Cutting down plastic pollution with edible bowls

Only nine per cent of all plastic ever produced has been recycled; 12 per cent has been incinerated and 79 per cent has ended up in landfill or the natural environment. Global production of plastic waste is about 300 million tonnes every year, almost equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. Plastic waste related to food and beverages – including plastic bottles, bags, straws, wrappers, cups and utensils – are a significant portion of this total.

To help reverse our habits of buying and disposing of single-use plastics, which take decades or even centuries to decompose, Expo 2020 Dubai’s Expo Live programme has selected Munch Bowls as one of its Global Innovators. The South Africa-based company has created edible, healthy and durable food bowls that maintain the convenience of plastic, but without the problem of waste. It aims to reduce the global carbon footprint by partnering with the takeaway and fast-food industry, as well as the catering and hospitality industry.

Riding on the global momentum of the growing restrictions of single-use plastics, Munch Bowls is active in several countries around the world and hopes to expand to others, with plans to develop other types of edible crockery and cutlery, including Munch Spoons, Munch Cups and Munch Chopsticks. Expo Live’s support will help Munch Bowls catalyse its expansion and combat plastic waste one bowl, cup or chopstick at a time.

The Expo 2020 Dubai Innovation Series is a weekly blog series highlighting some of the creative and world-changing innovations that are being showcased via Expo 2020 Dubai’s programmes and pavilions.