Last Updated: October 2024
When helping our members set up new party kits, one of the most common questions I get is, "Which type of tableware is the greenest?"
While there isn’t a simple answer due to the lack of transparency around manufacturing and confusion over terms like "biodegradable" and "recyclable," one thing is clear: reusable tableware will always be better for the environment than disposables. By avoiding single-use items, you reduce waste and the environmental impact from production to disposal.
If you’re looking to create a sustainable party kit and want to better understand the pros and cons of various types of reusable tableware, this article is here to help.
My Approach
There are several types of tableware commonly used in party kits, including various plastics and crockery. For this guide, I’ll focus on options most suitable for children’s parties.
I’ve compared four types of reusable tableware, looking at popular brands and identifying which options to avoid. The key factors I’ve considered include:
Suitability: How safe and practical each type of tableware is for kids' parties.
Production: What materials are used and how the tableware is made.
End-of-life: What happens to the tableware when it’s no longer usable.
By breaking down these aspects, I hope to provide clarity on how to make the greenest choice for your party kit.
Types of Tableware Suitable for a Party Kit
There is a wide range of reusable tableware options available. Here’s an introduction to the four types most commonly found in party kits:
1. Plastic
Reusable tableware made from virgin plastic is by far the most popular type of tableware found in party kits. It’s cheap, easy to buy and designed to be safely used by kids. ‘Virgin plastic’ refers to tableware made from brand new petroleum-based plastic.
For this category I looked at both the IKEA KALAS range (pictured), made from Polypropylene plastic (PP), and UK brand Harfield Tableware made from Polycarbonate plastic (PC) or sometimes Copolyester (COPE).
2. Recycled Plastic
Recycled plastic tableware is more common in our party kits in Australia and New Zealand but popular US brand Re-Play is now available in the UK.
This tableware is made from petroleum-based plastics which have been used and then recycled; for example plastic milk bottles and yogurt pots.
3. Melamine
Often found in the supermarket aisles during the picnic season, Melamine has received a stylish makeover in the last few years. It tends to come in pastel colours and with a wide range of prints available.
The most common Melamine tableware found in party kits is by Danish brand RICE. This is a type of plastic made from melamine and formaldehyde rather than petroleum-based plastic.
4. Enamel
Popular with campers (and my granny!), Enamel tableware is made from powdered glass which is bonded onto heavy-gauge steel and dipped in liquid enamel. I looked at French brand Falcon.
Types of Tableware to Avoid
When assembling a party kit, there are certain types of tableware you should avoid—especially if you're sourcing secondhand items.
Moulded Bamboo Tableware: Once popular for its plastic-free appeal and aesthetic qualities, moulded bamboo tableware is no longer recommended. To make it dishwasher-safe, plastic binders are often added, leading to health concerns. As a result, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has banned its sale and advises against its use.
Wheat Straw and Other Plant-Based Tableware: Often labeled as PLA, these were initially chosen by those seeking to avoid petroleum-based plastics. However, like bamboo tableware, they have also been flagged by the FSA for safety concerns.
If you want to learn more, check out my blog post summarising the UK FSA's advice: Safety Alert: What You Need to Know About Bamboo and Wheat Straw Tableware
Suitability of Each Type of Tableware
When choosing reusable tableware, it’s essential to prioritise practicality. No matter how eco-friendly something is, if it's not useful, it won’t serve its purpose. I’ve reviewed five key factors:
Kid-Safe: Safety is a top priority for kids' parties. All tableware brands I assessed were free from harmful chemicals like BPA, BPS, and phthalates. Durability is crucial—bamboo tableware, however, tends to be more brittle and less durable than other materials. Any tableware that becomes cracked or split should be replaced for hygiene and safety reasons.
Hot Drink Safety: Most tableware I reviewed is not suitable for hot drinks (above 70°C), except for enamel and Harfield Polycarbonate. However, enamel can get hot to touch, which isn’t ideal for children. While kids aren’t typically drinking hot beverages at parties, it's worth considering if your kit will also cater to adults or different event types. Adding separate mugs for hot drinks might be a good solution.
Dishwasher Safe: All the tableware reviewed is dishwasher-safe, but many pieces are only suitable for the top rack, which can limit capacity. While hand-washing is recommended to extend longevity, it's worth noting that dishwashers typically use less water, making them more eco-friendly than hand-washing.
Microwave Safe: Only the plastic and recycled plastic tableware are technically microwave-safe, but they’re only suitable for brief reheating. Personally, I avoid using plastic in microwaves, even BPA-free varieties, as studies have shown that heating plastic can release harmful chemicals. Melamine and enamel should never be used in the microwave.
Affordability: The IKEA KALAS range remains unbeatable in terms of price, costing just £1 for a pack of six plates. Other options, like melamine, tend to be more expensive, although seasonal sales during picnic season can make it more accessible. Restocking these items, however, may be trickier.
Type | Kid Safe | Hot Drinks | Dishwasher Safe | Microwave Safe | Affordability |
Plastic |  |  | |  |  |
Recycled Plastic | | | | |  |
Melamine | | | | |  |
Enamel | | | | |  |
Considering the Production Impacts of Tableware
Researching the environmental impact of different types of tableware reveals that every item comes with an energy and resource cost. While the carbon and resource footprint of reusable tableware is generally higher at the start compared to disposables, the environmental impact decreases significantly with repeated use. For example, after just two uses, a stainless steel fork begins to have a lower environmental impact than a single-use plastic one (source: Upstream).
One way to further reduce the environmental impact is by sourcing secondhand or preloved tableware. Many party kits have been successfully assembled through local donations, avoiding the need for new purchases.
Plastic
IKEA’s plastic plates are made from polypropylene (PP), a petroleum-based plastic. The extraction and refining of oil, a non-renewable resource, to make plastic is harmful to the environment. It causes destruction of landscapes and sea beds, with the risk of oil spills adding further dangers. As we transition away from fossil fuels for energy, we also need to move away from creating new plastic products from oil.
The production of plastic releases toxic chemicals and presents hazards for workers in the manufacturing process.
Recycled Plastic
Recycled plastic plates, such as Re-Play tableware, are a more sustainable option. Made from recycled HDPE and polypropylene, such as milk bottles and yogurt pots, these items still originate from petroleum-based plastics but have already gone through one life cycle before being repurposed into tableware. This helps reduce waste and keeps plastics out of landfills and the environment.
Melamine
Melamine is made by combining melamine resin with formaldehyde to create a durable, food-safe plastic. Although it doesn't rely on petroleum, the production process emits chemical waste and toxic fumes, contributing to air, land, and water pollution.
Enamel
Enamel tableware is created by fusing powdered glass to steel, cast iron, or aluminum. The metal is shaped and dipped in liquid enamel, then fired in a kiln. Modern enamel no longer uses animal bone in production, but the process still requires high energy inputs for firing.
The End-of-life Considerations for Reusable Tableware
Throughout its lifespan, a party kit can help prevent thousands of single-use items from ending up in landfills. This waste reduction is what makes the party kit concept far more sustainable than single-use disposables. However, to achieve a truly zero-waste approach, we must ensure that unusable items are not simply discarded.
Cracked or broken tableware is neither safe nor hygienic, so it should not be included in party kits. Instead, broken items need to be repaired, repurposed, recycled, or disposed of responsibly.
I assessed the following three categories for end-of-life tableware management:
Repairability: Only enamel tableware is repairable. Chips in enamel can be fixed with food-safe epoxy, though some manufacturers may advise against it. Unfortunately, plastic and melamine tableware cannot be safely repaired once damaged.
Recyclability: Polypropylene plastic (PP) tableware, like IKEA plates, can often be recycled through local plastic recycling schemes. In the UK, the Party Kit Network has partnered with Brothers Make for a fully traceable recycling program.
Harfield’s polycarbonate tableware can also be returned for recycling, and Re-Play’s recycled HDPE tableware can be recycled again at the end of its life.
Melamine, although technically recyclable (Type 7 plastic), has very limited access to recycling facilities. Typically, it will need to go into general waste. Similarly, enamel tableware is not recyclable and must also be disposed of as general waste.
Biodegradability: Biodegradable materials break down into organic matter without leaving toxins behind, but they need specific conditions like bacteria, oxygen, moisture, and light. Most landfills lack these conditions. There is also no standard regulation on what can be labeled "biodegradable."
Importantly, none of the reusable tableware types mentioned are compostable at home. Petroleum-based plastics, whether virgin or recycled, are not biodegradable—they take hundreds of years to degrade and never fully disappear.
Repurposing: Broken or worn tableware can often be repurposed for non-food uses, such as for arts and crafts, plant pot stands, or other creative uses.
Type | Repairable | Recyclable | Biodegradable |
Plastic | | | |
Recycled Plastic | | | |
Melamine | | | |
Enamel | | | Unknown |
Conclusion
There is no perfect tableware solution that checks all the boxes. Each type of reusable tableware has an environmental impact, whether during production or at the end of its life. However, any reusable tableware is always a better option than single-use disposables because of the significant waste reduction with every use.
Sourcing preloved or secondhand equipment, when possible, further reduces the environmental impact of your party kit. Ultimately, the key to sustainability is moving away from disposables. Every time we reuse an item, we save the resources and energy required to produce new ones, while also reducing the carbon emissions from manufacturing and shipping.
We need to cherish what we already have, ensuring we get the most out of our resources, rather than throwing things away after just one use.
If you're thinking about creating your own party kit, be sure to check out my comprehensive Get Started Guide, a FREE download!
