Avoid bamboo-fibre melamine tableware
Reusable bamboo-fibre cups and plates are melamine plastic that can leach formaldehyde; the EU withdrew them in 2021 and the UK still sells them.
Cutlery, straws and cups
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Bagasse (sugarcane fibre) tableware
Fibre left after sugarcane crushing, moulded into plates, bowls and clamshells; a compostable replacement for polystyrene foam (EPS) and PP plastic takeaway ware if…
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Bamboo (solid and uncoated pulp)
Fast-growing grass used solid for cutlery, straws and toothbrush handles or as pulp for cushioning; avoid rigid bamboo-melamine composites, which are plastic.
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Palm leaf (areca) plates and bowls
Naturally fallen areca palm sheaths washed and heat-pressed into disposable plates; home compostable, but evidence is vendor-only and shipping dominates the footprint.
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Silicone
A synthetic silicon-oxygen polymer, not strictly plastic but not plastic-free; a durability swap for zip bags, lids and straws, never a biodegradable one.
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Wood and plant-based cutlery
Birch, aspen or other wood cut into single-use forks, spoons, stirrers and chopsticks; compostable and lower impact than plastic cutlery when sourced from certified…
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Paper straws, and the caveat about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
The default plastic-straw replacement after bans, but a 2023 study found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in 90 percent of paper straw brands; stainless…
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Reusable cup instead of takeaway coffee cups
A reusable cup beats a paper cup on climate after about 20 to 25 uses, and paper cups are lined with plastic so they…
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Skip the lid and the sleeve
If you cannot bring a cup, refusing the plastic lid alone removes about 3 g of plastic per drink.