Help on Tele2, tariffs, questions

Plastic bottles, containers and utensils have become a part of our everyday life. But not all housewives have complete information about the degree of harm of plastic to the human body.

The most common polymeric materials (plastics, plastics) are polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene and polycarbonate. Both technical and food plastics are produced from them.

Text: Elena Omelchenko.

Plastic plates spoiled by additives

The polymers themselves are inert, non-toxic and do not “migrate” into food. But intermediate substances, technological additives, solvents, as well as chemical decomposition products can penetrate into food and have a toxic effect on humans.

This can happen while food is being stored or when it is heated. In addition, polymer materials are subject to change (aging), which releases harmful substances. Wherein different kinds plastics become toxic when different conditions- some cannot be heated, others cannot be washed.

Polyvinyl chloride is a chlorine-based polymer. It is cheap and therefore ubiquitous throughout the world. PVC is used to make drink bottles, cosmetics boxes, containers for household chemicals, disposable tableware.

As PVC ages, it begins to release a harmful substance - vinyl chloride, which is carcinogenic. Naturally, it gets from the bottle into soda, from the plate into food, and from there directly into the human body.

A PVC bottle begins to release this dangerous substance about a week after the contents are poured into it. A month later in mineral water Several milligrams of vinyl chloride accumulate. From the point of view of oncologists, this is a lot.

Plastic bottles are often reused, tea or fruit drinks and even alcoholic drinks are poured into them. In the markets in plastic bottles milk and butter are sold; At dachas, large five-liter bottles are often used to store water and other drinks.

However, experts are unanimous: water bottles should not be refilled with anything other than water. And even then not all of them. Only PET bottles can be reused. From PVC bottles (i.e. from bottles made with using PVC) toxic vinyl chloride is released. Such bottles must have a special sign on the bottom: three in a triangle.

A harmful container can also be recognized by the influx on the bottom. It comes in the form of a line or a spear with two ends. But the surest way is to press the bottle with your fingernail. If the container is dangerous, a whitish scar will form on it. The “correct” bottle remains smooth.

However, many experts are confident that any bottle plastic remains neutral only in the absence of oxygen, that is, as long as the water retains its original chemical composition. As soon as the bottle is opened, the water quickly changes its properties, after which the plastic inevitably changes its properties.

The first time it's dishes, the second time it's poison

With the advent of disposable plastic dishes we all became its active users. In fact, how convenient it is not to carry a heavy bag with you on a picnic, but to stock up on a package or two of disposable cups, spoons, forks, and plates of different sizes.

Plastics themselves rarely have harmful effects on humans. But to make them more durable, special stabilizer substances are added to the plastic during production. This is where the main danger to the health of users lies.

It turns out that polystyrene, which most disposable tableware is made from, becomes toxic when heated due to the release of a toxic compound called “styrene.” Thus, once you pour a hot drink into a glass or put a hot dish in it, it can no longer be called safe. But plates made of polystyrene (PS) are often used in summer cafes for barbecue or even for hot soup.

Plastic disposable cups, which are made from polypropylene (PP marking), are “indifferent” to hot liquids and harmful substances do not release when heated. But they have another property: when in contact with alcohol or carbonated drinks (in general, with any complex chemical compounds), such cups can release formaldehyde or phenol. That is, you can drink water from such a glass, but you shouldn’t drink vodka.

To ensure that plastic utensils are safe, they must be used strictly for their intended purpose. Different brands of food grade plastic have different properties. One brand of this polymer raw material is intended for the production of water bottles, the other for carbonated drink bottles.

Yogurt cups are made from a grade of plastic that allows the casting method to produce a lightweight, cheap container that is neutral to milk fat, while pudding cups must resist sugar.

Therefore, experts insist: in no case should plastic packaging be used as containers for storing food, and disposable tableware should not be used repeatedly.

How plastic will react to contact with ingredients for which it was not intended, and what compounds may form in this case, no one has studied. Particularly insidious are fats and acids, which can extract free toxic compounds from plastic.

There is one more important point. Before reuse, the plastic container must be washed. Disposable packaging was not intended for washing, so the result is unpredictable. The release of various compounds from plastic increases many times over when heated. Therefore, in microwave oven Only special containers can be used.

If you periodically buy instant foods that require only a few minutes of heating in the microwave or oven, do not be lazy - transfer the food into a ceramic or enamel bowl, and only then heat it. This will not change the taste properties, but the health hazard can be avoided: manufacturers often resort to various tricks to reduce the cost of a particular product.

The exception is frozen ready meals in trays: food in them can be heated in the microwave or oven, since they are made from crystallized polyethylene terephthalate. The properties of this compound remain unchanged in the range from -40° to +250 C.

True, some brands may lose the necessary heat resistance after being subjected to deep cooling. By the way, if the marking says that the dishes can be washed in dishwasher, which means it is resistant to heat.

Plastic code

At one time, to simplify the sorting of plastic, a special international marking was developed: triangles formed by arrows with a number inside. The number indicates the type of plastic. Instead of the number or under the triangle, at the same time as the number, you can find the letter code of the plastic:

PET: polyethylene phthalate: bottles for carbonated drinks, water, juices, dairy products, vegetable oils, cosmetic products, etc.

HDP: polyethylene high density: packaging bags, garbage bags.

PVC: polyvinyl chloride: construction and finishing materials, furniture, shoes, medical products, water bottles, cling film

LDP: low density polyethylene: bottles for detergents, toys, pipes

PP: polypropylene: medical products, dishes for hot dishes, food packaging film

PS: polystyrene: disposable tableware, cups for dairy products, yogurt, electrical insulating film.

Glass and fork plus snowball

In accordance with the Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights”, any manufacturer is obliged to label its products. Food-grade plastic has a generally accepted marking - the “glass and fork” icon. The product may be written that it is intended for cold, bulk or hot products, for use in a microwave oven or for freezing, sometimes the temperature range within which the item can be used is indicated.

“Snowflakes” indicate that the container is suitable for freezing food, “stove with waves” means that this container can be used to heat food in the microwave, and “shower plates” indicate that the containers can be washed in the dishwasher.

All types of plastic used for the production of products that come into contact with food must undergo examination for compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards. But at the same time, compliance with the declared purpose is checked: that is, if the manufacturer indicates that the plastic product is intended for storage drinking water, then it is checked as a container for drinking water.

How to pack to store

Any packaging materials, even the most modern ones, have certain restrictions on their use in everyday life. For example, food coated with film cannot be heated in a microwave oven (except for cases specifically stated on the packaging).

Heating, as with disposable cups, can trigger the release of potentially hazardous chemicals from the polyethylene. For the same reason, you should not cover very hot food with film; moreover, moisture will actively concentrate under it, which can lead to a loss of taste of the product.

Do not place in the microwave or oven wax paper, a type of thin packaging paper coated with thin layer paraffin As a rule, it is used to cover the surface of thick creams, puddings, and cottage cheese to prevent the formation of a dry crust.

Aluminum foil is a practically safe type packaging material, which protects products well from moisture loss. It does not matter which side of the foil touches the product - smooth or matte.

Food wrapped in foil cannot be heated in a microwave oven - not because of the potential harmfulness of heated foil, but because of the ban on placing metal or metal-containing objects in a microwave oven.

Recently, more and more often we store food in plastic containers: it is convenient to take prepared dishes with us to work or on a visit. The only limitation was stated above: avoid heating the plastic. To do this, you need to transfer the food into a regular container before heating it on the stove, and vice versa, do not transfer a still hot dish into a container.

Glass containers, unlike plastic ones, are absolutely safe to use as long as they are not broken. Glass is more practical and durable than plastic and is easier to clean. Before placing food in glass containers on long-term storage into the freezer, or by placing the dish in the oven, check whether the specified brand of glass tolerates high or low temperatures.

Ceramic containers preserve food for a long time and help neutralize the odors of strong-smelling foods (such as salt and pepper). It should not be used in an oven or used for cooking on the stovetop unless the cookware is labeled “heat resistant” or “microwave safe.”

I would like to say a few more words about cans - after all, this is also a unique type of food packaging. To prevent metal from coming into contact with food, inner surface cans are usually lined with plastic film containing biphenol.

As the product is stored, it ages and polymer material, from which the packaging is made, releasing toxic biphenol, which can pass into the contents of the can. Therefore, it is very important to observe the shelf life of products: after all, it applies not only to the product itself, but also to its packaging.

It is better to generally reduce the consumption of canned food to a minimum, and when opening a can, immediately transfer the food to a glass or ceramic container. Indeed, under the influence of oxygen, corrosion of the surface of a tin can intensifies, and the content of toxic substances begins to increase.

American scientists claim that up to 80% of “plastic” substances found in the human body get there from construction and finishing materials, in particular, from such popular plastic windows, furniture, but most of all - from dishes: from food-grade plastic, all kinds of compounds pass into food products.

Table 1: Recommended storage times for some foods in the refrigerator compartment

Not so long ago, various food packaging and disposable plastic tableware were rare in Russia. Almost all of us remember the time when groceries in stores were wrapped in thick packaging paper - gray or brown.

There wasn't even polyethylene film: sausage was wrapped in paper, butter and cheese, fish and even those products that are not intended for this at all - for example, seaweed.

Then everyone thought that this was normal, but today we consider the abundance of various food packaging, bags, plastic containers, dishes and other containers. Plastic dishes are found in every home today, at least in small quantities. For example, they used to take ordinary dishes with them to a picnic - porcelain, metal, glass, and then take them home to wash them properly. Of course, this significantly darkened the rest, and especially for women - housewives.

Disposable tableware

Disposable tableware saves us from many tedious chores and frees up time, making life simpler and easier. It is light and comfortable, quite durable compared to porcelain and glass, and most importantly, it does not need to be washed.

Disposable tableware appeared in the USA at the beginning of the 20th century. First they began to produce paper cups, and then other utensils - plates, spoons, forks, knives. Since the late 50s of the last century, mass production of disposable tableware was launched, and instead of paper, polymer materials were increasingly used. Currently, many manufacturers are again leaning towards paper tableware, as it is safer and does not have toxic properties.

In our country, the first disposable tableware were also paper cups, but they appearance and the quality left much to be desired: in order to somehow drink coffee, you had to insert one glass into another - otherwise you could get burned.

There were almost no fast food establishments in the USSR, so disposable tableware was not in demand. And only in the mid-90s did they begin to produce paper and plastic disposable tableware in Russia, which was not inferior in quality to American and European ones. Today, the main requirements for disposable tableware are quality, safety and consumer properties.

Safety of disposable tableware

Recently, everyone has become interested in the safety of disposable tableware - more precisely, the material from which it is made. Opinions about this can be directly opposite, and it is difficult for consumers to figure out how to relate to this benefit of civilization.

When buying disposable tableware, you need to clearly understand what you will use it for. There are already many types of disposable tableware today.

Only kitchen and dining utensils and accessories include plates, cups and glasses, cutlery, cans and flasks, water bottles, food storage packaging, containers for sweets and even disposable wrappers, tablecloths and napkins.

Every person has used disposable tableware at least several times in their life - of course, excluding residents of those regions of the planet where civilization has not yet reached - perhaps fortunately.

At the same time, not all people have an idea about the features of this or that type of cookware.

So, not everyone knows that not all cups are suitable for hot drinks: polystyrene cups are not suitable for this - they cannot withstand high temperatures and release toxins into tea or coffee.

It is best to drink hot drinks from polypropylene cups - they are more stable, but alcohol should not be poured into either one or the other - this can damage the liver and kidneys, as well as impair vision.

Plastic dishes

Plastic is a material from which it is easy to make objects and things of any shape, especially dishes - you can see them in many stores today. Plastic items are used by everyone, but the problem of their disposal is very acute. Plastic does not decompose, it cannot be burned (with rare exceptions), and discarded plastic items turn the streets of most cities into garbage dumps, especially if there are not enough garbage men and street cleaners.

Plastic is a polymer material, and the elements from which it is created most often do not interact with food - fats, alkalis, acids, but this is not always the case.

The dangers of plastic dishes

During the polymerization of elements, not all molecules reach required sizes, and remain active - they can get from the dish into its contents, and then into the human body. If you pour hot tea or put hot food into such a bowl, this process goes much faster.

Many plastic products may contain harmful stabilizers, heavy metal salts and other toxic substances, and all this, when heated, and especially when reused, can enter our body. This is why disposable tableware cannot be reused.

Dishes made of acrylic and styrene are inexpensive and are considered unbreakable, but in reality they are not - styrene is especially prone to breakage. These utensils are not microwave safe, but can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand and are therefore intended to be reused.

Polypropylene too inexpensive material, and dishes made from it can withstand temperatures up to 100°C. They love to use it at picnics and parties held outdoors; You can wash it in the dishwasher, but it’s better to wash it by hand. Polypropylene utensils can be used in the microwave.

Polycarbonate dishes can also be placed in the microwave and can be easily washed - they are durable. The material is more expensive than the previous ones, and even glasses for alcoholic drinks are made from it. Most famous manufacturers utensils made of polycarbonate are the companies Strahl, Tuffex and the American Tervis Tumbler, which guarantee the quality of their products. Their dishes cost 5-6 times more, but the quality is really good.

Polystyrene cookware can withstand different temperatures and is usually labeled accordingly, but most often it is intended for cold foods.

Foamed polystyrene is more resistant to heat: you can pour hot food into dishes made from it, and it will not burn your hands, since this material does not conduct heat well. You can put such dishes in the microwave, wash them in the dishwasher and not worry about deformation.

I would especially like to note dishes made of melamine - a substance from which chemical industry a type of formaldehyde resin is obtained. These dishes often contain too much formaldehyde - and it is toxic to humans, and its amount can be tens of times more than permissible.

This tableware is dangerous: melamine itself has a negative effect on the body, and manufacturers sometimes manage to add asbestos to it for strength, which is no longer used in all industries, as it can cause cancer.

Formaldehyde is released when hot items are placed in the cookware, and patterns on the cookware may be permanent due to the use of lead paint.

Disposable tableware is often made from polyvinyl chloride due to the advantages of this material. It is durable, lightweight, inexpensive, dishes made from it are easy to clean and look great in a variety of situations.

But manufacturers do not tell us about the toxicity and instability of polyvinyl chloride: it decomposes very quickly - for example, toxins very quickly get into a drink from such a bottle, which then end up in our body.

Of course, doctors say that this does not pose a serious danger to the body, however, receiving milligrams of toxins every time, it is easy not to notice how dangerous diseases will arise.

Any plastic utensils ultimately affect our health adverse influence, which does not cause significant problems if used rarely - when it is really necessary.

Constant use of plastic utensils leads to deterioration of health, although many scientists say that this has not yet been proven. In addition, unscrupulous manufacturers from time to time put on the market plastic tableware made from low-quality materials, and even with prohibited additives.

In general, it is worth remembering that disposable tableware is called that because it cannot be used a second time, but in our country this requirement is often ignored.

They try to use disposable plastic utensils for as long as possible, although they cannot be washed or disinfected: any infection that gets on them persists and multiplies, being transmitted to everyone who uses these utensils.

It’s not clear why you need to use disposable tableware at all if you have to wash them? Then it’s better to use porcelain or glass...

Throw away disposable tableware immediately after use - this is why they were invented to save us from unnecessary work.

Conscientious manufacturers always label their products, and there are markings on plastic utensils that are worth understanding. To begin with, remember at least that the PS marking is polystyrene, and you cannot pour or put hot food into such dishes, otherwise you will get a portion of toxins that destroy the liver with food.

PP is polypropylene. This material is resistant to heat, and you can drink hot coffee from such utensils and eat hot dishes from plates. However, if such utensils are intended for one-time use, then they should not be used a second time.

Dear readers, please don't forget to subscribe to our channel at

Bogdana Zhuravskaya

The production of disposable tableware is a promising and profitable line of business for an entrepreneur who is not afraid of a high barrier to entry into the market. Along with significant capital investments, you must be prepared to overcome a number of risks. The main one is the lack large number highly qualified technologists and open information about the nuances production process. In addition, the environmental movement is becoming increasingly popular in our country. This means that it is necessary to build your activities taking into account the fact that sooner or later the enterprise will have to be reformatted to produce a biodegradable product.

In anticipation of the start

There are many types of disposable tableware. Conventionally, products can be divided into several large groups: plastic, paper, wood and so-called environmentally friendly. The latter category includes both tableware made from biodegradable plastic and recent developments where cups and plates are made from a variety of raw materials such as cereals (edible tableware), cane, corn starch, leaves, bamboo, etc.

Before launching a project, an entrepreneur must clearly indicate what type of product he will produce. There are no universal lines at the moment, and the launch of an enterprise with a large number of installations for products from different materials will require huge investments. Another difficulty is getting effective technology production of disposable tableware. Find detailed information Open access is not easy, and qualified technologists are worth their weight in gold. Therefore, the easiest way to establish the process is to train personnel from the equipment manufacturer.

Next, you should conclude agreements with suppliers of raw materials. There are not many of them on the territory of the Russian Federation, so you can consider options for cooperation with foreign partners. In any case, it is not advisable to focus on only one manufacturer, because a supply failure can cause downtime for a new enterprise.

Having decided on the above questions, you can begin searching for equipment and developing project documentation. As already mentioned, the financial barrier to entry into the market is quite high. Thus, only the purchase of a minimum set of equipment for the production of disposable plastic tableware will require about 12 million rubles. Having a well-developed business plan in hand, it makes sense to start working using investors’ funds.

Basic risks

Potential clients are in no hurry to enter into preliminary agreements with a new manufacturer and are ready to consider proposals only if the required volume is available finished products and a package of documents confirming the compliance of goods with the requirements of GOST and SanPiN.

As for competition, you will have to deal with a pool of domestic and foreign companies, most of which have strong positions in the market, have certain experience and, importantly, customer trust. For example, Chinese manufacturers, thanks to huge volumes, are able to offer very attractive price offers.

Another conditional difficulty is the seasonal demand for products. Expanding the range will help maintain balance.

Main consumers of disposable tableware

Among the wholesale buyers that a manufacturer of disposable tableware needs to target:

• , canteens, pizzerias and other establishments Catering;
• seasonal takeaway food stalls;
• food delivery services;
• markets various formats, catering companies with their own culinary production;
• agencies for organizing picnics and outdoor holidays;
• enterprises engaged in the sale of vegetables and fruits.

As you can see, the list of opportunities for selling products is quite wide. An entrepreneur just needs to create profitable proposition and convey information about it to as many partners as possible.

Types of disposable tableware

To comprehensively satisfy consumer demand, the manufacturer’s assortment should include disposable tableware for drinks, soups, main courses, snacks, packaging of various products, as well as salad bowls, cutlery, straws, plastic lids for glasses for take-out drinks and stir sticks.

Several types of raw materials can be used to manufacture products: plastic, including its degradable variety, special paper, wood. In addition, dishes made from natural materials.

Disposable plastic tableware

Plastic utensils have a number of advantages. It is convenient, hygienic, practical, and very inexpensive. The versatility of the material allows us to produce a wide range of products - plates, cups, cutlery, straws, stir sticks different colors, shape and size. If necessary, you can apply a logo or a bright design.

Equipment for the production of plastic tableware

A standard disposable tableware production line contains:

• thermoforming machine;
• extruder;
• mold;
• compressor.

The minimum cost of a set of equipment is about 3 million rubles. costs for the first batch of raw materials - from 100 thousand rubles.

Manufacturing technology + Video

Two types of plastic are used to produce tableware:

• foam propylene (durable, plastic, resistant to heat, utensils made from it can be used for hot dishes and drinks, designated PP with the number 5);
• polystyrene (products cannot withstand heat, food cannot be stored in them, designated PS with the number 6).

The raw materials for the production of plastic tableware are granular polymers that look like balls of. The price per ton of granules ranges from 45-100 thousand rubles, which depends on the brand, diameter and other characteristics.

This raw material is used by full-cycle enterprises where granules are melted and film is made from which plastic tableware is produced. In an incomplete cycle, the manufacturer uses finished film costing 100-190 thousand rubles. per ton.

Full cycle The production of disposable tableware includes the following stages:

• Melting granules. White or, if we are talking about making colored dishes, colorful balls placed in an extruder, where the raw material is heated to the melting point with constant stirring by a screw press.
• Film making. Having reached the desired consistency, the mass is fed to a press, through which a plastic sheet 2 mm thick is obtained.
• Shaping products. The film enters the thermoforming unit, is heated to a plastic state and drawn into molds.
• Cutting out elements. The whole web with the formed dishes is moved to the trimmer, where individual elements separated from the whole fabric. Plastic pieces are sent for recycling.
• Next, the dishes are sorted and fed to the conveyor, where they are modified - logos are applied, edges are folded, etc.
• Package. The machine selects required quantity products and places them in film.

A similar method is used to produce tableware from biodegradable plastic.

Video how to do it:

Disposable tableware made of bioplastic

Disposable tableware made from biodegradable plastic is marketed as “green”, but the material, although to a lesser extent than its biostable counterpart, still pollutes environment, since decomposition releases methane and carbon dioxide. However, supporters of an eco-friendly lifestyle welcome this decision on the principle of choosing the “lesser evil” and are happy to use the product.

Main competitors

Among the giants of the disposable tableware market, the following companies can be noted: U2B, My Dishes, GORNOV GROUP, Plastic-Step, Mysteria, Papperskopp Rus, Huhtamaki, Trial Market, PapStar, The Paper Cup Company.

Most people may not have noticed, but disposable tableware has become part of the daily life urban environment. Over a million tons of disposable tableware are produced every year, and so far there has been no downward trend in their use.

If you need disposable tableware, be sure to visit the Foodinni online store - you can buy a wide variety of disposable tableware there, and this article discusses the materials that are included in its composition.

Plastic disposable tableware

The most common, but at the same time the most criticized, disposable tableware is made of plastic. The reason for criticism of plastic tableware is the entry into the body of such harmful substances as lead, manganese and formaldehyde resins, which cause complex allergies.

The list shows the most common plastic used in the production of disposable tableware:

• PVC. Utensils that are often labeled “PVC” are made from polyvinyl chloride and are generally not suitable for storing and handling food;
• polystyrene (PS) is observed in dishes that have White color and is used to store cold food. If the corresponding symbols are marked on disposable tableware, do not heat it under any circumstances, as when the temperature rises, styrene is released from it;
• polypropylene (PP). Polypropylene cookware has predominantly Brown color and is capable of not harming health even with very high temperatures(100+°C), but not suitable for fatty foods nutrition;
• melamine. Most Hazardous Material, which is most often included in transparent dishes with different color shades.

Disposable paper tableware

Paper dishes are much less popular than plastic ones, and this is due to the cost and labor-intensive technological process in production. One way or another, in the UK there is The Paper Cup Company, which is one of the largest on the market, thereby popularizing disposable paper tableware.

Despite the costly production and less popularity, paper tableware has a number of positive properties, which include a long heating rate and the ability to store hot food, resistance to condensation and the absence of the release of harmful substances when heated. In addition, unlike plastic counterparts, paper dishes can be used more than once.

Disposable tableware is a common solution used by catering establishments, the restaurant business, and is also extremely popular in everyday life. Manufacturers use a wide range of materials to produce disposable tableware, while solving three key problems: the convenience of the product, its reliability and the threat to the environment. Let us take a closer look at the materials used and their parameters according to these three criteria.

It is plastic that rules the roost today; in Russia, over 90% of disposable products for both household and professional use are produced from various thermoplastics. Thermoplastics such as polyethylene are especially popular low pressure, polypropylene and polystyrene. Manufactured by vacuum forming, products have the following advantages:

• High strength. This is especially true for low-density polyethylene, which is characterized by elasticity and resilience.
• Convenient shape and optimal properties surfaces. The polymer allows you to give the surface of the cookware any desired shape: smooth (even glossy) or, conversely, grooved to reduce slipping.
• Minimum weight and compactness. Even a large batch of cutlery can fit in the trunk of a passenger car, and can be carried by one person.
• Low price. Thermoplastics are the most cheap material, from which these products can be made.

However, their key flaw is the threat to the environment. Since the decomposition time of the polymers used for these products is measured in hundreds of years (for example, the same polyethylene takes more than 400 years to decompose), waste accumulates and pollutes the environment.

Other types of materials used for disposable tableware

In addition to thermoplastics, the following materials are used for production:

• Paper and cardboard. Most often, flat coasters are made from this raw material (which, if necessary, can serve as an alternative to a plate), as well as cups and glasses. Cellulose is environmentally friendly and has good performance strength, but less resistant to moisture than plastic and is more expensive. It is most often used in the catering industry and HoReCa for distributing various products to take away or for serving tables at outdoor events.
• Materials of biological origin (): corn starch, sugar cane and other types of raw materials. They, in fact, perform the same functions as thermoplastics, but due to their biological origin they are much easier to process and do not pose a threat to the environment. Not inferior to plastic operational properties, the products are slightly more expensive.
• Plastic with additives that accelerate decomposition. A compromise between natural raw materials and synthetic polymers. By introducing special additives into the structure of polyethylene or polypropylene, it is possible to reduce its decay time in nature from 200 - 400 years to several months. Such solutions are also quite expensive and are popular mainly in the USA and Western Europe.

The production of disposable tableware increases every year, so initiatives to switch to biodegradable products are very positive from an environmental point of view. However economic forces restrain this process, especially in low- and middle-income countries.