Disposable tableware: what kinds are there and can it be reused?

Disposable tableware is indispensable when holding picnics, organizing tourist trips, as well as when celebrating children's birthday parties. However, in recent years, statements by environmentalists about the dangers of such dishes have increased, moreover, in the EU this year a law has been passed banning plastic dishes - it will take effect in two years. Let's see what are disposable tableware and whether their harm to the environment and human health is great.

With the advent of disposable utensils in stores, the organization of picnics, trips and small trips has become much easier and more convenient.

Modern industry offers a wide selection of similar utensils for soups, main dishes, salads, and drinks:

• plates and bowls;
• various cutlery - forks, spoons and even knives;
• cups and cups - they can be with or without a lid;
• additional accessories - tubes, stirrers and skewers.

There is no exact data on the creator of disposable tableware. According to one version, she was thought up by a poor student who was accidentally broken into a cafe. According to others, the creation of disposable utensils began to reflect upon the publication by Dr. E. Davidson of research results related to the peculiarities of using aluminum plates and spoons in school canteens. The physician’s conclusion was obvious - it is the quality of the dishes that causes an increased level of poisoning.

The very first disposable cup was made of paper and had the shape of a cone. Invented such a product was an American journalist Moore, however, was such a product is not particularly successful. Cardboard, even the densest, can not hold water. However, the idea was picked up by other entrepreneurs and after a few years, perfect dishes were presented to consumers, which could be safely considered as a “pioneer” - it could hold liquid food, it could be put on the table and, in its external and operational parameters, it looked like the current dish .

In 1910, the production of such products became widespread., and the demand for dishes reached its peak with the development of fast-food chains - this is approximately the 1950s. last century.

On the merits and demerits of disposable tableware for many years the existence of such products has not developed a consensus. The advantages include the following characteristics.

• Safety of disposable tableware - in contrast to glass and porcelain, it can not be broken and injured by fragments.
• Aesthetics - plastic ware today has a rather attractive appearance, it is presented in a wide variety of colors and prints, it can have thematic patterns, an unusual texture, foreign materials can be included. In some cases it is possible to manufacture on an individual project.
• Heat resistance - under the action of elevated temperatures, the physical and operational properties of the material remain unchanged, deformation and changes in the chemical composition of the substance do not occur.
• Versatility - disposable tableware can be used for both hot and chilled food.
• The ability to use to store food in the refrigerator, as well as for heating and cooking in a microwave oven.
• Some categories of disposable tableware are characterized by frost resistance, which allows it to be used during winter hikes, as well as for storing food in the freezer.
• Strength - deformation of the product occurs only with a strong blow or due to the action of the flame.
• Resilience refers to products such as knives and forks. These features allow you to effectively cut and pin products, without fear of spoiling the cutlery.
• Low weight, compactness - thanks to this property, it is convenient to take dishes with you on hikes.
• Resistance to acids and fats.
• A wide selection of designs.
• Low cost.

The main disadvantage of disposable tableware is related to its environmental friendliness. Obviously, most of these cutlery is made of plastic, which decomposes more than 100 years, thus polluting the environment, environmentalists even introduced the term "plastic pollution".

And this lack of almost all types of products concerns, even paper. Just think: the paper itself is not capable of holding liquid, so that the glass can be used for its intended purpose, it is covered with liquid plastic, which, again, being thrown out, will decompose for centuries, emitting methane and other harmful substances. In our country there is no such bill, so plastic will remain on store shelves for a long time.

Disposable tableware made from a variety of materials:

• cardboard covered with liquid plastic;
• plastic itself;
• polystyrene foam.

There are craft, parchment and foil cutlery, but the following types of products are most often used.

This concept hides dishes made of polypropylene, as well as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, LDPE and HDPE, polycarbonate and other types of plastic.

Today, such dishes are widely represented in a variety of design options. and is commonly used at home, in the office, in cafes, on trips and during family holidays.

However, it was not without drawbacks. First of all, they include the inability to heat such dishes and store products in it for a long time. Further, plastic is distinguished by the complexity of disposal, which is what environmentalists say - this casts doubt on the prospects for the distribution of such dishes in the future.

In popularity, such cutlery is not inferior to plastic. Cardboard plates and glasses are made from paper and parchment; craft packaging is also made from paper for food. Such dishes are common in small eateries, fast food outlets, it is indispensable when setting the table for children's parties. Such utensils are safe and therefore, even if the baby drops such a plate, it will not cause him any damage or injuries.

In addition, the coating protects a person from burns if there is hot liquid in the pan.

The advantages of such dishes include:

• ease;
• practicality;
• reliability;
• hygiene;
• low cost.

When heated, such devices do not emit harmful substances and carcinogens, but due to the synthetic coating they have a long decomposition time, therefore they are unsafe for the environment.

In order to reduce the damage associated with the utilization of plastic, the so-called biodegradable dishes were invented, which are made from natural materials: cornstarch, sugarcane and bamboo with the addition of various food additives.

In addition, such dishes have a lot of advantages for the buyer:

• low weight;
• ease of use;
• increased strength;
• ability to withstand temperatures up to 20 degrees;
• grease and water resistant.

Full decomposition of this kind of dishes occurs in 4–5 months.

Eco-friendly disposable tableware, made of wood, does not have a large distribution - it is mainly used in specialized health food cafes.

The undoubted advantages of such utensils include:

• natural material;
• strength;
• esthetics;
• environmental Safety.

Of the minuses can be called a high cost.

When disposable tableware just appeared on the shelves of our stores, it was presented exclusively in white monochromatic versions. Over time, the design has changed, and today you can meet plates, glasses, forks and spoons of various shades - black, red, orange, yellow, pink and blue, they can be matte and transparent, monochrome or with a print.

The most popular decor trends disposable table sets.

• Making stylish cups with large images or company logos - this makes the dishes especially relevant at corporate parties, trainings and seminars.
• The expansion of colors - probably not less than half of disposable plates are purchased today for serving the table at children's parties. That is why it has recently become fashionable to produce such dishes with patterns depicting the characters of your favorite cartoons, and there are plates “boys” and “girlish”.
• Cups with lids - this is one of the latest trends, such additional elements are indispensable for small food outlets selling coffee, juices, coke and other foods to take away. As a rule, the covers are colorless or whitish, and the cups themselves look pretty elegant. Very often the bundle includes a straw.
• In recent years, disposable packaging for products is gaining popularity - these can be cardboard boxes and lunch boxes made of cardboard or plastic. As a rule, they are performed completely transparent, but in recent years there has been a tendency to decorate packages with a pattern that contributes to an increase in appetite.

Disposable dishes are in consistently high demand, so the production and sale of such products has been and remains highly profitable business, at least in our country.

For many years, Italian devices were leading the market, but today Russian brands have appeared in Russia, the quality of which is not inferior to the famous European premium products. Among the most sought-after brands:

• enterprise "Mystery";
• Tsar-Packing;
• "A source";
• Unifol;
• Alcor;
• GK "Opticom".

Any items that come into contact with food must necessarily meet certain requirements, disposable dishes are no exception.

Such products must meet hygienic and sanitary standards, have special labeling.

• It is advisable to choose the dishes according to GOST, and not TU. The fact is that the study of technical conditions often allows manufacturers to "omit" a number of important requirements that are spelled out in the current State Standards.
• Be sure to smell when choosing dishes - you should not feel any chemical odors.If you are going to buy colored dishes, it will be useful to rub it with your fingers - if she leaves a fingerprint on her hands, immediately refuse to buy.
• When choosing the right dishes it is very important to pay special attention to the labeling of the products offered - it can tell a lot about the features of using the dishes. If marking is missing, do not risk your health.
• For hot coffee or tea, you should opt for paper cups, because drinking hot plastic drinks is fraught with a deterioration of well-being. It should be noted that plastic glasses are also not designed for drinking alcohol - when interacting with alcohol-containing components, plastic begins to release chemicals that can cause toxic damage to the body.
• Inspect the package - there must necessarily be a small sign depicting a fork with a glass or glass - this symbol means that you can eat from such dishes, if the icon is crossed out or not present at all, it means that the material is not suitable for food products.
• For cold drinks it is better to use devices made of polystyrene - it is denoted by the letters PS or the number 6. These plates and glasses are denser than polypropylene, and forks and spoons of this material it is much easier to cling pieces of food. Keep in mind that when heated such dishes are deformed and begin to emit a highly toxic component - styrene, so the material is suitable only for cold snacks and cool non-alcoholic beverages.
• The numbers 2 and 4 or the letters LDPE (LDPE) designate polyethylene - it is strong, therefore it is most often used for making bottles and bags, as well as mugs.
• Dishes made of polypropylene are marked with PP symbols, it is optimal for hot products heated to 100-110 degrees, suitable for heating in a microwave, but contact with alcohol-containing beverages remains undesirable.
• It is considered the safest dishes to be labeled with PET, but devices labeled with letters PVC or PVC, on the contrary, are quite dangerous for food use.

That is why try to choose only the product of proven manufacturers or shop at large supermarkets, which value their reputation.

Re-use of disposable tableware is unacceptable. The fact is that the protective layer is usually quite fragile and often after the first application it turns out to be damaged - this leads to the fact that harmful substances can get into the body with food.

About the ban can indicate the marking of dishes.

• PET or the number 1 directly indicates the inadmissibility of reuse, because under the action of oxygen starts the oxidation of the material and the release of harmful substances. For the same reason, reuse of products marked on the packaging with a triple or seven is not recommended - with prolonged exposure to components released over time, pathological processes can begin in the body up to oncology.
• But the dishes with markings 2,4 and 5 can be used - it is made of potentially safe substances, however, it is allowed to store only chilled food and drinks in it.

However, the danger of excretion of toxic components is far from the only one that waits when disposable tableware is reused. The fact is that such cutlery is quickly scratched and microcracks form on the surface. Even if you try hard, you still will not be able to wash them to complete sterility. As a result, an ideal environment for the reproduction of the pathogenic microflora is formed here.

Just think: this dish has already been with you on the way, the sun was shining on it, road dust was sticking to it, you grabbed it with your hands, and not very clean - better leave it and feel free to give the microbes an extra chance to get into your body.

In this video you will learn about the process of producing disposable tableware.