Eco-Friendly Disposable Products Stephensons are proud to stock a diverse and extensive range of eco-friendly disposable products.
It's estimated that the UK throws away on average 210 billion single-use plastic items each year. Clearly, this is an issue that needs addressing urgently.
Within the hospitality industry and takeaway food sector, there are many simple yet effective changes that can be made to create a more sustainable model. With that in mind, we've put together this page to highlight some of our most popular eco-friendly options and help to make your disposables offering a little greener.
Plastic accounts for 90% of all marine debris
It's estimated that plastic is responsible for the deaths of over 100 million marine animals. A million additional sea birds endure the same fate.
'In at number 5...'
Plastic straws are found at number 5 in the Ocean Conservancy's list of the 'Top 10 Items Found Washed Up on Beaches'.
Plastic Straw Consumption
Based on US plastic straw consumption alone, there are enough thrown away daily to wrap around the earth's circumference two and a half times.
Big brands scrap the straw
Some massive names have already vowed to do their part and scrap the plastic straw. These brands include JD Wetherspoon, Pret a Manger, wagamama and Bacardi.
Paper Straws
Plastic straws are amongst the biggest offenders when it comes to plastic waste and the UK government is actually set to enforce an outright ban by April 2020. Fortunately, there are many recyclable options available including paper, PLA and bamboo.
For our customers based in Greater Manchester, you should consider our exclusive Manchester Bee Paper Straw. It has been exclusively created by Stephensons and is 100% compostable, FSC certified and a donation to the ILOVEMCR charity is made for each box sold.
Our range of paper straws come in a wide variety of colours and styles and importantly are fully recyclable, compostable and completely food safe.
PLA Straws
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a plant-based bio-polymer made from renewable materials like cornstarch. It is similar to plastic but is suitable for commercial composting after use. These straws have a plastic-eqsue quality.
Metal Straws
For a reusable option, metal drinking straws are ideal. They offer a premium, no-waste straw choice to bars, cafes, restaurants and other establishments.
Manchester Bee Paper Straw
The Manchester Bee Paper Straw was initially founded as the first step of a Greater Manchester initiative to eradicate avoidable single use plastics in the region by 2020.
Whether you’re slinging street food, or running a busy takeaway, we know how important it is to have reliable and affordable packaging. Our range of eco-friendly options will ensure that food retains heat and stays fresh.
Materials include bagasse — a polystyrene alternative made from recycled sugar cane waste, as well as sustainably sourced cardboard that’s suitable for industrial composting.
This range of eco-friendly food packaging comes in a number of sizes and styles to suit any cuisine including larger cartons for Indian/Chinese dishes, standard sized pizza boxes, burger boxes, salad boxes and a number of varying sized cartons to suit all manner of street food, starters and takeaway food.
Bagasse Street Food Packaging
Sustainably sourced from sugarcane waste, Bagasse offers a greaseproof and strong food packaging option that is compostable after use. Bagasse is ideal for street food traders.
Home Compostable Packaging
Our range of home compostable products can be disposed of with food waste or personal compost areas such as allotments.
Eco-Friendly Soup Containers
A great choice for soups and pasta, these containers offer excellent heat retention and are 100% compostable. Eco-friendly lids are also available.
Compostable Pizza Boxes
Despite being recyclable, many plants in the UK do not accept materials contaminated by foodstuff, meaning many pizza boxes end up in landfill. Our compostable pizza boxes are an excellent eco-friendly alternative as they are suitable for commercial composting.
The time once was that the only disposable plates you’d see were made of paper. Think kids parties and flimsy paper Frisbees. However, this is no longer the case.
We stock a number of eco-friendly and high performance items such as bagasse and palm leaf.Â
Sustainably sourced from sugarcane waste, Bagasse offers a greaseproof and strong disposable tableware option that is compostable after use. These plates and bowls are ideal for parties, buffets, BBQ's and event catering.
Palm Leaf Plates & Bowls
This innovative tableware is sustainably produced from the fallen leaves of the Adaka nut palm tree. Palm leaf products are extremely durable, impermeable to water and oil, heat resistant up to 200°c and are microwave and oven safe. Suitable for commercial composting.
Cut out plastic waste with our range of eco-friendly cutlery (see what we did there?).
We’ve got knives, forks and spoons in wood and CPLA - both of which are compostable after use. All of which work complement the rest of our eco-product to help you create a disposable yet sustainable tabletop!
Our wooden cutlery is made from sustainable sources and offers a natural looking and eco-friendly alternative to plastic.
CPLA Cutlery
Crystallised polylactic acid (CPLA) is 100% compostable and biodegradable. It can withstand temperatures up to 85°c - making these utensils perfect for soups, curries, stews and well, pretty much anything!
Safe pint glasses are an essential for gigs, festivals, BBQ’s and other events outdoors and indoors. The problem is, these pint glasses are usually plastic. Have you ever seen festival grounds in the morning? That translucent sea of crushed plastic pint pots is no joke.
Fortunately, we offer some strong and sustainable alternatives. Our PLA tumblers look just like plastic but are made from renewable plant-based materials and are completely recyclable after use.
These PLA tumblers are a game changer in regards to how we deal with plastic waste. One of the biggest issues after summer events such as festivals, street parties, sporting occasions and BBQs is the obscene amount of plastic improperly disposed of. However, these tumblers present a viable environmentally friendly alternative.
Designed specifically for smoothies and juices, these PLA cups are an environmentally friendly way to serve juicy drinks in a responsibly disposable manner. Instead of being made from the conventional plastic, these smoothie cups are instead manufactured using PLA, a plant based polymer that can biodegrade. Eco-friendly domed lids are also available.
Here’s another lip-curling fact for you — The UK throws away on average 2.5 billion coffee cups a year. Thing is, nobody (us included) seems keen to knock their hot beverage addictions. Lucky for us, operators can now serve ‘takeaway cups with a conscience’ thanks to the marvellous material that is PLA. As opposed to polyethylene (PE) lining, PLA cups have a plant-based interior, deeming them suitable for commercial composting. WIN. They’re available in a number of sizes and options including single wall and triple wall. We’ve even got CPLA compostable lids too.
Some outlets may event want to offer a reusable hot cup option and cut out even more waste. From collapsible to compostable at end of life, we’ve got you covered here too.
A simple switch to reusable cups will make a huge difference to the ever-growing problem of plastic waste. What's more, most major coffee shop chains now offer a discount for using a reusable cup so you're not just saving the environment; you're saving some money too!
Single Wall PLA Hot Cups
Simple and affordable hot cups that are suitable for commercial composting.
Double Wall Hot Cups
Compostable PLA hot cups with a two-layer plant-based lining that ensures heat retention. Suitable for commercial composting.
Triple Wall PLA Hot Cups
Premium PLA cups that offer excellent heat retention and protect the users hands from heat due to the innovative ripple design. Suitable for commercial composting.
Recycling procedures can often be a minefield. Correct disposal and what an item is actually made of are common questions. To help you, we've created this handy 'Green Glossary' that breaks down some key disposal terms and explains the materials our products are made from.
Terms
Compostable
Our products certified compostable have been given BS: EN 13432 accreditation. This guarantees that in an industrial composting environment, the product will break down in no more than 12 weeks. The natural waste can then be used to enrich the earth.
Home Compostable
A product certified as 'home compostable' can be disposed of in a number of environmentally conscious ways. It is suitable for your own or indeed any compost heap (nearby farms or allotments will often gladly accept). In addition, these items can be put into food waste refuse bins.
Recyclable
A recyclable product can be broken down with some, or all, of the materials reused to make a new product.
Biodegradable
A material that will organically disintegrate over time. These products are most often safe for landfill, but the time they take to break down can vary.
Reusable
A reusable product that is intended to reduce disposables waste. Think metal water bottles and reusable cups for takeaway coffee. Some of these items may also be suitable for eco-conscious disposal at the end of their lives.
Materials
PLA
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a renewable polymer made from plant-based materials like cornstarch, sugar cane and tapioca roots. It has very similar characteristics to polypropylene and other plastics but is compostable after use — this is why it’s often used for disposable pint glasses and food containers.
Bagasse
Made from 100% recycled sugar cane waste, this green material is essentially a collection of dry fibres that are then pressed into the desired shape through a high-heat and high-pressure process. It is usually compostable and in some cases also home compostable.
Palm Leaf
Our palm leaf products are created in a sustainable manner by making use of fallen leaves from the Adaka nut palm tree. Due to the strong binding fibres of palm tree residue, are amongst the most durable available in the disposable tableware market. They are impermeable to water and oil and heat resistant up to 200°c. In additional performance factors, these palm leaf products are microwave and oven safe.
Paperboard
Sustainably sourced and compostable after use, our range of paperboard products are great for street food and takeaway packaging. Items are made from moulded thick paper fibres and are both strong and versatile. Often the materials are made from entirely recycled sources.
CPLA
Crystallised polylactic acid (CPLA) is created using bio-sourced starch, a plant based product that is annually renewable and sustainable. It has a much higher heat resistance than PLA due to chalk being added during the cooling process. Due to these properties, it’s great for making compostable cutlery and coffee cup lids.
Wood
An ideal option for eco-friendly cutlery and items like dipping pots, wooden disposables give a natural look with great durability. We take measures to ensure that our wooden products are sustainably sourced. Bamboo and birch wood are amongst the materials we use.
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