Biodegradable disposable tableware

Biodegradable now mandatory! Reminder of the Egalim Law

Promulgation of Law No. 2015-992 of August 17, 2015 provided for the imminent end of the provision of disposable plastic kitchen cups, glasses and plates for the table, except those compostable in domestic composting and made, in whole or in part, from bio-sourced materials (C. envir., art. L. 541-10-5).
Since the decree of August 30, 2016, which appeared in the official journal of August 31, 2016, a date is in the minds of all manufacturers, importers, distributors and also customers.
That of January 1, 2020.
Article 28 of 2018 supplements the EGAlim law:
This date is in fact the cut-off date for the ban on the provision of disposable plastic tableware (cups, cutlery, glasses, plates, etc.) as we know it today.
=> Ban on the use of water bottles by January 1, 2020 at the latest
plastic plate (in school catering);
=> Ban by 1 January 2020 at the latest on the provision, whether for payment or free of charge, of plastic straws, cutlery, steak picks, disposable glass lids, meal trays, ice cream tubs, salad bowls, boxes and drink stirrers
=> Ban, no later than 1 January 2025, on plastic food containers for cooking, heating and serving in the catering industry in schools, universities and establishments catering for children under 6 years old (1 January 2028 for CT < 2,000 inhabitants)
Measures to combat food waste:
=>Art 62: obligation of the “doggy bag” in commercial catering from July 1, 2021;

How will a product be eligible from January 1, 2020?

1) Produced in bio-sourced material
The decree of August 30, 2016 specifies the biosourced material content of authorized compostable disposable tableware, which must increase gradually:
=> 50% in January 2020;
=> 60% in January 2025.
What is a bio-based product?
Bio-based products are industrial products obtained from renewable raw materials derived from biomass (plants for example) such as corn starch, sugar cane, potato starch, textile or cellulose fibers, or bamboo...
2) Packaging product
In "takeaway" sales, disposable cups, glasses and plates are not affected by this measure when they are supplied full, because in this case they are packaging within the meaning of Directive 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste.
3) Compostability
OK compost HOME
Once used, the products can be put in a composter and, under the action
oxygen and bacteria, they will transform into reused organic waste
later to enrich the soil of gardens and vegetable patches.
Naturally compostable product:
=> Wood
=> Bamboo,
=> Sugar cane…
OK compost INDUSTRIAL (EN 13432)
Packaging and products bearing the OK compost INDUSTRIAL logo guarantee that they are biodegradable in an industrial composting facility. This applies to all their components, including inks and additives. The certification program is based on the EN 13432:2000 standard. This means that any product bearing the OK compost INDUSTRIAL logo meets the requirements of the European Packaging Directive (94/62/EC).
Compostable product:
PLA (Polylactic Acid from the fermentation of sugar or starch)
CPLA (PLA + lime)
PSM (Opaque resin based on corn starch).
4) Reusable disposable tableware
A cup, glass or plate can be considered reusable as long as the product passes at least 20 complete cycles in the dishwasher.
Flute, wine glasses, water glasses, round and square plates, goblets, cutlery...
Voussert offers you a whole range of reusable products.

The different materials

There are several types of materials in disposable tableware.
The important trend is to preserve the environment in order to limit the ecological impact of waste generated by the use of disposables.
Reminder of the concepts related to disposables
A material is biodegradable when it can decompose into various elements without harmful effects on the natural environment.
A material is compostable when under the action of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and/or
algae) moisture, oxygen and heat, it decomposes, degrades, and becomes humus. Composting is a natural biological process!
A recyclable material is a waste that can be reintroduced directly into the production cycle as a partial or total replacement for a new raw material.
Disposable tableware and respect for the environment
Respect for the planet and sustainable development are increasingly important to us. We continue to develop our range of biodegradable tableware, making it more attractive.
Disposable tableware made from cane fiber
Sugarcane pulp is the residue left over from sugarcane after its juice has been extracted. Normally unused or burned, the husk can now be converted into biodegradable tableware. Once the sugar is extracted, the stalks and waste are collected for industrial processing into sugarcane fiber.
This pulp is then thermoformed. This product is 100% natural and compostable.
Sugarcane fiber tableware is the optimal container for mobile catering thanks to its high rigidity, resistance to high temperatures and impermeability to grease.
A material is biodegradable when it can decompose into various elements without harmful effects on the natural environment.
A material is compostable when, under the action of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and/or algae), humidity, oxygen and heat, it decomposes, degrades and becomes humus.
Composting is a natural biological process!
Disposable tableware made of PLA
Polylactic acid (PLA) comes from corn starch.
From silo to resin, its manufacture consumes 68% less fossil fuels than that of conventional plastics.
Products made from PLA offer almost the same benefits as plastic tableware, while being completely recyclable, biodegradable and compostable.