The Rise of Disposable Tableware

In the current world, demand for disposable tableware has been increasing each day. This is due to change in lifestyle and the food on-the-go trend. Disposable tableware is normally used once and disposed. They comprise of: disposable cups, plates, tablecloth, placemats, cutlery and napkins. They have been key in growth of fast foods and quick food delivery services. 

Their popularity has risen due to several factors:

•They are safe to be used in public places or children parties, due to the safe materials used. 

•They are hygienic when used to serve large multitude, as rewashing sometimes leaves utensils with food debris.

•They are economical. 

•They require less storage space and are easy to transport. 

•They make food delivery easy as one does not wait for a utensils or cutlery from a client.

•They reduce the washing workload on users.

•They come in handy when the available utensils are fewer than guests. 

Types of Disposable Tableware.

Disposable tableware is made of varied materials. The materials suit better for different equipment, different types of food to handle, and the place of use. These materials include:

1.Plastic products.

Polystyrene, polypropylene and PET, are the popular materials used. They are used in making vending machine cups, deli cups, cutlery and salad bowls.

Benefits:

•They are cheap and easy to use

•Lightweight and can be carried easily

•Stronger than paper and can hold huge quantities of food

•They are leak proof and can hold wet foods for long periods of time.

•They come in different sizes and shapes.

•They are made of different colors and can easily fit the theme color of the event. 

•They can be customized or printed to fit a certain occasion or brand. 

2.Bioplastic products. 

Biodegradable tableware  are similar to plastic products, but are used for cold food and drinks. They are made of polylactide PLA. 

Benefits:

•They carry all the advantages of plastic products

•They are easily recycled or decomposed in home compost pit. 

3.Sugarcane residue products. 

These are made from bagasse, the dry pulp after extracting sugarcane juice. They include cups, plates and service packages.

Benefits:

•They are light and strong as compared to paper plates, though not as strong as plastic plates

•They are brown in color. This makes them fit in different themes.

•They can be microwaved up to 93 degrees Celsius or 200 degrees Fahrenheit. 

•They contain no chemicals that may leach into the food. 

4.Wood or bamboo products. 

These are made from different types of wood but mostly bamboo is used. They include wood cutlery, trays, and skewers.

Benefits:

•Good looking and can easily act as substitute to ceramic plates, when serving high end events.

•Suitable for varied types of food: oily foods, fruits, cake, cheese, and vegetables. 

•They come in different sizes and shapes, enhancing the style set of the table.

•They can be used to serve large quantities since they are tough

•They are produced by natural material, and thus do not contain any chemical that may leach into your food. 

5.Cardboard or paper products. 

These are the common disposable tableware in the market. They are products such as paper plates, paper cups, pizza boxes, and pasta boxes.

Benefits:

•They are microwave safe.

•Environmentally friendly since it can be recycled and easily biodegradable.

•They are cost friendly.

•Can be branded to spread a product awareness. 

•Come in various designs, shape and colors.

•They are compact and easy to transport.

•They are safe to carry hot beverages in them.

6.Palm leaf products.

These products are made from palm leaves. They are mostly plates and cups. 

Benefits:

•They are stronger than paper plates and handle oil well. They are suitable for barbecue, sandwiches and oily vegetables.

•They do hold wet foods for long without getting soggy. 

•They come in different sizes and shapes. This adds beauty and elegance to the table.

•The are unique due to their natural textures. As the leaves retain their texture throughout the process. 

•They are heat resistant and can be used in the microwave. 

•They are chemical free and highly biodegradable. 

7.Edible products. 

These products are made of edible materials like rice, wheat or Jawer, and are meant to be consumed after use. They include edible plates and edible cups. 

Benefits:

•They can be eaten or left to decompose.

•Decomposes in four to five days.

•They are cost friendly.

•They are good for your health if consumed.

•They contain no chemicals that may harm you.

•They are mostly brown in color and thus easily fits any occasion theme. 

How Do Disposable Tableware Work?

Disposable tableware is designed to be used once and deposited. However, the type of material used to make a tableware determines its use. For example, paper and sugarcane residue products are mostly used once. This due to their fragile state when they come in contact with oil or water. Like the pizza box you had last time. The plastic products and wood skewers can be washed and reused for a couple of times. Their materials are light and therefore cannot go for a long time. The edible disposable tableware is meant to be consumed after use. 

Are Disposable Tableware Cheap?

Washing up after a long day at work is quite tedious. The disposable tableware saves the day as they are easy to use and always on discounted price. Are they really cheap in the long run? A study has shown that a person who uses disposable products spends four times more than one who uses real tableware in a year. The cost of using disposable is steep for home use. 

They are however cheap and convenient for food delivery services as compared to alternative products. The cost of disposable products is marginal and allows the company to deliver to more people. They are also cheaper when one hosts a big number of guests. This is cost efficient as compared to buying real utensils that may not be used for a long time. 

What Businesses Need Disposable Tableware?

Disposable tableware is used in so many industries. They are mostly used in fast foods and food delivery services. This allows the fast foods to be serviced quickly and to a large number of people. They are also preferred by customers since they are hygienic.

Food delivery services also enjoy the luxury of disposable as they allow them to deliver to more people without the worry of cutlery and utensils collection. Hiking and picnic companies are also dependent on disposable as their clients prefer eating on the go or from their own preferred location. This makes it easy as the cutlery are not needed back. 

When huge crowds need to be served like refugee camps or big conferences, the disposable tableware are preferred. The cost of buying real tableware to be used for a short time is very steep. The collection and cleaning of the tableware may also be hard due to the number of people involved. 

Are Disposable Friendly To The Environment?

Several disposable tableware is made of cheap plastics that are hard to recycle. This results to them ending up as landfill in different places. The plastics that are biodegradable are expensive and thus are often overlooked by most buyers. The environmental information is not mostly provided for the buyers to make conscious decision of what they are buying. The plastic fork is made from petroleum products and may take between 10 and 100 years to decompose. And as the decomposition process takes place, it releases toxic materials to the soil and underground water. 

Paper plates and cups are easily recycled. However, some of them are lined with thin layer of plastic to enhance their moisture retention capacity. This enables the paper cup and plate to carry liquid food without getting soggy. The plastic layer makes it hard to recycle the paper or make it rot in home compost. This ends up polluting the environment and altering the life of soil creatures. 

As the guardians of our environment, we should always be careful when buying the disposable tableware and think of where they will end up. It is advisable to check if they are recyclable before purchasing them. 

What Results Does Disposable Tableware Produce?

Disposable tableware has had different advantages and shortcoming. It has enhanced several industries while the public has also had their outcry. The plastic made products have made it easier and cheaper to serve food to crowds, while maintaining high levels of hygiene. However, their tendency to not be recycled has led to pollution of the environment. 

The paper products have improved the way coffee is served. It has been simple to carry coffee around and drink on the go. The food delivery services have also been able to serve fries and sandwiches to more people at affordable prices due to the cheap paper packages. 

The bamboo and palm leaf products have enhanced different custom party themes by their unique design and texture. This has not only made it convenient to serve people but has also improved the experience.

In conclusion, the Hengda disposable tableware has improved the food industry. Their convenience and ease of use has enhanced the way food is distributed. The design of different materials has introduced unique styles on the dining tables. However, we have ascertained that they are expensive for home use and also some materials are harsh to the environment. With use of easily recycled materials, the disposable tableware is a great addition to the food industry.