With plastic utensils being one of the most toxic materials for the environment, using wooden disposable utensils is an eco-friendly action you can do.
You can easily find disposable utensils made of plastic in almost any store.
The problem with these products is they affect nature and contribute to pollution when they are produced and after they are thrown away.
Plastic takes tens of years to decompose and during this time, it releases dangerous chemicals in the soil, air, and water.
Wooden disposable utensils represent great alternatives and can be really beneficial for you and the environment.
Benefits of using wooden disposable utensils
Eco-friendly material
Comparing wood and plastic, you may easily identify which material is the most eco-friendly.
Although when speaking of wood you think of trees and the action of cutting them, if you had to choose between plastic and wood, the second is a better option.
Wood for such products usually comes from special farms, where trees are grown with this purpose. This should be mentioned on the product package or you should find information about this aspect on the company’s website.
Wood does not represent such a danger (after it is thrown away) to the environment like plastic. It’s a more eco-friendly solution.
If you want to go even further with the eco-friendly part, you can go for bamboo utensils, like non-toxic cutlery.
Bamboo is one of the most eco-friendly materials. Several bamboo products are biodegradable or compostable, which is an additional advantage for these items.
Great for different occasions
Having wooden disposable utensils in your home can be really useful for various situations.
Just imagine you are inviting a lot of people over to your home for a party. You prepare the food and realize that you don’t have enough reusable cutlery for everyone.
You just go for your disposable utensils stock and you’re ready to start your party.
Wooden disposable utensils also have a unique look. They don’t have that cheap look that’s been associated with disposable utensils.
This means you can use them when you have people over or simply when you’re having dinner.
What’s more, because these products are disposable, you don’t have to do the dishes at the end.
You can leave your high efficiency dishwasher turned off for now.
What you need to know about disposable utensils
Disposable utensils can be a life-savior sometimes.
Yet, for the environment, they are not so much of a blessing. As they are immediately thrown away after they’ve been used, and with large quantities of trash being thrown every day, things don’t appear very green.
Environmental impact of disposable utensils
Did you know that approximately 6 million tons of disposable plastic products are thrown away every year?
This includes plates, spoons, forks, knives, cups.
The bigger problem is what happens after they’re thrown away, as small numbers are recycled. In fact, 85% of the plastic used in the world is not recycled.
It ends up in landfills where it will most likely remain for tens or more than 100 years.
During this time, plastic releases dangerous chemicals into the environment. Here are a few examples of chemicals found in nature due to plastic:
- BPA
- PS oligomer
- Styrene monomer
- Styrene dimer
- Styrene trimer
If you’re interested in plastic and BPA, check out BPA free canned coconut milk.
This impact affects the flora and the fauna. Millions of marine species are in danger because of this material.
How to replace disposable utensils
Wooden disposable utensils and other disposable products are great, but maybe they shouldn’t be used all the time.
You can buy and keep some in your home for emergency cases, but try and not make a habit out of using them.
Use reusable products like utensils, plates, cups, cans as much as you can. You have so many options for reusable items, including reusable straws stainless steel.
It may not seem a big action, but it can have a great environmental impact.