Next time you are entertaining, do consider the following new alternatives, which break down incredibly fast (as in 90 days) and don’t pollute the world before (production), during (ingestion), or after (disposal).

BIODEGRADABLE DINNERWARE

There are two new disposable dinnerware options made from environmentally-friendly materials: bamboo and bagasse. There are also two new disposable flatware alternatives. All are available in Maplewood at 3R Living, or online at www.branchhome.com and www.biodegradablestore.com, among many other sources.

Bamboo disposable plates are 100% organically-grown, peeled directly from the stalk, unbleached, FDA-approved food-safe, and they biodegrade within 4-6 months. Bamboo has a rapid growth cycle of three to five years (most hardwoods have a 15-20 year growth cycle). Currently, the leading brand in the U.S. is Bambu Veneerware® made from manufacturing partners in China, who stay committed to environmental protection as well as fair labor practices.

Bagasse disposable dinnerware is made from the substance left over from the extraction of juice from sugar cane. A single factory can produce nearly 30% of bagasse out of its sugar refining process. Historically, bagasse was simply burned off rather than put to use, but recently some manufacturers discovered that the material could be made into single-use dinnerware, similar to Chinet [TM]. They are also unbleached and FDA-approved food-safe, but, even better, you can actually put them into your compost pile when you’re done.

BIODEGRADABLE FLATWARE

 
Flatware has also gotten a green overhaul and is currently being made from two different materials, both biodegradable: corn gluten (and/or by-products from the corn syrup industry) and a vegetable product of potato starch and vegetable oil. The utensils made from corn gluten are akin to the bagasse dinnerware; they are made from a substance that was heretofore unused and disposed of.  Corn utensils can handle hot foods up to 165°, but after that, they break down. Potato starch utensils, made from a newly-created product, can handle hot foods up to 220°.  Both can be tossed in the compost bin, breaking down fairly quickly, in about 90 days.

USING YOUR OWN

 
Product companies love to convince us that their products will save you time, save you money, and keep you safe; this is just as true in the home entertaining arena as in any other. One of the cheapest and best ways to go green is to simply own and use bulk sets of china, flatware, and glassware for entertaining purposes. Big box and discount stores regularly sell such services during the holiday times, for families who want to entertain "formally" at home. Restaurant supply wholesalers also often sell to the public at deep discounts.

Many of these bulk sets of china, flatware, and glassware actually cost only about 2-3 times more than the  equivalent in plastic disposable sets. This means that you have to use your sets a mere 2-3 times before you break even. After that, you are saving yourself money (and the time and effort) needed to buy new disposable sets.

True, you will have to run the dishwasher an extra time, but if you scrape the plates, use green dishwashing soap, and turn off the heated dry cycle, then you are entertaining the greenest way possible (short of finger foods and cloth napkins—which, by the way, take your green ways up into the upper eschelon).

CLOTH NAPKINS

 
There’s nothing new about cloth napkins, but they are green, green, green. We’d save a multitude of trees a year if we just used cloth napkins. Humans have been using cloth napkins or handkerchiefs (or a version thereof) since the loom was invented (and before that, they used pelts). We humans are messy eaters.

Don’t be fooled into thinking cloth napkins are too much work. Many current fabrics are soil repellent, thereby making them easy to clean. Just toss them in your weekly wash. Spritz with a stain remover if you must, but if you hang them up to dry, you’ll find that most stains disappear over time (hot dryers set stains).

Buy cloth napkins in bulk packs of 12 at discount stores, or look for them on the sale shelf. Find some non-matching napkin holders so that your family and guests can keep track of their own napkins (it is not necessary to provide clean napkins at every meal!).