Have you ever noticed how parties always migrate to the kitchen?
It must be ingrained in our ancient DNA; wherever food is made = socializing, nourishment, and comfort.
But setting a beautiful table to serve it all up is where the magic happens (“Be Our Guest” style).
Eating is the most direct connection we have to our planet. Not only should we consider the environmental impact of what we eat, but what we’re eating on.
Eco-friendly dinnerware is quite literally the foundation of an Earth-friendly plate.
With more studies coming out about the harm that plastic dinnerware can cause to our health, these brands are putting down their foot (and forks) to create dishes with purpose and the planet in mind.
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The Best Sustainable Dinnerware Brands To Prep Your Palate
Material Kitchen’s eco-friendly non-toxic dinnerware is so beautiful you’ll wonder if you should eat on the hand-glazed ceramic range or just display it.
Our Place’s porcelain plates and drinking glasses will have you hungering for a home-cooked meal.
If you’re ready for eco-friendly bamboo dinnerware that’s casual and cohesive, look no further than the likes of Ekobo.
But what is eco-friendly dinnerware made of?
We’ll give you that and the full spread on how these brands were chosen, in the final course of this article.
Why Buy Eco-Friendly Dinnerware Sets?
Have you ever stopped to think about why your white disposable paper plate has that slight shine to it?
It’s because it is coated with PFAS (per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), a group of toxic chemicals that makes plates, bowls, and the like water and grease-resistant.
Unfortunately, PFAS are also linked to a variety of negative health effects, like reproductive issues, developmental damage, increased risks of certain cancers, and more.
Not to mention the plate itself has to be bleached white (yum).
Pair that with the knowledge that styrofoam (the next most used disposable food container) is not recyclable, takes 500 years to decompose, and emits 21 million tons of CO2 annually.
Setting the table and the horrors of disposable dinnerware aside, many of the reusable plates we’re scraping are not better.
Plastic plates and bowls are obviously the worst offenders, with the potential to leach all kinds of harmful chemicals when heated (so you know, when hot food is put on them).
Even non-plastic options may contain petroleum-based coatings or heavy metals, depending on how they were sourced and made.
In short, traditional (or at least in the modern tradition of the dinnerware industry) dinnerware has all kinds of stuff —BPA, heavy metals, phthalates, and more—that are known to cause health problems in humans, such as hormone disruption, reproductive problems, and cancer.
Going for non-toxic, reusable, or compostable natural dinnerware sets is the best solution to a mounting problem (and we want mounds of food, not problems!).
Beautiful and eco-friendly tableware is an art form that can take a dinner party aesthetic (and your healthy diet) to a whole new level.
How We Found The Best Sustainable Dinnerware Brands
Beyond eating in an eco-friendly way, we can take our efforts a step further by using sustainable dinnerware.
But how do we know what’s worthy of a place at our table? Exactly what are eco-friendly plates?
As we’ve done with other household essentials (eco-friendly pillows and sustainable bedding), we refer to our sustainable and ethical fashion criteria that help us determine what ends up in our wardrobes.
While dinnerware obviously isn’t something to be worn, it faces the same issues:
Materials:
Just as with fashion, sustainable materials matter; but we’re talking very different stuff from sustainable fabrics.
More than anything, we sought eco-friendly non-toxic dinnerware, or that which is free of BPA, phthalates, nanoparticles, heavy metals, PTFEs, PFOAs, and PFAs. When heated with that generous helping of hot lasagna, these can leach into food.
If you’re now wondering what type of dinnerware is non-toxic, let’s break each eco-friendly dinnerware material down (without breaking the dishes).
- Ceramic is 100% recyclable (although you may have to do a little searching to find someone to accept it). Because it contains only naturally-occurring raw materials (clay), it can be re-ground into a new material but will never decompose.
- Stoneware is made like ceramics, but with a specific type of clay that’s fired at a much higher temperature. It is more durable and generally doesn’t need to be glazed.
- Porcelain is made with silica, flint, and clay (i.e. natural resources that are readily available) and can handle a lot of wear and tear (more than earthenware and stoneware, even though it isn’t as dense) thanks to it being fired at a higher temperature.
- Bone china (porcelain that has ground animal bone added into the clay) is even more durable and long-lasting, though some people may avoid it (or buy it upcycled) out of vegan principles.
- Bamboo can make for sustainable compostable tableware but it must be natural, with only plant-based finishes to ensure it is, in fact, completely biodegradable.
- Stainless Steel is one of the Earth’s most readily and recyclable materials. While the production phase does create some harmful emissions (and it’s not microwave safe), its anti-corrosion and durability make it a sustainable alternative to plastic.
- Glass is a natural material made from sand so it’s one of the best responsible materials, especially if it’s recycled glass dinnerware.
Beyond those environmentally-friendly materials, vintage or recycled dinnerware is also a sustainable option—though be wary of plastic. Just as old Tupperware can leach toxic chemicals into food, so too can dinnerware.
- Certifications: Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), USDA BioPreferred, USDA organic.
Supply chain and labor practices:
As creating sustainable pottery dinnerware is an age-old artisan craft that has been practiced around the globe for millennia, it’s important to respect the craft as it’s practiced today.
We’re happy to see that, in most cases, these eco-friendly tableware brands create fair trade dinnerware using ethical practices like providing living wages and promoting safe and respectful working conditions for their artisans.
A few ethical dinnerware brands could definitely do with more info to confirm the “ethical” part.
- Certifications: B Corp, SA8000, Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) ISO 9901, fair trade, Sedex
Green business practices:
We’re also happy to see many supply chains are locally based, with the dinnerware being created in the same location where the materials are sourced.
Beyond that, the use of carbon offset programs or sustainable or recycled materials for packaging always makes us feel better (a little anyway) about doing the dishes.
Community & charitable giving:
Although not necessary (or practical for some smaller brands), it’s great when sustainable brands can invite their local and global communities to the dinner table through charitable donations or partnerships.
Final Thoughts On Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Dinnerware Brands
Grab an eco-friendly cutlery set and stick a fork in us because we’re done!
Now that we’ve given you some ideas for where you can buy eco-friendly dinnerware, we’ll leave you to choose from the menu.
Researching how to best live a sustainable lifestyle can feel like a non-stop job—just like cooking, cleaning, and doing the dishes (with zero waste dish soap, of course).
Thankfully the task of buying ethically and sustainably created products for our home is getting easier every year with brands that make it as affordable as it is accessible.
But if you have functional flatware and perfectly palatable plates in your cupboards, stick with them until their natural end or visit an online thrift store to give a crockery set a second life.
The only thing better than sharing a wholesome meal on your current, new, or upcycled sustainable dinnerware is sharing this article so everyone can plan their next dinner party.
