World Centric’s compostable molded fiber cutlery gives North American foodservice an eco-boost

10 Mar 2021 --- US-based World Centric is releasing a collection of certified compostable molded fiber single-use cutlery and serving utensils in the North American market.

This collection of wood-free, plastic-free products provides the foodservice industry a more environmentally-conscious option to traditional disposable cutlery and serving utensils.

Moreover, it is suitable for a broad range of common food serving and meal prep uses.

Currently, available items include 6-inch and 3-inch spoons, 6-inch sporks, and 10-inch serving utensils capable of hot or cold use. Additionally, molded fiber 6-inch forks and knives will be available in Spring 2021.

A focus on sustainability
World Centric provides certified compostable products for both the foodservice industry and consumers through retail channels.

By using plant-based materials and innovative design, World Centric has developed over 350 foodservice and retail products across tableware, cutlery and food packaging.

All of the company’s products will turn into soil in commercial composting facilities where available.

World Centric says it is the first company in North America to offer molded fiber cutlery for use in the disposable foodservice industry.

Away with plastic
In the US, over 100 million plastic utensils are used daily and over 27 million tons of plastic end up in landfills each year.

The range includes 6-inch and 3-inch spoons, 6-inch sporks, and 10-inch serving utensils capable of hot or cold use.Traditional plastic utensils are made from petroleum, typically too small to be recycled easily, and will not decompose for centuries.

Plastic cutlery is also one of the most common items found in the ocean. World Centric’s molded fiber cutlery is made from discarded sugarcane and rapidly renewable bamboo fibers, reducing a source of plastic leakage into the environment.

The molded fiber cutlery collection is certified commercially compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) and contains no added bioplastic.

The new collection joins World Centric’s suite of existing leaf molded fiber products, including containers, plates, bowls, portion cups and lids.

Moreover, it is part of a portfolio of eco-conscious and compostable products, including the NoTree hot and cold cups and other plant-based foodservice ware available across North America.

A spoonful of eco-friendly NPD
Many industry players are tapping into the alternative-to-plastic cutlery game. EcoTensil recently launched a range of plastic-free folding paperboard cutlery in advance of the European Single Use Plastics Directive (SUPD).

This follows the US paperboard utensils player’s move to bring its plastic-free single-use cutlery for food packaging to the European market in June 2020.

In the same space, GreenTek Packaging rolled out a “first-in-kind” hemp-based disposable utensils line, Hemptensils. The range includes compostable forks, spoons and knives.

Tri-Star Packaging declared its brand the first in the UK to launch disposable cutlery made from recycled materials, which are also fully recyclable.

Denmark-based Sprout also introduced in 2019 a new patented and eco-friendly spoon for the “drink-to-go-market” as the pressure to phase out single-use cutlery is heating up.

Edited by Kristiana Lalou

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