CULINARY INNOVATION: EDIBLE

CUTLERY AS A SUSTAINABLE
ALTERNATIVE TO SINGLE-USE
PLASTICS

BEDERICO, Mark Daniel C.

This proposal is submitted to:

Rusty Keith E. Placino

Plastic products, despite their convenience, have a long-established devastating impact on

the global environment situation. The Philippines, with an estimated 0.75 million metric tons of

plastic waste, stands as the third-largest contributor to global plastic pollution, as per the World

Bank Group (2021) report. Evidently, the affordability and convenience of plastics have positioned

the country as one of the world's leading plastic polluters. In response, there's an emerging trend

towards alternatives like biodegradable and edible cutlery. This study aims to focus on edible

cutlery made from non-wheat sources, specifically the locally available natural ingredients such

as raw cassava and bananas readily available in the Philippines.

According to Grand View Research in 2019, the worldwide market for edible cutlery was

estimated at 22.6 million USD in 2018, accounting for over 35% of this market. The segment of

household applications is expected to experience the most rapid growth, with a compound annual

growth rate of 9-10% projected until the year 2025. Particularly in the Asia Pacific region, the

edible cutlery market is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 9.6% during

the same period. Companies worldwide are embracing this trend, primarily using ingredients like

millet flour, sorghum flour, as well as food-grade starches. Indeed, considering alternatives to

single-use plastics is a critical step towards eliminating reliance on disposable plastic cutlery. The

Philippines, as implied by Lyddon (2019) is not a major wheat exporter. Hence, the focus of this

study is to examine the progression of edible cutlery in the national scenario, utilizing ingredients

that are sourced within the country. This method not only enhances the diversity of available edible

cutlery but also encourages and sustains local production. It is a sustainable approach that aligns

with environmental conservation while promoting economic growth and self-sufficiency within

the Philippines.
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Project Description.

As time passed, plastic cutlery overtook the world at a very fast rate, which caused the

destruction of the environment. Many pieces of plastic cutlery are disposed of every single day,

which can be hazardous to the ecosystem. In addition to this, a lot of plastic cutleries is clogging

the swamps and landfills, which can cause flooding and also be eaten by aquatic animals. That is

why we came up with the solution to the problem, which is the use of edible cutlery.

Edible cutlery is a concept wherein the cutlery can be consumed after being used, whether

it is in a drink or food. It can vary into different cutleries such as spoons, forks, ice cream sticks,

bowls, and also chopsticks. With this invention, the use of plastic cutlery can be lessened, and the

safety of the environment can be assured. Edible cutlery is mostly made of edible materials that

can be found on farms and also at the back of your own house. Primarily, the most commonly used

ingredients in making edible cutlery are natural grains, which include rice, sorghum, and wheat.

These selected grains are used because they are the most flexible and also easy to digest, unlike

corn, which is much harder to digest, and they also don’t disintegrate as fast as the other three

grains.

So why edible cutlery? Edible cutlery is a remarkable product due to its amazing quality

and usage. First, it is biodegradable. It is important now that we use biodegradable objects such as

cutlery in our daily lives to lessen the use of toxic waste. It also helps in addressing the growing

environmental concerns associated with plastic waste, which are mostly caused by plastic cutlery.

When disposed of, edible cutlery decomposes naturally, leaving behind no harmful residues in the

environment.

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 Secondly, edible cutlery offers a very unique and enjoyable cooking and culinary

experience to its users. The wide range of selections of natural ingredients and other spices can

add a lot of new and distinct flavor to the edible cutlery, which is very enjoyable. It provides an

enhanced and exciting dining experience. Also, due to the edible cutlery’s durability, it can

withstand a lot of types of usage while still staying intact. Additionally, it eliminates the need for

constant washing because it can be eaten or disposed of after its use, which actually saves water

resources.

Finally, the edible cutlery’s versatility is also worth mentioning. It can be used all around,

not only for eating meals but also for some other purposes, such as stirring hot or cold coffee. It

can also be used as a garnish in desserts and as a treat. It is very complex, it is very fun to use, and

it is especially eco-friendly. Edible cutlery’s different uses make it more appealing and also a

practical option.

Social and Economic Benefits.

Over the course of their lifetime, plastics production accounts for 3.8% of global

greenhouse gas emissions. The effects of climate change and global warming, which are already

wreaking havoc on our planet, are exacerbated by these emissions. We need to be concerned about

more than just plastic trash and greenhouse gas emissions; we also need to be concerned about the

environmental issues brought on by the extraction and production processes. Just the process of

extracting and making plastic consumes a lot of energy, water, chemicals, and other non-renewable

resources. Since edible cutlery is entirely biodegradable and is made with less energy than

conventional plastic utensils, it is more environmentally friendly. You may contribute to a decrease

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in greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and ocean littering by giving up single-use plastic

cutlery.

Because edible cutlery is available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, it is both practical

and environmentally friendly. They are available in standard cutlery shapes such as straws, knives,

forks, and spoons, among others. These cutlery items are an excellent alternative while you are out

and about because they resemble their plastic counterparts quite a bit. They are fully functional

and will not break or melt when used to consume soups, salads, pancakes, and other foods.

Additionally, they go well with both hot and cold dishes.

Target SDG/s.

The target was to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction,

recycling, and reuse. This includes promoting sustainable practices in the production and

consumption of utensils, as exemplified by the use of edible cutlery in place of traditional plastic

alternatives.

Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate

change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning. The project supports climate

action by reducing the carbon footprint associated with conventional plastic utensil production,

mitigating the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions.

References.

5 Benefits of Edible Cutlery - Turtle Friendly. (n.d.). Stroodles - the Pasta Straws.

https://stroodles.co.uk/blogs/news/5-benefits-of-edible-cutlery-turtle

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 friendly#:~:text=Stroodles'%20edible%20cutlery%20is%20100,and%20littering%20in

20our%20oceans.

Edible Cutlery: The Future of Eco-Friendly Utensils - Kickstarter,

www.kickstarter.com/projects/1240116767/edible-cutlery-the-future-of-eco-friendly-

utensils.

Grand View Research. (2019). Edible Cutlery Market Size, Share, Trends | Industry Report, 2019-

2025. Grandviewresearch.com. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-

analysis/edible-cutlery-market

Lyddon, C. (2019, November 18). Focus on Philippines. World-Grain.com; World Grain.

https://www.world-grain.com/articles/12902-focus-on-philippines

Musni, L. (2022, June 9). We Tried 3 Edible Cutlery Brands — Here's What We Found. Food &

Wine. https://www.foodandwine.com/grains/wheat/we-tried-3-edible-cutlery-brands-

heres-what-we-found

World Bank Group. (2021). Market Study for the Philippines: Plastics Circularity Opportunities

and Barriers. Worldbank.org; World Bank, Washington, DC.

https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/61e2e030-9dc2-5013-a8ff-

7565919e17ee