Biodegradable/Compostable Plates

I've seen some compostable bamboo plates (in stores - sorry, no link right now) that looked very nice.

My school bought a ton of frisbees and printed them with the UAF Sustainability Logo and we used those for plates during our SpringFest BBQ. They provided a wash/rinse station and were great way to be green. They also use sustainable stuff for Orientation, which is next week. I'll see if I can track down a brand name for you.

I think party city has a collection you might like. We are using china plates so they can be washed and re-used instead of being thrown away. We also would like to be eco friendly as possible!

I worked for a green caterer and we used a corn based product when we needed a disposable product. They were sturdy and weren't terribly ugly. We ordered from a restaurant supplier so if I were you I would ask your caterer to order them for you. You'll get a better price~ OR, rent real china. It's a great green option because you're using real plates that will be re-used a couple thousand more times.

Not to hijack this thread, but I am curious about which option is really more green. I have read that using (resuable) china that is not kept on site is not so green because of the water used to wash them all and the fuel used to ship such a heavy load here and there. (I think if you use the venue's dishes, you're probably in better shape.) But then there is the single use of a product that went through a manufacturing and shipping process for one use.

It's not easy being green!

The argument of fuel costs is a little ridiculous… if you purchase a disposable item it had to get to the store somehow. It was probably shipped from overseas to a distributing plant, then sent to a store, then picked up by you in your car to drive it home. Not all venues have china, in fact, a lot of caterers don't have china either so rentals are necessary in a lot of instances.

Also, the water argument is silly too. China will be washed at the location or the rental facility so either way you're using water. The good thing about larger rental companies is that they have efficient dishwashing machines that use minimal water and chemicals to do the job.

But it is true~ that being green is tricky. A good way to start is to buy local and borrow as much as you can. That way less needs to be produced. Production is where a lot of the pollution occurs.

Thank you all so much. My vendor wanted us to use styrofoam. When we told him absolutely not, he said we'd have to work out another solution.

FH would like to use china, but when we thought about the logistics of bringing it there, and then bringing it home dirty, we decided not to. Not to mention the idea of things breaking and having to clean it up.

We have also decided to put up signs around the reception that say:

"Did you know: all of the invitations you received were made on 100% recyclable paper?"

"Did you know: the plates and utensils you are using are all biodegradable and will decompose by the end of the year?"

All of our guests know that we are very eco-conscious, and we are hoping by putting signs around they'll realize we aren't doing this to save money, but for the environment.

Ask your caterer if they'll allow the rentals to be delivered to their shop, have the caterer bring them to the venue, and then back. Then the rentals can be picked up on Monday from the caterer. But it sounds like your vendor isn't really interested in helping you out. If there's a restaurant that you frequent and have a fairly good relationship with you could also ask if they'll order the compostable plates for you. You have plenty of time to find some, just ask around.

The signs are a cute idea.

I am looking into getting bamboo