Bamboo dishware! Eco-friendly dishware?

Hello to you, bamboo enthusiasts! 😉

I’m delighted to be able to "talk bamboo" with you again! If you’re one of our readers, you know that at Bamboo Home Store it’s customary to praise the benefits and uses of our flagship plant on our blog: The Eco Mag. 

Indeed, this plant has many advantages. I invite you to read one of our articles that gives you an overview of the subject: the benefits of bamboo. 
However, as with many things, there are advantages and disadvantages. Bamboo is not an eco-friendly plant in every respect; in any case, not as much as we’d like to be led to believe. Bamboo has a highly appealing eco-friendly side because it grows without fertilizers or pesticides and at a speed that leaves all competition behind.
Unfortunately, it is also subject to misuse in terms of eco-friendly branding 😤 and fills the pockets of unscrupulous resellers at the expense of consumers who are too naive or poorly informed.
To complete my point, I invite you to watch this video, which illustrates these points very well.

Why is bamboo tableware dangerous?

What you need to understand is that to make most bamboo accessories and utensils, they have to be transformed from their original powder form. They are compressed to obtain the desired shape and then bound together with a glue partly made of melamine. 
As a result, the item in question loses some of its eco-friendly side. However, the same applies to many other utensils and accessories, whatever their original material may be. Luckily, this does not make all bamboo items an eco-friendly scam! 😄.

The magazine 60 Millions de Consommateurs issued an alert on Monday, January 27, 2020 concerning the use of bamboo tableware. Indeed, the DGCCRF carried out an investigation to check the food-contact suitability of wooden and bamboo items. This investigation revealed that these items, when subjected to high temperatures, could release components into food and that a chemical risk could cause kidney damage and thus promote the onset of cancer. 
The items in question are: bowls, plates, cutlery, cups, and especially lunch boxes and bamboo tableware for babies. When reheated in the microwave, these items were found to contain too much melamine. The fraud authorities reported more than a dozen recalls from the suppliers concerned.

From an environmental point of view, bamboo tableware will always be more eco-friendly. But for health reasons, it is better to choose containers made of glass, stainless steel, porcelain, or polypropylene. Note that in some European countries, including Austria, bamboo fiber tableware has been withdrawn from sale.⛔

What type of natural bamboo tableware can I buy safely?

As you now understand, the problem with the sets of bamboo tableware, is that famous melamine. I therefore urge you to be extra careful if you are tempted to buy some from a supermarket in the future. At Bamboo Home Store, we take no risks with this type of tableware, and you won’t find any in our "kitchen utensils" collection.

However, there is always a way to use bamboo in the "tableware" category in an eco-friendly way. I am of course talking about disposable bamboo tableware. 
Indeed, websites have specialized in this area by offering disposable bamboo tableware, but not only that...
You’ll also find tableware made of recycled cardboard and unbleached birch in most cases. The design and colors are on point, combining eco-friendliness and fun for every occasion. Ideal for avoiding the chore of washing up while respecting nature, since the sets offered are guaranteed biodegradable and compostable.

Nevertheless, there are many kitchen accessories made of bamboo that are well worth a look 🧐

Here is a list of 5 accessories that may catch your eye:

• Take katorarisetto™ bamboo cutlery set
• Kitchin™ bamboo kitchen scale
• Wara™ reusable bamboo straw
• Amazon™ bamboo dish brush
• Bioboo™ bamboo fruit basket

Take katorarisetto™ bamboo cutlery set

Our bamboo cutlery set is ideal for picnics and camping trips. It’s the perfect accessory for anyone who eats lunch at the office. Guaranteed melamine-free, it includes a fork, knife, spoon, pair of chopsticks, and a straw, all neatly stored in its fabric case. It’s the ultimate eco-friendly travel cutlery kit! 

Kitchin™ bamboo kitchen scale

A must-have in every kitchen, our bamboo scale will be very useful for both experienced and amateur bakers and cooks.

Its tray is made of natural bamboo! Make your best recipes to the gram with an eco-friendly scale.

Wara™ reusable bamboo straw

9 million plastic straws are thrown away every day in France. Bamboo straws are one of the most effective alternatives to fight this problem. For more information on this subject, I invite you to read our article: Which reusable straws should you choose? 

Amazon™ bamboo dish brush

An essential accessory to start your journey toward zero waste!
Traditional sponges no longer have a place in an eco-friendly kitchen. Bamboo dish brushes are perfect for cleaning your dirty pans and pots. We offer 2 models with 2 different handle sizes.

Bioboo™ bamboo fruit basket

Very practical and exotic! This bamboo fruit basket is removable and stylish. You can take it with you for your picnic afternoons. By the way, if you want to know how to prepare a zero-waste picnic, I invite you to read our article on the subject: How do you prepare a zero-waste picnic?