Information about the biodegradable tableware and cutlery we use All are totally compostable in a few months and do not use fossil fuels or virgin trees!!
Plates: made of sugarcane fiber waste Cups: made from plant-based poly lactic acid Cutlery: made from potato starch Napkins: 100% post-consumer waste
Where can I buy these products? Locally: The Road Less Traveled (wide selection) in Santa Ana Wild Oats (limited selection) (also Whole Foods)
How much do these products cost? The cost of biodegradable/post-consumer products is not significantly different from conventional plastic and virgin paper products. You can save more if you buy in bulk. Average cost of 200 9” plastic plates: $30 (15¢ ea). Average cost of 125 9¾” biodegradable plates: $24 (19¢ ea).
There are many reasons not to use plastic disposable products!
It degrades slowly and only gets smaller, doesn’t totally break down
Sealife is killed when plastic is ingested (there is 6X more plastic than plankton in ocean)
Plastic absorbs and concentrates toxins such as DDT and PCBs (which may contribute to cancer and immune disorders and can damage a developing fetus) and released as plastic, ingested by wildlife and ingested up the food chain
Some plastic components are hormone-like and carcinogenic, can affect brain development.
What Else Can I Do? (And ways to save money too)
When shopping, forget paper or plastic. Bring your own bag. Many stores give a 5¢ refund (saving $20-$60 a year).
At the coffee shop, bring a mug, you can often get a discount (daily drinkers can save $20 per year, the cost of a mug).
Dump the disposable water bottle and save big. Invest in a counter top water filter like Britta ($20) or an undersink reverse osmosis model ($100 at Home Depot) and get a fashionable reusable bottle like Sigg or Kleen Kanteen ($15). Family of 4 can save $700 or more a year!
