What Is Wood Plastic Composite Dinnerware, and Is It Safe to Eat From?
Wood plastic composite (WPC) dinnerware is made by combining wood fiber or sawdust with plastic and molding the mix into bowls, plates and utensils. It looks and feels more like wood than plain plastic and holds up better to everyday use than a carved wooden bowl. Whether a given piece is safe to eat from depends on the materials and on following its maker's care instructions, so look for a company that tells you plainly what it uses.
Maple Origins makes WPC bowls, plates, a party tray and serving utensils in Southington, Connecticut. Our material combines recycled maple wood with plastic, and we have been a family-owned manufacturer there since 1972.
What is composite wood made of?
"Composite wood" is a broad term. In construction it covers products like particleboard and engineered wood, where wood fibers are glued together. Wood plastic composite is a specific type, where wood fiber is held in a plastic binder instead of glue.
The wood part is usually sawdust or fine wood fiber. Some WPCs use other plant material instead, such as flax, rice hulls or coconut shells. The plastic part binds the fibers together and gives the finished piece its shape and strength.
For Maple Origins, the wood is maple sawdust recovered from U.S. furniture manufacturers. Rather than being burned as waste, it becomes part of our bowls.
How is WPC made?
The basic steps are the same across most WPC products:
- Wood fiber is dried and mixed with plastic and any colorants.
- The mix is heated until the plastic softens and coats the fibers.
- It is shaped, either pushed through a profile (common for decking boards) or injected into a mold (common for smaller, detailed parts).
- The piece cools and hardens in its final shape.
Our pieces are injection molded. That is the same process our family has used since the company started in 1972 with a single plastic injection molding machine, making parts for the automotive, appliance and medical industries before we created our own household line.
Color is added during molding. We never use paint: our colors come from tested and certified colorants molded into the material, so they will not flake, peel or smudge. That is how each piece comes in the same 17 colors, from Driftwood and Oatmeal to Teal and Watermelon.
What does WPC stand for in construction?
WPC stands for wood plastic composite in construction too, and that is where most people meet it first. It is widely used for decking because it gives the look and feel of real lumber while standing up to weather. Dinnerware uses the same idea at a smaller scale, which is why WPC bowls feel more substantial than all-plastic ones.
Is wood plastic composite dinnerware safe to eat from?
It can be, and the details matter. WPC is a family of materials rather than one recipe, so safety depends on which plastic, colorants and additives a maker uses, how carefully it is produced, and whether you use it as directed.
When you look at any WPC dish, these are fair questions to ask:
- What is it made of? A good maker names the wood or fiber and describes the plastic.
- Where is it made, and by whom? Knowing the factory makes it easier to get a straight answer.
- Is the color molded in or applied on top? A painted or sprayed coating can wear off with use.
- What are the care limits? Many WPC pieces are not microwave safe. Follow the maker's dishwasher, microwave and temperature guidance.
- Is it bamboo bound with melamine resin? That is a different material from wood plastic composite, often sold as "bamboo dinnerware", and it comes with its own care limits.
Maple Origins answers them this way. Our material is recycled maple wood combined with plastic, described on our pages as food-safe plastic. We make every piece in Connecticut, where production is monitored and tested every step of the way, and we know the material content of our products down to the fraction of a percent. Our colors are molded into the material. And our care limits are simple: top-shelf dishwasher safe, cold or warm foods, and no microwave. Full answers are on our FAQ and care guide.
Are wood plates good?
Solid wooden plates and bowls are lovely to serve from, but they ask more of you: hand washing, drying right away, occasional oiling, and no soaking. WPC sits between wood and plastic. For an everyday kitchen, the three compare like this:
- Solid wood: natural grain and warmth. Hand-wash only, needs oiling, can crack or warp if soaked or overheated, and stays out of the microwave.
- Plain plastic: light and inexpensive. Can feel thin, often scratches and stains, and care rules vary widely.
- Wood plastic composite: a wood-like look with more weight and sturdiness than plastic. Care depends on the maker. Maple Origins pieces are top-shelf dishwasher safe and not for the microwave.
The right one depends on how you cook and clean. If your bowls go through the dishwasher every night and get carried out to the patio on weekends, a composite like ours saves you the upkeep of solid wood.
Is WPC dinnerware 100 percent recycled?
Ours is not, yet. Our bowls use recycled maple sawdust, but they are not made from 100 percent recycled material. Our team has tested a fully recycled WPC formulation, but we were not satisfied with the results and have not moved it into production. We are working with suppliers on it, and in the meantime we use the safest, cleanest materials we can buy.
We say this plainly because "recycled" on a label can mean very different things. Ask any maker which part of the product is recycled.
Can you recycle WPC dinnerware?
WPC can be recycled with other WPCs and reused, but most towns have not set up a recycling stream for it yet. Until that changes, the best way to give a Maple Origins piece a second life is to pass it on to someone who can use it.
Frequently asked questions
Does WPC dinnerware stain?
Some sauces, like tomato, may stain our products. Most stains come out with dish soap, kosher salt or baking soda and a splash of white vinegar, scrubbed by hand. Avoid stainless steel and copper scrub pads, which will scratch the surface.
Will WPC scratch?
Sharp metal utensils can scratch our products, just as they would any wooden piece. Serve with wooden, composite or other non-sharp utensils, like our Serving Fork and Spoon.
Can WPC bowls go in the microwave?
Many cannot. Maple Origins pieces contain real maple wood, so we do not recommend microwave use.
Why is it heavier than a plastic bowl?
The wood fiber adds body. Our 5-quart Salad Bowl weighs about a pound, which helps it sit steady on the table.
Where are Maple Origins pieces made?
In Southington, Connecticut. Our family founded the company there in 1972, and we make and fill every order in house at our headquarters in Connecticut.
Choosing your first WPC pieces
Read the maker's material and care information before you buy, and pick a company that answers the questions above in plain words. If you want to see ours in person, a Cereal Bowl is the easiest place to start, and the bowl and serving sets come in solid colors and three-color seasonal mixes.
