Reusable Cutlery & Straws
Cut waste and plastic before you get started cutting up your food
View all products
Why Swap
- In the UK we use an estimated 4.25 billion items of single-use cutlery every year – most of which are plastic
- Only 10% of single-use plastic cutlery is recycled when it's thrown away, and some of it isn't recyclable at all
- Plastic cutlery is made from petrochemicals (derived from fossil fuels), sticking around for hundreds of years and breaking down into microplastics over time
The Alternatives
We're beginning to see a real shift to wood and bamboo cutlery options as the UK government cracks down on single-use plastics. But reducing any single-use is still important and fortunately there are now plenty of reusable options available which make it easy to reduce single use on the go. You can opt for the newer plant-based plastics or stick to good old fashioned metal or wood cutlery.
Natural Cutlery
Wood and bamboo are strong, durable and naturally anti-bacterial. Wood and bamboo cutlery is easy to clean after use, and is nice and light for taking with you on the go, while being being more durable than single-use plastics. Bamboo is a very quick growing crop and uses very little resources, making it an excellent material for cutlery. Both wood and bamboo will biodegrade over time, making their end of life much more environmentally-friendly.
Reusable
Plastic-free
Industrially Compostable
Plant-based Cutlery
Plant-based plastics are usually made from corn starch, sugarcane and plant waste products. They're very light and come in a variety of colours. Plant-based plastic cutlery is also generally thicker and more durable than single-use plastics, making it more reliable and reusable many times over. Many types of bioplastics are certified to industrially compostable, too – so you can place them in your food waste collection bin.
Reusable
Plastic-free
Industrially Compostable
Metal Cutlery
Metal cutlery (either from home or specifically made for on the go use) is still a great reusable cutlery option. It's the strongest and most durable option, but will likely be a little heavier than the other reusable options.
Reusable
Plastic-free
Industrially Compostable