Peelware introduces peelable layers of paper plates
No more washing as Peelware introduces its peelable layers of paper plates that break down without additional waste as single-use dishware. The goal of the project is to reduce waste from normal disposable plates and to offer a plate that can be used many times before it is thrown away. The design team created a plate with several thin paper layers that can be peeled one by one, removing the need to wash plates and reducing the number of plates that must be thrown away after meals. Each plate includes 20 layers in total, with the bottom five layers staying together and forming the base of the plate. The top fifteen layers are made to be peeled off, so when a person finishes eating, they pull the surface away and under it reveals another clean layer for them to eat on.
Peelware’s peelable paper plates are made from natural materials, such as wood pulp and sugarcane bagasse. These materials come from plants, and both can break down in the environment. The plates do not use plastic, glue, dyes, coatings, or chemical treatments, and the surface of each plate uses a plant-based waterproof layer so users can put liquid and sauces on it without tearing the disposable dishware apart. This coating is safe for food contact and prevents liquids from soaking into the paper. Because the plates use only plant fibers and a plant-based coating, every layer is biodegradable and compostable, and after use, each peeled layer can go into compost facilities or regular waste, making Peelware’s peelable paper plates easier to recycle than other conventional plates.
all images courtesy of Peelware
Stacks of paper pressed and shaped with heat and pressure
The way Peelware’s peelable paper plates are made is a design highlight. The material is pressed and shaped with heat and pressure instead of glues or other chemical bonds, and the thin paper sheets are stacked, aligned, and compressed to create multiple layers that remain stable during use. It is the fibers in the paper that bind the materials during the compression stage, allowing each plate to separate cleanly when a layer is peeled. The use of natural and plant materials has other benefits in producing Peelware’s peelable paper plates.
Since the team focuses on repeated use, the five base layers can support meals such as cooked dishes, liquids, and sauces, and the plate can go into the microwave for short heating. One Peel Plate replaces 15 single-use plates, so a person or family needs fewer plates per week or per month. For example, a pack of 10 Peel Plates offers 150 uses, and a yearly supply of plates uses far less material than the same amount of single-use plates. Peelware is expanding the design of its peelable paper plates into other products by developing peelable bowls, cups, and containers. These products use the same idea: multiple layers that can be peeled to give a clean surface. So far, only the peelable paper plates are available, with Peelware expecting the full collection release by 2026.
Peelware introduces its peelable layers of paper plates that break down without additional waste
the goal of the project is to reduce waste from normal disposable plates
each plate includes 20 layers in total, with the bottom five layers forming the base of the plate
a pack of 10 Peel Plates offers 150 uses
Peelware plans to release its full collection by 2026
project info:
name: Peel Plate
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