It's time to say goodbye to single-use plastic cutlery
What do you need to know?
According to estimates, England uses 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery — most of which is plastic — and 721 million single-use plates per year, but only 10% are recycled.
Shocking fact - if those 2.7 billion pieces of single-use cutlery were all lined up, they would go around the world over eight and a half times (based on a 15cm piece of cutlery). It's time for a change.
Shocking fact - if those 2.7 billion pieces of single-use cutlery were all lined up, they would go around the world over eight and a half times (based on a 15cm piece of cutlery). It's time for a change.
DEFRA has announced that from October 2023, people won’t be able to buy these products from any business - this includes retailers, takeaways, food vendors and the hospitality industry. This includes baning expanded and extruded polystyrene food containers and cups as well, but polystyrene lids for takeaway cups and containers are likely to still be allowed.
Although a lot of operators have already ditched single-use plastic and polystyrene products voluntarily, there will be many who are yet to adjust.
As with all new things, costs can be high until usage volumes mean production costs come down. However, the previous change to using non-plastic straws and stirrers has already shown that it can become mainstream very quickly, and that the public has not just embraced this change but is driving the change.
Although a lot of operators have already ditched single-use plastic and polystyrene products voluntarily, there will be many who are yet to adjust.
As with all new things, costs can be high until usage volumes mean production costs come down. However, the previous change to using non-plastic straws and stirrers has already shown that it can become mainstream very quickly, and that the public has not just embraced this change but is driving the change.
It's time to start putting your food 'into the good stuff'!
If you haven't made the switch yet, rest assured that there are already some great alternatives for sturdy, reliable, eco-friendly and recyclable disposable cutlery, cups, plates, bowls and hot and cold takeaway solutions, too.
If you haven't made the switch yet, rest assured that there are already some great alternatives for sturdy, reliable, eco-friendly and recyclable disposable cutlery, cups, plates, bowls and hot and cold takeaway solutions, too.
Whatever you need, we're proud to stock a large range of wholesale, eco-friendly disposable cutlery and takeaway packaging options and will have a plastic-free option in stock to support you.
Check out some of the biodegradable, recyclable and compostable options that we have in stock today.
Check out some of the biodegradable, recyclable and compostable options that we have in stock today.
Is it all good news?
Several hospitality businesses have already switched to putting their food into plastic-free packaging, espeically if they are targeting a younger demorgraphic. But we know that some independent retailers may well find it a challenge to switch, especially amid rising costs in other areas of the food service industry.
However, previous bans, such as banning plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds, have so far reduced some of the damage from these plastics. Plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds collectively contributed to around 5.7% of marine litter, so banning these items has been a step in the right direction.
The new ban will not apply to plates, trays, and bowls that are used as packaging in shelf-ready pre-packaged food items, as these will be included in the plans for an Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme – which will incentivise producers to use packaging that can be recycled and meet higher recycling targets. For example, this would include pre-packaged salad bowls and bowls filled with food at the counter of a takeaway.
If you're confused about the new legislation, Vegware has put together a handy table which breaks it all down and is updated as the rules change. Click here to give it a read.
