Disposable Dinnerware Buying Guide
Disposable dinnerware is designed to provide a hassle-free dining experience while maintaining a professional presentation. Made from materials like paper, plastic, and foam, this dinnerware offers a cost-effective solution for serving food in high-volume settings. With the growing demand for disposable and eco-friendly options in the foodservice industry, it's essential to understand the different types of disposable dinnerware available for your business.
Shop All Disposable Dinnerware and Tableware
Use the following links to learn more about the different types of disposable products:
- Benefits of Using Disposable Dinnerware
- Disposable Plates
- Disposable Bowls
- Disposable Napkins
- Disposable Cups
- Plastic Cutlery and Utensils
- Disposable Tabletop Accessories
Disposable dinnerware has become a popular choice for many businesses in the foodservice industry due to its numerous benefits. It eliminates the need for washing and drying, saving time and labor costs. Disposable dinnerware also addresses hygiene concerns around serving food, especially when traditional dishwashing may not be feasible or practical.
Investing in disposable dinnerware helps reduce expenses associated with purchasing, maintaining, and replacing traditional dinnerware. Disposable options are often more affordable upfront, making them a budget-friendly choice for businesses looking to minimize costs. For businesses that offer takeout or delivery services, disposable dinnerware is essential for ensuring that customers can enjoy their meals conveniently and safely. Disposable containers, cups, and utensils make it easy for customers to transport their food without needing returns or clean-up.
Disposable plates offer a cost-effective solution for food establishments looking to streamline their operations and reduce the time and effort spent on dishwashing. When you choose the right type of disposable plates for your business, you enhance the overall experience for your customers and improve the efficiency of your foodservice operations.
- Plastic Plates - Made from sturdy materials like polystyrene or polypropylene, plastic plates are resistant to cracking and breaking, This makes them ideal for serving heavy or saucy foods.
- Paper Plates - The paperboard or sugarcane fiber construction of paper plates helps make them a cost-effective option for businesses. These light weight plates are easy to dispose of, making them a convenient choice for fast-casual restaurants, food trucks, or catered events.
- Eco-Friendly Disposable Plates - Eco-friendly disposable plates are typically made from renewable resources like bamboo, palm leaves, or bagasse, offering a more environmentally friendly option for businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
- Foam Plates - Made from expanded polystyrene, foam plates provide excellent temperature retention, keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold for longer periods. Foam plates are also moisture-resistant, preventing liquids from leaking through and compromising the plate's integrity.
Disposable cups are an asset for any foodservice establishment, catering event, or office break room. They offer convenience and efficiency, making them a popular choice for serving beverages on the go. That being said there are many types of disposable cups available on the market, each designed to meet different needs and preferences.
- Plastic Glassware and Barware - Plastic glassware and barware are ideal for upscale events, bars, and restaurants looking to elevate their presentation without breakage. These disposable cups come in various styles and sizes to mimic the look of traditional glassware, making them perfect for serving cocktails, wine, or other beverages.
- Disposable Metal Cups - Offering a sophisticated and durable option, disposable metal cups are fantastic for serving beverages in high-end establishments. These cups are often made with aluminum or other metals, offering a sleek and modern appearance.
- Plastic Cups and Lids - Plastic cups are a versatile and practical option for serving a wide range of beverages, from water and soda to smoothies and milkshakes. These cups are great for takeout and delivery services, ensuring that beverages remain secure during transport.
- Paper Cups and Lids - Made from materials like paperboard, paper cups are a more sustainable disposable choice for businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Paper cups are suitable for serving hot beverages like coffee and tea, providing insulation and convenience for customers on the go.
- Foam Cups and Lids - Offering excellent insulation properties, foam cups keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold for long periods. These cups are light weight and stackable, making them easy to store and transport.
Plastic cutlery and utensils offer a cost-effective and hygienic solution for serving customers on the go. They are light weight, making them easy to transport and distribute for events or takeout orders. They are also disposable utensils, eliminating the need for washing and sanitizing after each use and saving time and labor costs in a busy kitchen.
- Wrapped Plastic Utensils - This type of plastic cutlery is individually wrapped in plastic sleeves, providing a hygienic and convenient option for customers. These utensils are ideal for take-out and delivery services, as well as for catering events where sanitation is crucial.
- Unwrapped Plastic Utensils - Unwrapped plastic cutlery is a more cost-effective option for high-volume settings such as fast-food restaurants or cafeterias. While not individually wrapped, unwrapped plastic cutlery is still a practical choice for quick and easy serving.
- Weight - In terms of weight, plastic cutlery can vary from medium to heavy options. medium weight plastic cutlery is suitable for casual dining settings or for light foods, while heavy weight plastic cutlery offers a more durable and substantial feel, making it ideal for heavier dishes or upscale events.
- Type of Plastic - Plastic cutlery is typically made from polystyrene or polypropylene. Polystyrene cutlery is light weight and cost-effective, making it a popular choice for casual dining establishments. Polypropylene, on the other hand, is a more durable and heat-resistant type of plastic, making it suitable for hot foods and beverages.
Last Updated: October
When helping our members set up new party kits, one of the most common questions I get is, "Which type of tableware is the greenest?"
While there isn’t a simple answer due to the lack of transparency around manufacturing and confusion over terms like "biodegradable" and "recyclable," one thing is clear: reusable tableware will always be better for the environment than disposables. By avoiding single-use items, you reduce waste and the environmental impact from production to disposal.
If you’re looking to create a sustainable party kit and want to better understand the pros and cons of various types of reusable tableware, this article is here to help.
My Approach
There are several types of tableware commonly used in party kits, including various plastics and crockery. For this guide, I’ll focus on options most suitable for children’s parties.
I’ve compared four types of reusable tableware, looking at popular brands and identifying which options to avoid. The key factors I’ve considered include:
Suitability: How safe and practical each type of tableware is for kids' parties.
Production: What materials are used and how the tableware is made.
End-of-life: What happens to the tableware when it’s no longer usable.
By breaking down these aspects, I hope to provide clarity on how to make the greenest choice for your party kit.
Types of Tableware Suitable for a Party Kit
There is a wide range of reusable tableware options available. Here’s an introduction to the four types most commonly found in party kits:
1. Plastic
Reusable tableware made from virgin plastic is by far the most popular type of tableware found in party kits. It’s cheap, easy to buy and designed to be safely used by kids. ‘Virgin plastic’ refers to tableware made from brand new petroleum-based plastic.
For this category I looked at both the IKEA KALAS range (pictured), made from Polypropylene plastic (PP), and UK brand Harfield Tableware made from Polycarbonate plastic (PC) or sometimes Copolyester (COPE).
2. Recycled Plastic
Recycled Plastic tableware is more common in our party kits in Australia and New Zealand but popular US brand Re-Play is now available in the UK.
This tableware is made from petroleum-based plastics which have been used and then recycled; for example plastic milk bottles and yogurt pots.
3. Melamine
Often found in the supermarket aisles during the picnic season, Melamine has received a stylish makeover in the last few years. It tends to come in pastel colours and with a wide range of prints available.
The most common Melamine tableware found in party kits is by Danish brand RICE. This is a type of plastic made from melamine and formaldehyde rather than petroleum-based plastic.
4. Enamel
Popular with campers (and my granny!), Enamel tableware is made from powdered glass which is bonded onto heavy-gauge steel and dipped in liquid enamel. I looked at French brand Falcon.
Types of Tableware to Avoid
When assembling a party kit, there are certain types of tableware you should avoid—especially if you're sourcing secondhand items.
Moulded Bamboo Tableware: Once popular for its plastic-free appeal and aesthetic qualities, moulded bamboo tableware is no longer recommended. To make it dishwasher-safe, plastic binders are often added, leading to health concerns. As a result, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has banned its sale and advises against its use.
Wheat Straw and Other Plant-Based Tableware: Often labeled as PLA, these were initially chosen by those seeking to avoid petroleum-based plastics. However, like bamboo tableware, they have also been flagged by the FSA for safety concerns.
If you want to learn more, check out my blog post summarising the UK FSA's advice: Safety Alert: What You Need to Know About Bamboo and Wheat Straw Tableware
Suitability of Each Type of Tableware
When choosing reusable tableware, it’s essential to prioritise practicality. No matter how eco-friendly something is, if it's not useful, it won’t serve its purpose. I’ve reviewed five key factors:
Kid-Safe: Safety is a top priority for kids' parties. All tableware brands I assessed were free from harmful chemicals like BPA, BPS, and phthalates. Durability is crucial—bamboo tableware, however, tends to be more brittle and less durable than other materials. Any tableware that becomes cracked or split should be replaced for hygiene and safety reasons.
Hot Drink Safety: Most tableware I reviewed is not suitable for hot drinks (above 70°C), except for enamel and Harfield Polycarbonate. However, enamel can get hot to touch, which isn’t ideal for children. While kids aren’t typically drinking hot beverages at parties, it's worth considering if your kit will also cater to adults or different event types. Adding separate mugs for hot drinks might be a good solution.
Dishwasher Safe: All the tableware reviewed is dishwasher-safe, but many pieces are only suitable for the top rack, which can limit capacity. While hand-washing is recommended to extend longevity, it's worth noting that dishwashers typically use less water, making them more eco-friendly than hand-washing.
Microwave Safe: Only the plastic and recycled plastic tableware are technically microwave-safe, but they’re only suitable for brief reheating. Personally, I avoid using plastic in microwaves, even BPA-free varieties, as studies have shown that heating plastic can release harmful chemicals. Melamine and enamel should never be used in the microwave.
Affordability: The IKEA KALAS range remains unbeatable in terms of price, costing just £1 for a pack of six plates. Other options, like melamine, tend to be more expensive, although seasonal sales during picnic season can make it more accessible. Restocking these items, however, may be trickier.
Type
Kid Safe
Hot Drinks
Dishwasher Safe
Microwave Safe
Affordability
Plastic
Recycled Plastic
Melamine
Enamel
Considering the Production Impacts of Tableware
Researching the environmental impact of different types of tableware reveals that every item comes with an energy and resource cost. While the carbon and resource footprint of reusable tableware is generally higher at the start compared to disposables, the environmental impact decreases significantly with repeated use. For example, after just two uses, a stainless steel fork begins to have a lower environmental impact than a single-use plastic one (source: Upstream).
One way to further reduce the environmental impact is by sourcing secondhand or preloved tableware. Many party kits have been successfully assembled through local donations, avoiding the need for new purchases.
Plastic
IKEA’s plastic plates are made from polypropylene (PP), a petroleum-based plastic. The extraction and refining of oil, a non-renewable resource, to make plastic is harmful to the environment. It causes destruction of landscapes and sea beds, with the risk of oil spills adding further dangers. As we transition away from fossil fuels for energy, we also need to move away from creating new plastic products from oil.
The production of plastic releases toxic chemicals and presents hazards for workers in the manufacturing process.
Recycled Plastic
Recycled plastic plates, such as Re-Play tableware, are a more sustainable option. Made from recycled HDPE and polypropylene, such as milk bottles and yogurt pots, these items still originate from petroleum-based plastics but have already gone through one life cycle before being repurposed into tableware. This helps reduce waste and keeps plastics out of landfills and the environment.
Melamine
Melamine is made by combining melamine resin with formaldehyde to create a durable, food-safe plastic. Although it doesn't rely on petroleum, the production process emits chemical waste and toxic fumes, contributing to air, land, and water pollution.
Enamel
Enamel tableware is created by fusing powdered glass to steel, cast iron, or aluminum. The metal is shaped and dipped in liquid enamel, then fired in a kiln. Modern enamel no longer uses animal bone in production, but the process still requires high energy inputs for firing.
The End-of-life Considerations for Reusable Tableware
Throughout its lifespan, a party kit can help prevent thousands of single-use items from ending up in landfills. This waste reduction is what makes the party kit concept far more sustainable than single-use disposables. However, to achieve a truly zero-waste approach, we must ensure that unusable items are not simply discarded.
Cracked or broken tableware is neither safe nor hygienic, so it should not be included in party kits. Instead, broken items need to be repaired, repurposed, recycled, or disposed of responsibly.
Repairability: Only enamel tableware is repairable. Chips in enamel can be fixed with food-safe epoxy, though some manufacturers may advise against it. Unfortunately, plastic and melamine tableware cannot be safely repaired once damaged.
Recyclability: Polypropylene plastic (PP) tableware, like IKEA plates, can often be recycled through local plastic recycling schemes. In the UK, the Party Kit Network has partnered with Brothers Make for a fully traceable recycling program.
Harfield’s polycarbonate tableware can also be returned for recycling, and Re-Play’s recycled HDPE tableware can be recycled again at the end of its life.
Melamine, although technically recyclable (Type 7 plastic), has very limited access to recycling facilities. Typically, it will need to go into general waste. Similarly, enamel tableware is not recyclable and must also be disposed of as general waste.
Biodegradability: Biodegradable materials break down into organic matter without leaving toxins behind, but they need specific conditions like bacteria, oxygen, moisture, and light. Most landfills lack these conditions. There is also no standard regulation on what can be labeled "biodegradable."
Importantly, none of the reusable tableware types mentioned are compostable at home. Petroleum-based plastics, whether virgin or recycled, are not biodegradable—they take hundreds of years to degrade and never fully disappear.
Repurposing: Broken or worn tableware can often be repurposed for non-food uses, such as for arts and crafts, plant pot stands, or other creative uses.
Type
Repairable
Recyclable
Biodegradable
Plastic
Recycled Plastic
Melamine
Enamel
Unknown
Conclusion
There is no perfect tableware solution that checks all the boxes. Each type of reusable tableware has an environmental impact, whether during production or at the end of its life. However, any reusable tableware is always a better option than single-use disposables because of the significant waste reduction with every use.
We need to cherish what we already have, ensuring we get the most out of our resources, rather than throwing things away after just one use.
If you're thinking about creating your own party kit, be sure to check out my comprehensive Get Started Guide, a FREE download!
