July 16th, 2009

By Barbara Kessler
Green Right Now

Paper plates are not just paper anymore – they’re made of recycled plastic, or PLA-plastic derived from vegetables, or bamboo, or birch wood.

Now there’s a new entry, EarthShell paper plates made of potatoes. How do you like them paper plates? You may not know yet, they’re just rolling out in regional groceries like Kings Super Markets and Wegmans in the Northeast; Meijer in the Midwest; HEB in Texas and Smart and Finals in California. Find all the venues and pricing here.

Here’s what to like about them, though: No trees are involved (as in paper plates); they’re biodegradable (score one point over recycled plastic) and they used “bio waste” potato starches left behind when potato chips and french fries are made (make that two points).

These new made-in-America disposables are compostable, lightweight to ship, naturally white (so they require no bleach or chemicals) and they insulate hot or cold food (move over poly-sty-rene!), according to Earth Shell, based in Missouri.

So here’s the green dish on these plates: They aren’t as green as taking reusable picnic ware that you wash and, well…reuse. But for those times when that’s not going to happen – chaotic family gatherings, club meetings, last-minute game-day potlucks etc. – and you must cheat, these disposables are about as low-carbon as it gets.

So go ahead, carb-load on EarthShell. And give yourself a pat for keeping away from Styrofoam, that puffed up space age wonder than persists in landfills for, we don’t even know how long because we haven’t been around long enough to find out. Too long.

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