The selection of eco-friendly materials for disposable tableware

The selection of environmentally friendly materials for disposable tableware mainly includes the following categories:

Natural materials category

Paper products: Made from raw materials such as sugarcane bagasse and wheat bellflowers, with a low-density polyethylene coating on the surface. They feature water and oil resistance, are non-toxic, odorless, and easily degradable. The typical usage range is 0-90 ℃, but they should not be heated in a microwave oven or come into contact with alcohol-containing foods.

Straw products: They are biodegradable tableware made of natural materials and are environmentally friendly.

Starch products: Made from starchy plants as raw materials, they are mixed with dietary fiber and other edible additives through stirring and kneading. They are refined by technologies such as biological compounding, polysaccharide cross-linking, and calcium ion chelation. The operating temperature range is -10℃ to +120℃. They are particularly suitable for holding hot rice and dishes, can be heated in a microwave oven, and can also be refrigerated for use.

Bamboo and wood products: Made of natural bamboo and wood, they can be directly composted after single use. Wood is a natural and renewable resource. Using bamboo and wood tableware can reduce damage to the environment. Bamboo and wood tableware does not react with the acids in food, leaves no metallic taste, and does not allow harmful chemicals to seep into the food.

Biodegradable plastic category

Polylactic acid (PLA) : The raw materials are sourced from various agricultural products, can be reused at a low rate, and can be rapidly degraded. After use, it is easy to degrade and does not pollute the environment. It is an environmentally friendly material that poses no harm to human health. The disposable tableware products made from it are the first choice to replace plastic disposable tableware.

Polybutylene terephthalate-adipate (PBAT) : It is one of the main materials for degradable plastic tableware, but it must not be used in contact with frozen or refrigerated food.

Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) : The main material of biodegradable plastic tableware and can be heated in a microwave oven.

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) : The main material of biodegradable plastic tableware and must not be used in contact with alcohol-containing foods.

Polybutylene succinate (PBS) : It is the main material for biodegradable plastic tableware.

Biodegradable plastic PHA: It possesses the properties of plastic and can be degraded by microorganisms during biochemical processes or in natural environments. It can be degraded in natural environments such as soil, seawater, and lake water. The main reason is that microbial populations degrade PHA into the nutrients they need through PHA hydrolase. It is one of the most promising biodegradable plastics.

Plant fiber category: It is made from plant fibers extracted from straw, rice husks, sugarcane bagasse, etc. as raw materials, with the addition of molding agents, adhesives, water-resistant agents and other additives, stirred and formed through a molding machine, and then processed later such as drying, shaping and disinfection. These agricultural by-products can be used as industrial raw materials, which is conducive to the comprehensive utilization of agricultural resources. For example, sugarcane pulp tableware, in a composting environment at 30℃, a mycelial network begins to appear on the surface on the 15th day, the structural strength drops to 30% of the initial value on the 45th day, and is completely decomposed into CO₂, water and humus on the 120th day. It has passed the SGS field degradation test to ensure natural decomposition even in non-composting environments.