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Edible cutlery – which refers to utensils that are made from edible ingredients, are typically designed to be eaten after use rather than disposed off. Often made from ingredients like wheat flour, rice flour or millet flour, the various shapes and sizes are similar in appearance and utility to old-school plastic cutlery. The idea with which edible cutlery was introduced, was meant to reduce plastic waste and provide a sustainable alternative. Following the rising trend of looking towards solutions that are directed towards curbing waste generation, an ice cream maker in Japan came up with the idea of edible chopsticks and plates; which was soon implemented in the USA – where spoons made with flour and spices added flavour to food as well as provided a crunchy end to your meal.
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When food giant Nestlé decided to most recently introduce a limited-edition, plant-based fork to go with their instant noodle product, ideas of creating edible straws and cup were also considered. While research endorses the idea towards the building and betterment of a sustainable future, what must be considered to second this are the factors. For one, the primary benefit of edible cutlery is its ability to reduce plastic waste, which contribute significantly to plastic pollution, especially in oceans and landfills.
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Moreover, since edible cutlery can be made using fewer resources compared to producing plastic utensils, the natural ingredients require less energy and water during the manufacturing process. Unlike plastic utensils that can take hundreds of years to degrade, edible cutlery is designed to degrade relatively quickly when disposed, either through consumption or composting, thus reducing the burden on waste management systems. When considering the entire lifecycle from production to disposal, edible cutlery produces a fairly less impactful carbon footprint compared to its plastic or styrofoam counterparts.
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One of the most fascinating but under-explored aspects of edible cutlery must also be attributed to the novelty of the concept – which has made consumer acceptance forthcoming. People are generally willing to use edible cutlery as long as it maintains functionality and hygiene standards when compared to plastic utensils. While challenges like scalability of production, cost-effectiveness and consistency in quality continue to plague the eco-friendly option, edible cutlery might soon be the norm to promote better food production and consumption practices.
