Whether you are going on an afternoon picnic to the park and want minimal cleanup, or having a party and simply don’t have enough forks, knives and spoons stocked in your normal supply, sometimes disposable is the only way to go.

Because, frankly,  it’s just not convenient to always pull out the stainless steel kitchen cutlery.

According to Vegware, huge amounts of single-use cutlery, tableware, and food packaging are used and disposed of yearly – about 39 billion items in the US alone.

These alarming numbers encouraged this Scotland-based company to develop eco-friendly items for the food industry and individuals. Food-related businesses are the leading contender in using and abusing plastic, Styrofoam, and paper one-use cutlery and tableware – and a planet-promoting alternative was much needed.

Vegware has developed an environmentally friendly, sustainable, and economic solution with their natural starch cutlery. Developed from 100% biodegradable non-GMO corn and potato starch, they are the perfect replacement for their plastic counterparts.

They are manufactured using Plastarch (PSM), which is a thermoplastic resin made from natural starches, in this case, potato and corn. Despite this, they can withstand high heat, which we tested out in a quick version of Broccoli Stump Soup. (The cutlery can withstand heat up to  105°C/220°F. Excellent.)

Because biodegradation occurs within 180 days, they don’t really recommend storing them for a long period of time. Moist environments enhance the biodegradability, too, so keeping them in a dry, covered storage area is your best bet. (We’ll update in 180 days and let you know how the utensils are holding up).

Although plastic forks and knives are reusable, most people don’t – they just toss them out. Vegware cutlery, despite their natural materials, are reusable, too. Just wash and dry them, the store in a dry environment. Make sure you do it right away though: if you leave them to soak in water overnight, or don’t dry them very well, the outside will become tacky as it starts to disintegrate.

One of the most frustrating things about plastic cutlery is that they easily break – try to stab at a cauliflower in your pasta salad, and see how far you get. And the knives? Ever try to slice a sandwich in half? It’s a bit of a challenge. Vegware’s forks, knives and spoons are (almost) as durable as your normal eating utensils, with the usability of the disposable kind.

We also give Vegware extra stars for comfort. Many plastic alternatives have rough edges, that threaten to slit the sides of your mouth as you take a spoonful of your favourite ice cream. Their smooth edges are about twice the thickness, ensuring comfort in every bite.

In addition to cutlery, Vegware also offers tableware, cups, containers, take-out containers, napkins, and more.

We love the feel, eco-friendliess, and durability of Vegware cutlery, and can’t wait to make more use of them. A 50-count cutlery pack starts at just $4.95.

You can try a sample pack of their many of their items for just $19.99 (shipping included). It contains cutlery, tableware, cups, and take-out boxes, to see what fits the needs of your lifestyle or business.

Visit their US site at www.vegware.us

Image courtesy of vegware.co.uk

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