Are you planning a wedding, a Thanksgiving get-together, or a fun BBQ at the park? Take a look at the options below for sustainable and eco-friendly utensils, cutlery, paper plates, and all the other dishes necessary for everyone to enjoy their meal.
During any social gathering, food and drink is an essential element of a successful event. Everyone needs a plate and fork, and perhaps a knife or spoon. Inevitably there are a ton of dishes afterward. Paper plates, bowls, and disposable utensils are often a good solution. I have found some sustainable and compostable solutions for you.
My family really likes these when we are camping. They are a really great alternative to plastic utensils. You can wash and reuse them multiple times, and I often put them in the dishwasher with the rest of my silverware. They do eventually crack and break, but at that point you can toss them out, put them in the campfire, or put them in your compost bin.
From the Amazon description:We used these for a BBQ this summer, and they work great! The plates are nice and thick, and aren't as prone to folding up when you least expect it, unlike other cheap paper plates. The set we purchased also game with forks, knives, and spoons made from cornstarch.
From the Amazon description:We used these for a BBQ this summer, and they worked great! We mostly used them for chili, salad, and ice cream. These bowls are nice and thick, held up well during our family gathering. Made from sugarcane bagasse, which is a fibrous material that remains after crushing sugarcane.
From the Amazon description:We have a bunch of these, and really like them, especially when camping. It's a great alternative to glass cups for the kids in case they get dropped - no sharp glass to pickup! Run them through the dishwasher and they are good as new. When they get dented or crushed, just toss them in the recycle bin!
From the Amazon description:We haven't actually used these before, but I wanted to offer another option besides the aluminum cups because they are less expensive. From what I read, it looks like they have good reviews on Amazon.
From the Amazon description:When you put dishes of food out on the table so people can serve themselves you need something that will hold up to repeated use. I personally like bamboo for this purpose because it holds up well, and typically can be washed and reused again at your next gathering.
We have a set of these at home, and use them on a daily basis. Made from renwable and sustainable bamboo, they are bio-degradable and inexpensive. I just toss ours in the dishwasher and occasionally apply cutting-board oil to keep them from cracking. It's a win-win for my family. The set I've listed here includes several large spatulas and spoons.
From the Amazon description:I was at an event last year, and the host used these large bowls to serve salad and chips to all the guests. They seemed very sturdy, potentially reusable/washable if you don't soak them in water for a long time. They have a unique, almost wood-like texture, and are much stronger and stiffer than paper bowls. A great choice if you are looking for strong, but disposable dishes.
From the Amazon description:These little tongs are great for serving olives, cheese cubes, meatballs, or any other small items you might have out as snacks during a party.
From the Amazon description:This set if tiny little forks made me smile, so I just had to include them in this list. They are a great option for small appetizers and snacks when entertaining guests.
From the Amazon description:Now the party is over, and you need to pick up all the plates, napkins, and cups that people have left all over your home. Now you need some trash bags...
I have to say that bio-degradable trash bags are one of the hardest things to recommend. Most of them are thinner and split a lot easier than "real" plastic bags. I've also had issues when there is a lot of liquid in my garbage. If you are tossing out something that's really wet, I highly recommend that you get it out to your curb-side trash bin that same day.
These trash bags work reasonably well for most light-weight trash. They work great for my smaller bathroom trash can, or a 5-gal. bucket. While they say they are 13 gallons, I've found they don't fit my kitchen trash bin. Not recommended for anything sharp or wet.
From the Amazon description:I use these in my large trash bin for leaves and sawdust, but branches and other sharp objects will poke holes in the bag. They work well for party cleanup, which is usually just paper plates, cups, etc.
From the Amazon description:This bucket is the bomb! Useful for everything! I keep mine in the car, it collapses down flat and stores in with my spare tire. Take it to the beach to collect trash, or shells, or fill it with sand to keep your beach blanket/towel from blowing away. When I'm camping I can fill it with dirt or water as a way to put out the campfire when I leave. Also makes a useful laundry basket or toy bin when I'm traveling.
From the Amazon description:I keep one in the house, and one in the car. Very useful for getting socks that got dropped behind the washing machine. I like to bring a bucket and my grabber to pick up trash around my neighborhood when I go for a walk with the dog. And... of course they are very handy at the beach. Nobody likes to touch other peoples garbage, so the long-handled grabber is useful when you need to clean up your little patch of sand.
From the Amazon description:These are really large! A little over one gallon, they really hold a lot of... "stuff". And they look great, with an "old-time" pioneer feel. They use the old-school lever-latch system, and have a glass top with a silicon gasket to seal them. Jars and lids can go in the dishwasher for easy cleaning! Great for storing dry pasta, cereal, or making pickles. A tried and true method that's been around since the covered wagon era.
From the Amazon description:There are many options available for eco-friendly picnic and party supplies.