Plastic silverware and straws are the bane of my existence. It uses a tremendous amount of resources to produce, package, and deliver the silverware to you. Then you use it for one meal and it goes to the landfill where it takes at least decades, but likely hundreds of years to decompose.
The crazy thing is that you find them everywhere. The cafeteria at work, the fast food restaurant, a sit down restaurant, a fair or festival, a food truck, church, a potluck, a party, just about anywhere that food is served there is a high possibility that plastic silverware is lurking.
Straws are even worse! Most restaurants that use metal silverware will still provide straws. I have noticed that the prevalence of straw usage varies by region in the United States. In the Northwest we are rarely given straws, but in the South you'd be hard pressed to find a restaurant that doesn't give you a straw with your beverage.
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Here are four main options (with several ideas within each option!) for having your own zero waste cutlery to avoid having to use plastic. The Amazon links are affiliate links, which means if you click the link, I may receive a commission, but don't worry the price to you remains unchanged.
1. Metal Silverware in a pouch
I purchased this kit off of Amazon. It has a spoon, fork and knife in a neoprene travel case. The knife in the kit is VERY sharp and pointed. You would have no problems cutting anything you wanted with it. The silverware also fits nicely in the pouch so it is pretty compact.
There are other versions that have chopsticks, straws, or even a bottle opener in addition to the silverware. So there are several different options for what you want for travel utensils in a case.
There are other versions that have chopsticks, straws, or even a bottle opener in addition to the silverware. So there are several different options for what you want for travel utensils in a case.
2. Bamboo silverware
3. Of course you can always make your own.
When my mom gave me this adorable Vera Bradly Pencil Bag by my mom for Christmas and I immediately knew I was going to turn it into a zero waste silverware kit. Just about any pencil case or small satchel could become a reusable cutlery pouch. I'm partial to this one because it is fabric so it could be washed and it is beautiful!
A fork, knife and spoon easily fit in it. The straw I had was a little long, but Hubby was able to cut it down to size and now it fits perfectly too. Since it was meant to be carried, it easily fits in my purse. I usually keep a reusable napkin in there too.
As you may recall one of my New Year's resolutions is to take my lunch at least twice a week. So I make sure to throw whatever silverware I'm going to need to eat the meal in the bag with me.
I do want to give a little warning to you. Do not take the knives from any of these kits with you when traveling by airplane. Twice I have lost knives going through security. I keep my zero waste silverware kit in my purse at all times and don't think about it. Well twice I have had my knife taken away. The first time I had an ultra sharp, pointy serrated knife so I sort of understood. The second time however, it was essentially a butter knife. It wouldn't hardly cut anything let alone harm anyone. So just remember when traveling to either leave the knife at home, stash it in your checked bag, or opt for bamboo. Bamboo doesn't show up on x-ray machines!
Update:
4. Sporks
Immediately after I published this I got questions why I didn't include sporks..so I updated this. Sporks are a great space saver! There are ones like this which have a spoon on one side and a fork on the other. It even has a sharp edge which an be used to cut. This brand also has several which are made with BPA-free Tritan and come in different sizes and even have a left handed spork! Then there are some that resemble the plastic spork I had in elementary school that is a spoon with little tines. So yes, sporks are a great way to cut down on what you are carrying.What sort of silverware kit do you have?
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Looking for more tips to create less waste while traveling? Check out these less waste travel tips!
What a great and simple idea! We wash and reuse plastic utensils. I keep them around for picnics.
ReplyDeleteYes, just because they are plastic doesn't mean that they can't be reused!
DeleteI love this idea, I think I will put some of these together for Christmas presents next year.
ReplyDeleteThese would make great Christmas gifts! I love that idea.
DeleteI love this zero waster silverware kit. Thanks for sharing because I was not aware of these kits. I would like to get one for our car. Pinning & tweeting.
ReplyDeleteThey would be perfect for the car, you'd always have them while out and about!
DeleteI really need to get on board with this (and as I don't fly I won't need to remember to take any knives out!). Just as a total aside, in the UK we would call silverware "cutlery", and silverware is any silver products you own ... so I thought this post was going to be about cleaning your valuables and since I don't have any, I nearly didn't read the article! #WasteLessWednesday
ReplyDeleteHa! Well I'm glad you stopped by. Yes we call it silverware or flatware. You occasionally see it called cutlery too, but I feel like that is more fancy that what I've got in my kit.
Delete... but in the UK it is the other way round, silverware is DEFINITELY more fancy!! Thanks for adding this post to #GoingGreenLinky
DeleteI'm definitely used to the idea of bringing my own lunch, I have been doing it since school, though uni and then at work. Which is why is easy to keep cutlery with me. However I haven't explore the spork idea yet, I find it very interesting cause it is an easy way of having less things to carry in the bag. From all of the ones you share as an option I think I like the bamboo silverware better, they're lighter and easy to take everywhere. Thank you for sharing so many options ����
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm intrigued by the bamboo myself. Right now I'm mostly using silverware I already have, but bamboo is a great material.
DeleteWhen I started my zero waste journey, I used an old fabric pencil case to carry around my utensils and cloth napkin. I do enjoy the bamboo utensils when I travel so I can pass through TSA, so that's why I invested in them. Great article about the options for zero waste silverware!
ReplyDeleteI would have never thought about bamboo being ok with TSA! I still can't believe I lost two pieces. I'm almost afraid to try it again...although if it's bamboo how would they know?! Thanks for a great tip. I may have to try it out.
DeleteI have a spork by Sea to Summit that I love and carry around with me everywhere! I actually have two, one for my car and one for my purse. I haven't ever felt the need to carry a knife with me though because I imagine if I am eating something like steak or a hard dish, it would be at a sit-down restaurant with real knives. Do you ever feel like it takes up a lot of space in your purse though? I struggle with what to bring with me because between this, a cup, a togo container, and my wallet, my purse gets pretty full!
ReplyDeleteYes, my purse can get really full. Unfortunately I'm not good about carrying a to go container and my water bottle is far too large to fit in my purse so I have to hand carry it when I go out somewhere. Sounds like we may need larger purses!
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