Frequently asked questions

Our bowls are made out of an innovative material called Wood Plastic Composite (WPC). The material combines sawdust or other organic material like flax, rice hulls or coconut shells, with safe, certified plastic polymers. The result is a product that is more substantial, durable and wood-like than products made from 100 percent plastic. In fact WPC is so durable it is commonly used as decking, as the material produces the look and feel of real lumber.

The sawdust we use is recovered from U.S. furniture manufacturers. Instead of being incinerated and contributing to CO2 emissions, we're giving it new life in our bowls!

Maple Origins partners with a plastic injection molding manufacturer in Connecticut with more than 40 years of experience producing high quality, precision parts for the healthcare, automotive and aerospace industries. We are bringing the best qualities of WPC to bowls and all other products we manufacture for any market.

No. We NEVER use paint. We derive our color through the use of strictly tested and certified colorants that are molded in during the production process. Our colors are NOT sprayed or painted on to the material, so they will never flake, peel or smudge.

Yes. Our products have been tested and approved through the NSF certification process as food service safe, so they are widely used by gourmet stores, grocery stores and restaurants to serve food.

Yes. All Maple Origins products are top-shelf dishwasher safe. Any regularly available dishwasher detergent can be used. Alternatively, Maple Origins products can be hand-washed. Hot or Warm water is recommended for a hand washing process.

No. We do not recommend microwave cooking in our products since they contain real maple wood. It is best to treat them as any wooden bowl.

Maple Origins products are made for cold or warm foods. They are not for the microwave.

Most difficult stains can be cleaned with a mixture of standard dish soap and kosher salt or baking soda by hand. Simply add a splash of white vinegar to this mixture and scrub as you would any normal vessel. Please do not use stainless steel or copper scrub pads, these will definitely scratch our product. Please keep in mind that some sauces, like tomato, may stain our products.

Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) can be recycled with other WPCs and re-used, but because it's so new, most localities have not set up a recycling stream for this material. As more WPC decking and building supplies come on the market, this will change, but for right now, the best way to recycle Maple Origins products is to give it a second life by donating it to someone who can use it.

Not yet. Sustainability is a journey, and we are only at the beginning. When we did our Kickstarter Program, we had to use a WPC that was made with virgin (new) plastic and recycled sawdust. We have tested a fully recycled WPC formulation, but we are not satisfied with the results to move it into full production.

We are working with various suppliers to manufacture and bring fully recycled products to market, but in the meantime we need to go with the safest, cleanest products we can buy. New types of recycled materials are coming out all the time as more consumers demand sustainable products. We expect to find new ways to take advantage of the innovations that are already in the pipeline.

We set out to create a better bowl. A fun bowl. A safe bowl. The only way to ensure safety is to use the highest quality materials available, and manufacture our products here in Connecticut, where production is monitored and tested every step of the way. Because of that, we know the material content of our products down to the fraction of a percent.

Furthermore, manufacturing jobs are important to the basic health of our economy. By employing Americans at fair wages, we can harness the superior productivity and quality that Americans bring to a job while making high quality products at competitive prices. Designers, toolmakers, injection molders, testing labs, packaging manufacturers, it's a big list but we are doing our part to provide job opportunities for Americans. Everyone involved is paid a living wage and works in an ethical environment. Quality, safety and American jobs sounds like a win-win to us!

We ship to the continental United States only for now.

We make and fill every order in house at our headquarters in Connecticut. Orders ship within 48 business hours, except in unforeseen situations such as inclement weather.

Please call or email to contact us with any issue and we do our best to help! Call (860) 628-4736 or email MOSupport@MapleOrigins.com.

Yes. We have a network of field sales reps across the USA. Contact our office and we'll connect you with the closest rep in your area. In most cases they're happy to come to your store to show you samples of our full range of colors and sizes. You can also order our products on Faire.