One of the main reasons people opt to have disposables dishware at an event is to cut costs. Disposables dishes (aka: plastics) can be an attractive alternative when you’re looking to stick within a budget during event planning. These days there are many types and styles of disposable dishware available, so you can pretty much guarantee you’ll find something that fits your event theme and looks stylish. One thing to consider with disposables dishes is that, while they may be less expensive than china, they can be “harder” on the environment. There are alternatives to plastic dishware, such as bamboo or other biodegradable materials. However, with materials such as bamboo, the disposable dishware option will end up not being an inexpensive choice in comparison to china.
China will probably always remain the first choice for events because it presents well on a table and feels substantial in guests’ hands. China dishware obviously generates less waste for the event, which could be an important factor if the event waste has to be transported to a different location after the event ends. However, if there is no running water at the event site, then the china may have to be transported to another location to clean it. Or, water may have to be brought on-site in order to wash the dishes, which could increase the cost of having china for the event.
If the effects on the environment are something you want to take into consideration with your event, then china dishware or biodegradable disposables are a good choice but you’ll have to look to other event categories to find places to decrease cost. If the only category you can cut costs in is the dishware, then traditional plastic disposables may be the way to go for you. And hey, if you’re hosting a backyard BBQ event, then paper disposables can be a good option too!