TABLEWARE AND FOOD CONTAINERS FROM RICE STRAW

With the growing popularity of sustainability, many companies have begun using environmentally friendly materials. This is particularly significant for the disposable tableware market. Most plastic utensils, paper plates, and styro foam carrying containers are used once for a few hours and then left in a landfill for hundreds of years before they degrade. Efforts have been made in recent years to create single-use tableware that biodegrades in a shorter time frame. Despite their widespread use, single-use cups have not received an environmentally conscious Upgrade.

In an effort to eliminate the use of paper, styrofoam, and plastic from the single-use tableware industry, other more sustainable options have been innovated for the market. However, they each have a reason that they fail at replacing the single-use cup market. Table below compares these sustainable options versus paper, styrofoam, and plastic, highlighting key advantages and disadvantages.

Biodegradable disposable flatware and utensils manufactured from wood-based or plant-based raw materials, including materials that may be traditionally discarded such as sawdust, plant stalks, seed or grain hulls or the like. The process includes the use of a resin made from the discarded materials to form disposable utensils and flatware.

Today consumption of Disposable products is breaking records. Disposable products are easy to handle, economical and can be disposed easily. With the changing lifestyle of Mankind, the use of disposable products is raising like anything. Plastic Disposable products are very popular because it can be carried easily and very low in prices too.

The products include food containers and tableware – like plates, bowls, meal trays and cups – which decompose within 30-60 days after being discarded. The company sources processed bagasse from other organizations. This material is then moulded, dried, heated, and given other final touches. Heat-induced pressing during the manufacturing process gives structural strength to the cutlery. Additionally, the inter-fibre bonding makes the products water and oil resistant. It is a completely natural process and involves no binders, additives, coatings or chemical residues, resulting in a nontoxic, harmless and healthy alternative to plastic. The cutlery also does not impart colour, odour or taste to food. The products are microwave-safe and have an estimated shelf life of two years. Users cannot wash the tableware or containers after use; they have to be discarded.

People thinking have changed in consumption. They want to keep up our earth free from plastic pollutants. So, they want to make a more eco-friendly choice over unsustainable options. Eco-friendly disposable plates are easy to handle and dispose of after use.

Though there are many eco-friendly products, this report will focus more on the rice straw plates/containers manufacturing process.