Environmental Effect of Paper Plates

Paper plates are standard picnic equipment.

Paper plates are simple objects that raise complicated issues concerning environmental impact. To use them or not to use them, that is only one of the questions. It is difficult to find evidence that answers questions such as whether daily use of paper plates is worse for the environment than daily dishwasher use. The answer to this question may depend in part on what materials are used to make the disposable plates.

History of Paper Plates

Although others had experimented with producing paper plates, it was Martin Keyes of the New Hampshire-based Keyes Fibre Company who first invented commercially viable paperware production in 1903. His company named their paper plates "Chinet." The website Funding Universe says Keyes was fascinated with the possibilities of papier-mache as a child. Later, he would invent a machine that could mash paper pulp "and mold, dry, and package the plates."

Societal Function

Paper plates and other kinds of disposable dinnerware and containers are frequently used by restaurants to minimize dishwashing and reduce staffing costs. Similarly, due to factors including demanding work schedules, disposable plates have become more than a picnic staple in many homes. Consequently, pressure has increased to produce biodegradable paperware, especially kinds made from more easily replenished renewable resources than trees.

Styrofoam "Paper" Plates

Sometimes Styrofoam disposables are referred to as paper plates, but they are made from non-renewable petrochemical products that do not biodegrade in landfills. As restaurants began using more Styrofoam, it also became more available for home use. Similarly, as the restaurant industry has made more environmentally sound choices, such as McDonald's shift away from Styrofoam about 20 years ago, more eco-friendly dinnerware products have become available in grocery stores.

Traditional Paper Plates

Traditional paper plates are problematic because they are made from wood pulp. Although trees are renewable, it takes them a long time to grow. Also, water pollutants, such as bleach, are often used to whiten the paper. Finally, to make paper plates more attractive to consumers in search of Styrofoam's stability, manufacturers sometimes coat paper plates with materials that make them less biodegradable.

Eco-Friendly Paper Plates

Fortunately, an increasing number of manufacturers are producing "green" paperware not only from recycled wood products but also from bamboo, bagasse (sugar cane), palm leaves, potato starch and other easily renewable resources. One company that offers a long list of price comparisons for these alternative products is TreeCycle Recyled Paper. TreeCycle particularly promotes bagasse plates, which are relatively inexpensive compared to alternatives such as bamboo.

Cost

Regular 9-inch paper plates can cost anywhere from one cent to about 10 cents a piece, depending on the quantity purchased and the sturdiness of the product. In contrast, alternative paper plates are significantly more costly. For example, TreeCycle lists a price of $7.50 for a package of 50, 9-inch bagasse plates, as of 2010. This equals 15 cents per plate. As with most things, however, price will likely decrease as demand goes up. Meanwhile, consumers need to decide whether cheaper prices or safer environmental choices are more important.

References

• New York Times Magazine: Guilt on a Paper Plate
• Funding Universe: Keyes Fibre Company History
• Green Living Tips: Disposable Plates and Bowls

Resources

• TreeCycle Recycled Paper: Biodegradable Plates, Cups, Bowls