Disposable tableware: what are the types and can it be reused?

Disposable tableware is indispensable for picnics, organization of tourist trips, as well as for the celebration of children's birthdays. However, in recent years, environmentalists' statements about the dangers of such dishes have become more frequent, moreover, a law has been issued in the EU countries prohibiting plastic dishes this year - it will enter into force in two years. Let's see what disposable cutlery are and whether their harm to the environment and human health is so great.

With the advent of disposable tableware in stores, organizing picnics, hikes and small trips has become much easier and more convenient.

Modern industry offers a wide selection of such utensils for soups, main dishes, salads, as well as drinks:

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

There is no exact data on the creator of disposable tableware. According to one version, it was invented by a poor student, who in a cafe included a randomly broken glass. According to other sources, they began to think about creating disposable tableware after Dr. E. Davidson published the results of a study 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. This product was invented by the American journalist Moore, however, this product was not particularly successful. Cardboard, even the densest, cannot hold water. However, the idea was picked up by other entrepreneurs and after a few years the consumers were presented with the perfect dishes, which can be safely considered a “pioneer” - it could hold liquid food, it could be put on the table and in its external and operational parameters it resembled the current dishes .

In 1910, the production of such products became massive., and the demand for dishes reached its peak with the development of fast food chains - this is about the 50s. last century.

On the advantages and disadvantages of disposable tableware over the long years of the existence of such products, there was no consensus. Among the pluses are the following characteristics.

• Safety of disposable tableware - unlike glass and porcelain, it cannot be broken and injured on splinters.
• Aesthetics - plastic dishes today have a pretty attractive appearance, it is presented in a wide variety of shades and prints, it can have thematic patterns, an unusual texture, foreign materials are allowed. In some cases, it is possible to manufacture according to an individual project.
• Heat resistance - under the influence 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 for food storage 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 you to use it during winter trips, as well as for storing food in the freezer.
• Strength - deformation of the product occurs only with a strong impact or due to the action of the flame.
• Resilience - applies to products such as knives and forks. These features allow you to effectively cut and prick foods, without fear of spoiling the cutlery.
• Light weight, compactness - thanks to this property, it is convenient to take dishes with you when hiking.
• Resistance to acids and fats.
• A wide selection of designs.
• Low cost.

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

Moreover, this drawback concerns almost all types of products, even paper ones. Just think: the paper itself is not able to hold the liquid so that the glass can be used for its intended purpose, it is covered with liquid plastic, which, again, once thrown away, will decompose for centuriesEmitting 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 of a variety of materials:

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

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

Under this concept is hidden dishes made of polypropylene, as well as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, PVD and PND, polycarbonate and other types of plastic.

Today, such dishes are widely represented in a wide variety of design options. and is widely used at home, in the office, cafe, travel and during family holidays.

However, there were some cons. First of all, it refers to the inability to heat such dishes and store food in it for a long time. Further, plastic is difficult to dispose of, which is what ecologists say - this casts doubt on the prospects for the distribution of such dishes in the future.

By popularity, such cutlery is in no way inferior to plastic. Cardboard plates and glasses are made of paper and parchment, and craft packaging packaging for food products is also made of paper. Such dishes are common in small eateries, fast food points of sale, it is indispensable for table setting 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 injury.

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

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 have a long decomposition period, therefore they are unsafe for the environment.

In order to reduce the harm associated with the disposal of plastic, the so-called biodegradable cookware was invented, which is made from natural materials: corn starch, sugarcane and bamboo with the addition of various food additives.

In addition, such dishes have many advantages for the buyer:

• light 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 is not widespread - it is mainly used in specialized cafes for healthy eating.

The undoubted advantages of such utensils include:

• naturalness of the material;
• strength;
• aesthetics;
• environmental Safety.

Of the minuses can be called a high cost.

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

The most popular decor trends for disposable table sets.

• Making stylish cups with large images or company logos - this makes the dishes especially relevant at corporate parties, trainings and seminars.
• Expanding the color gamut - probably not less than half of disposable plates are purchased today for table setting 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 of “boy” and “girl”.
• Glasses with lids is one of the latest trends, such additional elements are indispensable for small food outlets selling coffee, juices, cola and other takeaway products.As a rule, the lids are made colorless or whitish, and the cups themselves at the same time look quite elegant. Very often a bundle comes in the kit.
• In recent years, disposable packaging for products is gaining popularity - it can be containers and lunch boxes made of cardboard or plastic. As a rule, they are made completely transparent, but in recent years there has been a tendency to decorate packages with a pattern that helps increase appetite.

Disposable tableware is in stable high demand, therefore, the production and sale of such products has been and remains a highly profitable business, at least in our country.

For many years, Italian devices were the leaders in the market, but today domestic brands have appeared in Russia, the quality of products of which is in no way inferior to the famous European premium products. Among the most sought after brands:

• enterprise "Mystery";
• "Tsar-Packaging";
• "A source";
• Unifol;
• Alcor;
• GC "OptiCom".

Any items that come into contact with food must comply with certain requirements, disposable tableware was no exception.

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

• It is advisable to choose 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 existing GOSTs.
• When choosing dishes, be sure to sniff - 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 an imprint on her hands, immediately refuse to purchase.
• 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 no labeling, do not risk your health.
• For hot coffee or tea, you should opt for paper cups, since drinking hot plastic drinks is fraught with deterioration. It should be noted that plastic glasses are also not intended for drinking alcohol - when interacting with alcohol-containing components, plastic begins to release chemicals that can cause toxic damage to the body.
• Inspect the packaging - it must necessarily contain a small sign depicting a fork with a glass or a glass - this symbol means that you can eat from such dishes, if the icon is crossed out or it does not exist at all, then the material is not suitable for food products.
• For cold drinks, it is better to use devices made of polystyrene - it is indicated by the letters PS or the number 6. These plates and glasses are denser than polypropylene, and forks and spoons from this material are much easier to cling pieces of products. Keep in mind that when heated, such dishes become deformed and begin to secrete a highly toxic component - styrene, so the material is suitable exclusively for cold snacks and cool soft drinks.
• The numbers 2 and 4 or the letters LDPE (LDPE) indicate polyethylene - it is strong, so it is most often used for the manufacture of bottles and bags, as well as mugs.
• Glassware made of polypropylene is marked with PP symbols, it is optimal for hot products heated to 100-110 degrees, suitable for heating in the microwave, but contact with alcohol-containing drinks remains undesirable.
• The safest is considered to be dishes labeled with PET, but appliances marked with the letters PVC or PVC, on the contrary, are quite dangerous for food use.

That is why try to choose only the product of trusted manufacturers or make purchases in large supermarkets that value their reputation.

Repeated use of disposable tableware is unacceptable. The fact is that the protective layer is usually quite fragile and often after the first application is damaged - this leads to the fact that harmful compounds can enter the body along with food.

The ban may indicate the labeling of dishes.

• PET or the number 1 directly indicates the inadmissibility of reuse, since under the influence of oxygen, oxidation of the material and the release of harmful substances begin. 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 utensils with markings 2,4 and 5 can be used - they are made from potentially safe substances, however, only chilled food and drinks are allowed to be stored in it.

However, the danger of toxic components is far from the only one that awaits with the reuse of disposable tableware. The fact is that such cutlery is quickly scratched and microcracks form on the surface. Even if you try hard, you still can’t wash them until they are completely sterile. As a result, an ideal environment for the propagation of pathogenic microflora is formed here.

Just think about it: this dish has already traveled with you, the sun was shining on it, road dust was sticking to it, you grabbed it with your hands, and it’s not very clean - you better leave it safely and don't give the microbes an extra chance to get into your body.

In this video you will get acquainted with the production process of disposable tableware.