Yes, paper placemats are eco-friendly because they are made of FDA-approved kraft paper. But the paper placemats are available in other materials as well in the market such as wax paper, greaseproof paper, and parchment paper.

It’s up to the materials and inks used that make them a proper fit for eco-friendly paper placemats. Disposable paper placemats are widely adopted in the foodservice industry in the USA due to benefits like hygiene improvement reducing cross-contamination risks by around. It controls the contamination up to 50%. Restaurants, cafes, and even households often use placemats to keep tables neat and stylish. In this blog, we will discuss the eco-friendly nature of the paper placemats in depth.

What are Paper Placemats?

Paper placemats are defined as single use table mats that are made from different grades of paper. They are often designed with attractive prints, logos, or patterns. The paper materials used for the paper placemats are kraft, parchment paper, greaseproof paper, and wax paper. Plus, they can be coated on both sides or a single side as well. For food businesses, it is usually recommended to coat only one side. The coatings are PE, silicon, and wax.

But mostly for disposable paper placemats, the kraft material is utilized. They are mainly used in restaurants for convenience. The customers would like to sit and eat in a place that feels like home and is clean.

The Eco-Friendly Features of Paper Placemats that You Must Know

For instance, if you are in the food business, then it’s necessary that you wow your customers. So, there is no better option than using kraft paper placemats that are eco-friendly in nature. Plus, it comes uncoated, which ensures that there is no harm as it is FSC certified and FDA approved for food settings.

But what are the features of it:

1. Biodegradable Nature of Paper Placemats

As we all know that the paper is naturally biodegradable. Which means it can break down in the environment without leaving harmful residues. Plus the decomposition time of these placemats is faster within weeks or months.

2. Compostable Options to Save the Environment

If made from uncoated or natural paper like it depends on you whether you want uncoated or coated. But mostly coated ones are preferred. This is especially beneficial for restaurants or homes that practice composting.

3. Food-Safe Inks Are Utilized

If you choose the paper placemat made of kraft and uncoated then the paper placemats are made from FSC-certified materials. And for the printing only food-safe inks must be used. So this is the highlight that contributes to and justifies the point that paper placemats are eco-friendly and safe for human contact.

How to Verify the Sustainability of Paper Placemats?

First of all to make an informed decision you should choose a trusted partner who offers the best paper mats and whose manufacturing process is transparent. So make sure to check the points below that will help you believe in the quality of the paper placemats.

  • Only choose the placemats that are made from 100% recycled paper helps reduce the need for cutting down trees. And along will complete your needs as well.
  • Make sure to check the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification to ensure that the paper comes from responsibly managed forests.
  • Select uncoated or lightly coated placemats that can easily be composted or recycled for the ease of customers.
  • On the other hand if you buy the plastic or wax coatings then this will make them water-resistant. But not a good fit for sustainability.
  • Instead you can go for the soy based or water based inks which are safer for the environment compared to petroleum-based inks.

If all these boxes are checked, you can rest assured that your paper placemats are eco-friendly.

Branding is Made Easier with the Customized Paper Placemats

For food businesses advertising is very important. So what if we tell you that these eco-friendly paper placemats come with branding opportunities as well? For instance if you buy custom paper placemats then you can utilize them for the menu, kids’ games, and more. Plus, there is enough space on the placemats that ensure you get an area for logo printing for your food supply business such as restaurants, cafes, pizza shops, and more as well.

Words to Conclude

If you just made up your mind to buy paper placemats for your restaurant or any other food brand and got confused about whether they are really eco-friendly, the answer is that they can be, depending on how they are made and disposed of. But when sourced from recycled or FSC-certified paper and printed with eco-friendly inks, paper placemats are a far better option.