Edible Cutlery

Edible cutlery is an item made from food substances like wheat bran, rice, and cornstarch to phase out non-biodegradable plastic cutlery. These utensils are edible once used or readily biodegradable thus environmentally friendly. They are commonly found in restaurants, functions, or homes as they are biodegradable. Good knives are reusable and using degradable materials like edible forks and knives directly contributes to promoting the no-plastic culture.

The Edible Cutlery Market is expected to grow with a significant CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast period (2024-2032). The growth of the edible cutlery market is due to a rise in consciousness of the conservation of the natural environments and the trend towards the usage of non-recyclable materials for consumer goods. Legal requirements demanding at least a reduction of plastic waste also prompt the use of more environmentally friendly materials. Moreover, consumer preferences for products that have minimal packaging and are eco-friendly continue to drive more growth in the market.

• Based on the product type, the market is segmented into spoons, forks, knives, sporks, straws, and others. Spoons held a dominant share of the market in 2023 because spoons are the most consumed utensils akin to food types including soups, desserts, and beverages. Its versatility in everyday foods makes it a popular commodity suitable for use at homes and business establishments. Adding to this, improvement in the flavored and reusable edible spoons enhances consumers' taste. The plastic spoons used for serving food are now being replaced by edible spoons for both restaurants and catering services. For instance, on February 2, 2022, incrEDIBLE Eats, the world's only plant-based edible cutlery brand, announced it showcase its flagship line of edible spoons and debut two new collections— edible sporks and edible straws at the 2022 Winter Fancy Food Show, which runs February 6-8, 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
• Based on raw material, the market is segmented into wheat bran, rice bran, cornstarch, and others. Wheat bran is expected to grow with a significant CAGR during the forecast period (2024-2032). Wheat bran is the most common material in edible cutlery since it is a fiber, ecological, and convenient for molding. Such benefits include the biodegradable nature of the material as well as nutrients that must be recommended to environmentally conscious consumers. Also, being economical to use compared to other materials is also another factor that makes manufacturers embrace its use.
• Based on the application, the market is segmented into residential, and commercial. The residential is expected to grow with a significant CAGR during the forecast period (2024-2032). This is because more consumers are becoming conscious of daily dining choices that are environment-friendly. Households are teaching their families to put an emphasis on the preservation of the environment and are choosing edible cutleries. As a result of that, the easily-carried nature of edible cutlery in events such as parties or picnics is also appealing to the community. This segment is courted by manufacturers with cheap and generic products that increase penetration into consumers’ households.
• Based on the distribution channel, the market is segmented into online, and offline. The online held a dominant share of the market in 2023. The online segment supports the key growth driver that such products can be easily availed by consumers through e-commerce platforms. It directly sells products to the consumer and expands market coverage, particularly in places where products are not often available physically. Moreover, manufacturers can also offer options for customization through online channels and, at the same time, provide information on certifications, hence increasing the credibility of a product.
• For a better understanding of the market adoption of Edible Cutlery, the market is analyzed based on its worldwide presence in countries such as North America (U.S., Canada, and the Rest of North America), Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Spain, Italy, Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of Asia-Pacific), Rest of World. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow with a significant CAGR during the forecast period (2024-2032). This region plays a major role in the development of the edible cutlery market due to its growing importance of environmentalism and the growing problem of waste disposal in growing economies such as India and China. This has led to a need for sustainable products since the region is already urbanized and has experienced vast expansion of the food service industry. Moreover, technological advancement and availability of cheap and environmentally friendly products ensure edible cutleries attract a larger customer base. The escalating political support for environmentally friendly policies in numerous cities also drives the market.
• Some of the major players operating in the market include EDIBLE CUTLERY; incrEDIBLE eats inc.; FRENVI GmbH; ecobiteskw.com; Spoontainable; Greenauraco; Wisefood GmbH; FlavorFulz a DBA of Charlton Becker Catering; Mede Cutlery Company; Ecolery.