Best of 2018: Edible plates made from wheat bran to replace disposable tableware

Originally published on 22 January 2018

Disposable tableware is very convenient when you have many guests, or hate doing the dishes. However, especially plastic tableware contributes to a lot of waste. To counter this problem, Polish company Biotrem produces disposable and edible tableware, made from wheat bran, a by-product of the grain milling process, so now you can have your cake and eat the plate too!

Bran consists of the outer layers of cereal grain, such as wheat, rye, or oat. It is a by-product in the process of milling grain. It is mostly used as animal feed, and only a small fraction is used by the food industry. Bran is a problem for the milling industry, as it takes up a lot of storage space and can only be stored up to 7 days.

Instead of letting the bran go to waste, Biotrem turns it into plates and bowls without any additional compounds. The technology is based on chemical composition and physical properties specific to wheat bran. The bran is pressed into shape and baked in one production cycle, without the need of any additives, aside from a little water. One tonne of wheat bran produces up to 10,000 units.

The edible tableware, consisting of plates, bowls, and cutlery, can be used to serve both hot and cold food. Aside from being edible, the plates and bowls can be used in classic and microwave ovens. Under correct circumstances, the products can be stored for at least 3 years. After use, the tableware decomposes in 30 days.

The products are manufactured in accordance with the industrial hygienic standards based on the EU regulations and according to the BRC food production quality standard.

Want to match your edible tableware with edible cups? Click here.

Photos: Biotrem