All you need to know:about Eco-Friendly, Reusable Bamboo Cutlery-Sets
Six reasons to invest in an eco friendly, reusable bamboo cutlery set:
1. Bamboo cutlery sets are convenient for traveling, barbecues, picnics, home and office use
2. Bamboo kitchen sets are reusable and easy to clean
3. Bamboo cutlery doesn’t stain or contain toxins or other chemicals (BPA free). Bamboo utensils are also odor resistant
4. Bamboo cutlery is extremely durable and long lasting
5. Reduce your plastic waste and help preserve our planet by avoiding single use plastic items
6. Bamboos smooth and non stick properties make bamboo utensils perfect for all types of cooking
Five interesting facts about eco friendly bamboo and bamboo cutlery:
1. Bamboo is becoming increasingly popular for use in clothing, home and health products due to its natural antibacterial and deodorising properties
2. Bamboo helps to stabilise the atmosphere and absorb excess carbon dioxide, helping to keep our planet healthier
3. Bamboo shoots are a high in fiber, making them edible and a perfect snack for pandas. They are also low in fat and calories
4. Bamboo is an environmentally friendly replacement for wood. It can harvest in 3-5 years in comparison to around 10-20 years for most standard softwoods
5. Bamboo is thought to be the fastest growing plant on the planet. Some bamboo shoots have been known to grow almost 50 inches in under 24 hours!
Environmental peace of mind - A replacement for plastic utensils
A social media campaign dubbed the #CUTOUTCUTLERY campaign is asking delivery giants such as UberEats and Grubhub to integrate an option for customers to easily opt against receiving plastic cutlery in an effort to help reduce single use plastic waste.
By switching to eco friendly, bamboo utensils, you can reduce your own plastic waste footprint and also enjoy a more comfortable ‘on-the-go’ eating experience (you may also look slightly cooler). :)
The plastic pollution coalition produced a report highlighting the impact of single use plastic disposable cutlery on the environment here.
According to New Trier News, around eight million metric tons of plastic are dumped in the oceans each year, six million of which are thought to be single-use plastics including forks, knives, and spoons.
The Ocean Conservancy revealed that, in just one day, volunteers removed around 2 million single-use plastic forks, knives and spoons from the water, as a part of a ‘clean up’ program.
Can bamboo utensils be washed in the dishwasher?
In order to be sure that your bamboo utensils are dishwasher safe, make sure that the utensils are:
– There is no lacquer coating on them
– Made from a single piece of bamboo, without glue
Either of these characteristics can be problematic for dishwasher use.
If you plan to regularly wash your bamboo knives, forks and spoons in the dishwasher, remember to treat them with food-safe mineral oil once in a while. This helps them to retain moisture and prevents cracking.
Following these simple maintenance tips will help to ensure that your bamboo utensils last for a long time.
However, it is recommended to opt against washing your bamboo utensils in the dishwasher, since exposure to hot water for long periods of time may lead to drying and cracking.
How to take care of bamboo utensils
Our tips for best practice bamboo utensil cleaning (without the need for a dishwasher):
– Use a pH balanced soap, combined with soapy hot water
– Use an eco friendly cloth to remove dirt
– Rinse down in warm water after washing
– *Important* – gently dry the utensils with a clean, dry cloth and place the utensils upright on your drainer
– From time to time, hydrate your bamboo utensils with natural mineral/conditioning food oil
Some natural food oils may leave an aftertaste, so finding one that is best suited to your taste buds is important. You can use any type of oil as long as it is food safe, such as olive and vegetable oil.
Is bamboo cutlery sanitary?
As outlined above, bamboo boasts natural antibacterial and deodorising properties, and does not absorb odors, like other wooden kitchen utensils do. These characteristics alone give bamboo a natural upper-hand when it comes to utensil hygiene.
Just like the food that we eat, kitchen utensils containing toxins and chemicals should also be avoided. Conventional silicone and plastic utensils often contain petroleum and other toxic chemicals. These chemicals should be avoided wherever possible.
It is advisable to make sure that your bamboo is organically as well as ethically sourced, in order to eradicate the possibility of consuming unnatural ingredients.
In general, bamboo utensils are more sanitary in comparison to plastic and silicone utensils (and even standard wood utensils). Follow our care steps in the previous section to ensure a high standard of hygiene.
How durable is bamboo cutlery?
When bamboo is grown, cultivated and processed properly, it can indeed be a durable utensil choice. Maintaining and cleaning your bamboo correctly also plays an important role when it comes to retaining bamboo durability.
According to Guadua Bamboo, bamboo consists of 50-70% hemicellulose, 30% pentosans, and 20-25% lignin. Bamboo is also rich in silica (0.5 to 4%).
Without treatment, most bamboo species have an average durability of 2 years. Since bamboo is such a versatile material, it’s use cases vary greatly from flooring to kitchen utensils. Therefore each purpose requires different treatment and withstands different levels of usage. Refer back to our previous section for more information on kitchen utensil care and maintenance.
How long do single-use plastics take to decompose?
– Single-use plastic utensils can take up to 1,000 years to decompose
– Single-use plastic bags (high-density polyethylene) can take up to 100 years before they decompose
– Single-use plastic straws can take up to 500 years to decompose
– Single-use plastic bottles (polyethylene terephthalate) can between 450 – 1,000 years to decompose
Different environmental factors contribute to the speed at which decomposing occurs.