Plastic vs. Metal Cutlery: Which Fits Your Needs?

As a US catering, banquet and takeaway service provider, choosing the right cutlery not only affects the customer experience, but is also directly related to operating costs and compliance risks. In 2025, more and more catering wholesalers and event planners began to choose plastic cutlery sets. Compared with traditional metal cutlery, plastic cutlery has the advantages of low cost, high efficiency and environmentally friendly optional materials.

Obvious cost advantage: plastic cutlery helps you save up to 65% of cutlery costs

According to the latest report from the National Restaurant Association, the average fast food restaurant spends more than $12,000 per year on tableware procurement and maintenance, while choosing a plastic cutlery set can reduce the overall cost to about $4,200.

The unit price of plastic cutlery sets is generally between $0.05 and $0.20, which is suitable for bulk purchases;
Metal cutlery has a high initial investment and requires regular maintenance and replacement, with an average annual maintenance cost of more than $3,000;
Disposable plastic cutlery for parties provides great convenience, no need for cleaning and maintenance, and reduces labor costs and water and electricity expenses.

For takeaway and fast food operators in the US market, plastic cutlery sets not only reduce procurement costs but also improve operational efficiency.

Usage scenarios: plastic cutlery sets meet customer needs for events

In the United States, wedding receptions, corporate parties, community events, and outdoor festivals have a strong demand for high-quality plastic cutlery sets.

Plastic cutlery sets are not only light and durable, but can also meet brand promotion needs through customized printing, helping wholesalers and event planners improve customer experience.

In response to the demand for eco-friendly disposable cutlery for weddings, Bestluck provides two environmentally friendly material options: PP recyclable and PLA degradable, ensuring compliance with green regulations in California, New York and other places, and meeting customers’ expectations for environmental protection.

Metal cutlery is more used in dine-in environments and is not suitable for large-scale takeout and disposable occasions.

Hygiene and safety, in line with US market standards under normal epidemic conditions

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that the catering industry needs to strictly control the risk of cross-infection. The single use and independent packaging of plastic cutlery set greatly reduce the possibility of germ transmission.

Avoid the risk of cross-contamination of washing utensils;
No additional disinfection equipment and manpower are required;
Meet the catering hygiene regulations of various states in the United States, especially during the epidemic prevention and control period.

Environmental regulations: The trend of green transformation of plastic tableware in the United States is obvious

Several states in the United States, such as California and New York, have successively issued regulations to restrict disposable plastic products. However, market demand drives plastic tableware to develop in the direction of environmentally friendly and degradable:

The plastic tableware supplied by Bestluck uses PP recyclable material and PLA biodegradable material, which meets the US ASTM D6400 standard;
Green certification and environmental labels have become the key for catering brands to win the trust of consumers;
Choosing environmentally friendly plastic cutlery set is both compliant and enhances corporate image.

According to data from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the demand for degradable plastic tableware products increased by about 38% in 2024.

Why do American catering operators prefer Plastic Cutlery Set in 2025?

In the four dimensions of cost control, flexible application, health and safety, and environmental compliance, plastic cutlery set has shown strong advantages. Especially in the United States, with the continued prosperity of takeout, fast food and outdoor activities, plastic tableware has become an ideal choice for catering companies to achieve efficient operations and brand upgrades.

As a professional disposable tableware manufacturer, Bestluck provides American and global customers with:

High-quality customized plastic tableware sets
Multiple environmentally friendly material options (PP is recyclable, PLA is biodegradable)
Fast delivery and nationwide logistics support
Exclusive customer service and free sample experience