegradable cutlery can be disposed of easily and responsibly, and many types are compostable, simplifying the cleanup process even further.

Choosing biodegradable cutlery for kid’s parties and school events is a simple yet impactful way to promote safety, sustainability, and practicality. It teaches children valuable lessons about environmental responsibility, makes cleanup easier, and supports a healthier planet. I have all my kid’s parties with biodegradable cutlery. My kids love it and few of their friends have also started using biodegradable cutlery in their parties. That’s the path I want to go with.

Where to buy biodegradable cutlery online

There are several options to buy biodegradable cutlery. You can buy online or check out the nearest or your regular shop. I prefer to buy my stuff from Amazon as I like their return policies and being a Prime member, all my deliveries are free.

If you would like, you can buy from our links, you will not have to pay anything extra but being an affiliate, we might get some discount which will get passed on to you.

Here are some top online retailers where I buy biodegradable cutlery from:

There are other places also EcoPartySupply, Etsy etc. You can check those too.

I made the switch to biodegradable cutlery few years ago and all my events will only have eco-friendly compostable cutlery and I sincerely hope that you will make the switch too. This is not only good for environment but also good for us. Please have a look and if you find the content useful, pls drop a comment. All comments are welcome and appreciated.

There is another post which you might like “10 Creative and Sustainable Party Ideas for an Eco-Friendly Celebration“.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) along with their answers related to “Biodegradable cutlery” from google:

• What is biodegradable cutlery made of?
  • Biodegradable cutlery is made of several material, most popular ones are bamboo, palm leaves, sugar cane Bagasse etc.
• What is biodegradable cutlery?
  • Cutlery which can be composted either in regular composting or in industrial composting setup.
• Are compostable plates really compostable?
  • Compostable plates are also always disposable. You can throw them into the garbage like any other single-use item. But they have a much preferred, greener disposal option. These items can be composted, which means that, given the correct environment, they will break down 100% into nutrient-rich soil.
• Can compostable cutlery be recycled?
  • That’s correct. They can’t be recycled because they’re not plastic. If you put them into recycling, it can screw up the waste stream.
• Is compostable plastic really compostable?
  • Plastic that is compostable is biodegradable, but not every plastic that is biodegradable is compostable. Whereas biodegradable plastic may be engineered to biodegrade in soil or water, compostable plastic refers to biodegradation into soil conditioning material (i.e., compost) under a certain set of conditions.
• Why can’t bamboo be composted?
  • They are compostable, but they need to be sent to an industrial composting facility. They are unlikely to break down quickly in a home compost. In a composting facility, bamboo takes less than 180 days to break down fully and can take as little as 45 days.
• How long does it take compostable cutlery to break down?
  • In general around 90 days
• Can you burn compostable forks?
  • If your knives and forks are bona fide compostable and made from plants they will burn with a white smoke and a very light burning smell. If your knives and forks are petroleum-based, they will burn with a black smoke and give off a strong chemical smell.
• Are compostable utensils edible?
  • Not all compostable cutlery is edible but there is compostable, edible cutlery available which is made entirely from food products such as wheat flour, corn flour, soybean flour and water.