Replace plastic cutlery with bamboo

Green queen: Bamboo cutlery sets are an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic.

Use less plastic with To-Go Ware's bamboo cutlery from Ekotribe.

Have you ever tried to eat a salad with a plastic fork? It is next to impossible, and certainly not enjoyable. Not only are these inferior utensils my personal pet peeve, they mark yet another drain on the environment. It has been estimated that each year Americans throw out enough of this cutlery (along with paper bags and plastic cups) to circle the equator 300 times. One can only imagine how much is produced in the UAE.

I keep a proper fork, knife and spoon in my desk drawer so I can avoid the plastic ones, but this is not the greatest option for kids and carting items to and fro. Ekotribe (www.thegreenecostore.com) offers a lovely solution: reusable utensils made from bamboo. The durable and renewable grass creates products that are both lightweight and strong. The company uses a natural, vegan, food-safe sealant, meaning the finished product doesn't stain or absorb food flavours. The cutlery can be hand washed with soap and water or tossed in the dishwasher.

Not only is the cutlery itself cool, but the sets come in one of two eco-friendly holders. To-Go Ware's RePEat Utensil holder is a snazzy carrying case made out of recycled plastic bottles available in five colours. The cotton holders are produced by Weave, a project for Burmese refugee women. Both are Dh55 per set.