Greetings, friends! And welcome to Caroline Finds It: my new weekly newsletter where I reply to submissions from YOU for objects and products you need recommendations for.
This week, I’ve chosen a submission from Mordechai in Brooklyn, which I feel is something we could all probably use a recommendation for:
“We've always hosted lots of people at our place. After two years we're ready to get back into it again! We have china for our normal amount of guests, but when big groups come (or we do things outdoorsy), we end up getting disposable plates and flatware. I'd love to see some suggestions about options that look good, with added focus on those that are recyclable and/or come from renewable resources.”
Dear Mordechai,
I think about this A LOT when I’m at someone else’s party, or even picking up take-out. I personally subscribe to the idea that attempting a “zero waste” lifestyle is utterly unrealistic, and that though individual action isn’t the thing that will solve the climate crisis, it is not something we should discount entirely. Sometimes, you just can’t do 100 dishes! I host parties on my roof all summer, and often attempt to use all real dinnerware and almost always regret it. It’s hard though, because the cute stuff at party stores is $$$, the cheap stuff is flimsy and awful and what I’ve learned is, it pays to just buy in bulk from a website that caters to the food service industry, instead.
The trend these days is to use “compostable” cutlery and plates, which I have strong feelings about. How many times have you actually composted these items? Compostable items only compost if the are put into a healthy compost environment. Things that are thrown in the trash are compacted before put in a landfill and will not compost for a very very long time (same goes for food!) because the conditions are not right for them the decompose. My personal feeling is that many companies flaunt their use of “compostable disposables” as a form of greenwashing. (Disclaimer: I am not an environmental scientist, nor do I claim to be an expert on this topic, this is just my opinion based on the research I’ve done).
So, if this is the case and we can assume that we are not composting our disposable forks: what’s the next best option? It’s probably going to be something that is made form a byproduct material, or a super renewable resource . Let’s first start with cutlery:
My favorite here is bamboo. It’s inexpensive and an extremely renewable resource as it grows super fast and can grow in many climates. I love webstaurantstore.com as an alternative to Amazon for this kind of stuff. The good thing, too, is that you can buy them by type, not in a set (because you ALWAYS need more forks!!).
For plates, palm leaf plates are an interesting option because they’re really pretty and you can find brands that make them out of fallen leaves (no contribution to deforestation!), like these ones from EcoChoice via webstaurantstore.com. They’re pricier than paper or plastic, but great for special events. A less expensive option is sugarcane. They’re made from a waste material called bagasse, which is the fiber left over after the juice of a sugarcane plant is extracted. You can also get them from EcoChoice via webstaurantstore.com in a variety of snazzy shapes and sizes (including cute leaf shaped appetizer bowls).
When I’m having a party that calls for disposables, the item I like to splurge on (money and ethics-wise) is napkins! This is where you can have some fun and add a little pizzazz to your tablescape. How fab are these ones from HAY?! If you want to order from somewhere local-ish, Jam Paper has a whole bunch of great colors and good prices (who remembers their amazing and messy shop that used to be on 3rd Ave?!).
Life is too short to agonize over being as eco-friendly as possible, and we just have to do the best we can with the tools we’ve got! These are all great alternatives to paper and plastic that will hold up and also not break the bank.
QUICK ANSWERS
Jenna in Virginia needs “A non-gummy, non-hard, don’t need to swallow kids vitamin for a kid with new orthodontia 😬” - Having braces is the worst!! I feel for your kid. I found this powdered vitamin mix for kids that is from a brand I know and trust. You could shake it into juice or throw it into a smoothie. And while I’m at it — you can get it many places, but I’ve linked to Thrive Market, which is a website I love for more expensive “wellness” or “health food” products (like vitamins, protein powder, etc) because though you pay an annual fee but the discounts more than make up for it. And as an added bonus, they’re a B Corp!
Courtney in Nashville wants to buy a “Butter bell/butter crock/French butter keeper… so many names for that 2-piece item - butter goes in the lid part, a little water in the other piece, and no refrigerator needed - that houses room temp butter ready for spreadin’. I want a good looking one whose design will stand the test of time. Classic, minimal, durable, good tactile experience, ergonomic etc.” Courtney, I found you this nice, simple glass one from Hawkins New York, who make super quality home goods. It has really great reviews online, too! If you prefer something ceramic, it seems that you can’t go wrong with an Original Butter Bell, which comes from a family-owned company and a variety of styles.
Karen from Cleveland says: “I need a hair band that won’t damage my hair.” Karen (or Mom as I know her:)), I’m afraid that no hair bands are totally damage-free (and PLEASE do not use them on wet hair especially!), though some options are better than others. The *best* option in my opinion is a scrunchie, especially a silk scrunchie because silk is great for your hair and a scrunchie is way softer than a standard hair band. There are several options for skinnier ones in neutral colors in case you’re not into the look of a proper scrunchie. Hate scrunchies? I’m not judging. This style is the the second best option.
FAVORITE PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
It’s the beginning of growing season and I’ve been spraying for aphids because I’ve spotted early signs of eggs (yikes!). I bought this pressurized spray bottle, which sprays a fine but powerful mist without applying hardly any pressure. The spray nozzle is also adjustable and the bottle itself is very thick is sturdy. I found mine at a local hardware store and plan on going back to get another one to put water in for misting seedlings and more delicate plants.
Is there a product you’re looking for? Submit your request here. See you next Friday for fresh recommendations! xo Caroline