In recent years, with the continuous rise in global environmental awareness, the market for degradable tableware has experienced explosive growth. Wheat tableware, with its core advantages such as natural raw materials and efficient degradation, has become the focus of the industry.
Wheat tableware is an eco-friendly tableware made from wheat straw, usually disposable or reusable. Wheat straw is processed through shredding, decomposition, pulping and other procedures, and then starch, plant binder and food-grade polypropylene (PP) are added to make it. This type of tableware is degradable and will not cause soil pollution after use, meeting environmental protection requirements. At the same time, as a typical example of agricultural waste recycling, each ton of wheat straw can produce about 800 kilograms of tableware, effectively solving the pollution problem caused by straw burning.
Policies and consumer demand in the European and American markets form a dual drive. In the plastic ban implemented in California, USA, in 2023, wheat tableware was explicitly listed as a priority procurement category. The local coffee chain brand Starbucks fully implemented wheat fiber cup lids in its stores in the state, reducing plastic waste emissions by 35%. According to data from the US Environmental Protection Agency, in 2024, wheat products accounted for 41% of the federal government’s procurement of degradable tableware, driving a year-on-year increase of 37% to $1.2 billion in market size.
The maturity of the market in Europe is more representative. In the four years since the implementation of the EU’s “Single-Use Plastics Directive”, the penetration rate of wheat-based tableware in the catering packaging market has risen from 12% to 38%. Since the wheat fiber deli containers from Aldi in Germany were launched three years ago, they have reduced plastic usage by over 2,000 tons. Due to their “microwave-safe” feature, these products have consistently ranked first in sales among eco-friendly packaging categories. Biotrem’s wheat bran tableware in Poland has not only passed the EU compost certification but also solved the problem of leakage common in traditional straw products through its unique waterproof coating technology. Its market share in Northern Europe has reached 29%. France’s “Eco-Label” system has established strict degradation standards. Among the wheat-based tableware used in Parisian restaurants, 92% have passed this certification. Consumer surveys show that 76% of French people are willing to pay a 10%-15% premium for eco-friendly tableware.
The core challenge facing the industry at present lies in cost control. The production raw material cost of wheat tableware is 30% higher than that of ordinary plastic. However, with the breakthrough in biopharmaceutical technology, it is expected that the cost will decrease by 15% by 2026. Against the backdrop of the escalating “plastic ban” globally, wheat tableware is transitioning from being an environmentally friendly choice to a rigid market demand, with the potential to occupy over 25% of the disposable tableware market in the next five years.
Post time: Aug-13-2025