Choosing crockery and cutlery for kids can sometimes feel like series of a trade-offs. If it's easy for them to use, will it be fiddly to clean? If it suits their skills today, will they still use it next year? (And the year after?) And what material can withstand the knocks of family dining, look good and be good for the environment?
Well, trade-off no more. Say hello to our new Eco Tableware range, which ticks all the boxes and is made of plant-based and planet-friendly PLA.
PLA looks, acts & performs like petroleum-based plastics, but with none of the downsides, & pretty much only upsides.
What's PLA? Ok, here's 'the science bit':
PLA stands for polylactic acid. It's classed as a plastic, in that it’s a synthetic material, but instead of coming from non-renewable petroleum, it’s made from renewable sugars, like cornstarch, tapioca, sugar cane or sugar beet.
The production process involves fermention and extraction by microorganisms to produce lactic acid, that’s then refined, dehydrated, oligomerized, pyrolyzed and polymerized. (Phew!) The end result ‘bioplastic’ looks, acts, and performs like petroleum-based plastics, but with none of the downsides, and pretty much only upsides.
The upsides
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It’s light - so it’s great for kids of all ages and brilliant as picnicware - but sturdy, so it won’t break when dropped.
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It's dishwasher safe and freezer-friendy.
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It contains none of the ‘nasties’ - BPAs, phthalates etc. - that can leach from petroleum-based plastic.
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It’s recyclable, so can be turned into other things when it's finally discarded.
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It naturally degrades when exposed to the environment. So a PLA bottle would typically degrade in the ocean in 6 - 24 months, breaking down into carbon dioxide and water. (Compare that with a conventional plastic bottle taking several hundred to a thousand years to degrade and leaving toxic residues.)
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PLA products can be produced on already existing manufacturing equipment, making it cost-efficient to make.
FUN FACT: PLA is often used in medical implants that are intended to biodegrade within the body over time.
Any downsides?
Well, it’s a little bit more expensive than cheap petro-chemical-based plastics. It’s also not as heat resistant as other ‘traditional’ plastics, so we don’t advise using it in the microwave. But we think there are so many positives that it's well worth it, and we're confident you'll love it too.
Bon appetit!
The Eco Tableware range includes a plate, bowl, cup and spoon and forks, in great value multipacks. Mix up the colours if you like, or choose the one shade that tones best with your kitchen. We've made sure the colours team with our first stage silicone tableare - for a harmonious-looking table. (Even if the harmony doesn't last that long!)
We hope you'll enjoy using it on repeat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. As ever, if you need any more guidance, our Live Chat Team is always here to help, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (but not bank holidays). Just hit that purple button, bottom right.
Picture credit:
Corn: Wouter Supardi Salari on Unsplash