Biodegradable Cutlery Market– Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product Type (Spoon, Knife, Fork, Plates, and Others), By Raw Material (Wood, Husk, Paper, Plastic, and Others), By End User (Hotels, Hospitals, Restaurants, Catering Services, and Others), By Distribution Channel (Offline Vs. Online), By Region, By Competition 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 48.57 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.41%
Fastest Growing Segment	Plates
Largest Market	Europe
Market Size (2031)	USD 74.58 Million

Market Overview

The Global Biodegradable Cutlery Market will grow from USD 48.57 Million in 2025 to USD 74.58 Million by 2031 at a 7.41% CAGR. Biodegradable cutlery encompasses compostable utensils manufactured from renewable resources such as cornstarch, wood, and bamboo that naturally decompose into organic matter. The market is primarily propelled by rigorous government mandates prohibiting disposable plastics and a simultaneous gravitation of consumers toward environmentally responsible dining options. According to European Bioplastics, in 2024, the packaging segment accounted for 1.12 million tonnes of the global bioplastics market, underscoring the substantial industrial scale accessible for sustainable food service applications.

However, a significant impediment to broader market expansion involves the elevated production costs of these organic materials compared to conventional petroleum derived polymers. This price disparity creates a financial challenge for businesses operating with thin margins and could severely restrict product adoption in price driven market segments.

Key Market Drivers

The implementation of stringent government regulations banning single-use plastics acts as the foremost catalyst for the biodegradable cutlery market. Legislative bodies globally are aggressively phasing out petrochemical-based disposables to curb pollution, directly necessitating a mass transition to compostable alternatives. According to Waste Mission, May 2024, in the 'The Single-Use Plastics Ban – What Does It Mean For Business?' article, before the full enforcement of recent restrictions, England alone utilized approximately 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery annually, creating an immense volume gap that organic substitutes must now bridge. To accommodate this legislative shift and the resulting surge in material demand, manufacturers are significantly ramping up output capabilities. According to European Bioplastics, in 2024, the total global bioplastics production capacity expanded to 2.47 million tonnes, ensuring sufficient material supply to meet the compliance standards of these new legal frameworks.

Simultaneously, the rapid growth of the online food delivery and takeaway service sector provides a critical commercial channel for product adoption. As order volumes surge, major food aggregators and delivery platforms are implementing sustainability mandates to align with ESG goals and mitigate the environmental impact of packaging waste. According to Zomato, August 2024, in the 'Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report FY24', the platform's specific interventions prevented 933 metric tonnes of cutlery waste, a statistic that underscores the massive physical scale of utensils flowing through delivery networks. This high usage rate compels delivery services to replace remaining necessary disposables with biodegradable options, thereby guaranteeing consistent, high-volume orders for manufacturers of cornstarch and bamboo-based utensils to serve this expanding market segment.

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Key Market Challenges

The primary obstacle impeding the Global Biodegradable Cutlery Market is the substantial production cost differential between renewable organic materials and conventional petroleum-based polymers. Unlike traditional plastics, which benefit from decades of infrastructure optimization and massive economies of scale, the biodegradable sector operates on a comparatively microscopic industrial footprint. This lack of scale prevents manufacturers from achieving the low unit costs necessary to compete effectively in price-sensitive volume markets, forcing them to price their utensils significantly higher than standard plastic alternatives.

This volume disparity is statistically evident and underscores the supply constraints facing the industry. According to European Bioplastics, in 2024, the global bioplastics production capacity stood at approximately 2.47 million tonnes, representing only a minute fraction of the total global plastic production. Such limited capacity means that raw materials for biodegradable cutlery remain a premium commodity rather than a bulk staple. Consequently, businesses operating with tight profit margins, such as fast-food chains and large-scale catering services, often find the price premium prohibitive. This financial barrier effectively confines biodegradable cutlery to niche, eco-conscious consumer segments, thereby hampering widespread adoption across the broader mass market.

Key Market Trends

The expansion of biodegradable options in aviation catering represents a critical market shift as carriers aggressively replace single-use plastics with sustainable alternatives like bamboo and birchwood. This sector-wide transition is driven by the need to mitigate the colossal volume of waste generated during flights while complying with international environmental standards. Airlines are increasingly selecting compostable service ware to lower their carbon footprint and meet the expectations of eco-conscious travelers. According to the International Flight Services Association (IFSA), April 2025, in the 'The Future of In-Flight Cutlery' article, IATA audits estimate that airlines produced approximately 3.6 million tons of cabin waste in 2023, a figure that has accelerated the industry's adoption of compostable utensils to reduce landfill contributions.

Simultaneously, the utilization of agricultural by-products for material sourcing is redefining production methodologies to enhance circular economy principles. Manufacturers are increasingly valorizing residues such as rice husk, wheat bran, and sugarcane bagasse, thereby decoupling raw material sourcing from primary food crops like corn. This innovation reduces the reliance on virgin feedstocks and repurposes waste that would otherwise be discarded. This trend was exemplified when, according to Telangana Today, December 2024, in the 'Greenworks Bio launches next generation of Polymers' article, Greenworks Bio introduced a new line of compostable cutlery derived specifically from renewable starch and agricultural waste to offer a scalable alternative to conventional polymers.

Segmental Insights

The Plates segment is currently recognized as the fastest-growing category within the Global Biodegradable Cutlery Market, primarily driven by the enforcement of rigorous international environmental mandates. Notably, the European Union’s Single-Use Plastics Directive has implemented bans on single-use plastic plates, necessitating a widespread industry transition toward compostable substitutes. This rapid expansion is further propelled by the booming commercial catering and food delivery sectors, which increasingly require durable, eco-friendly plates made from materials like bagasse and bamboo. Consequently, the segment is expanding as businesses align with sustainability compliance and consumer demand for responsible dining solutions.

Regional Insights

Europe leads the global biodegradable cutlery market primarily due to the stringent enforcement of the Single-Use Plastics Directive by the European Union. This legislative framework bans specific single-use plastic items, directly forcing a market-wide transition toward compostable and plant-based alternatives. Manufacturers have aligned their production strategies with these mandates to maintain compliance and meet rising commercial demand. Additionally, the region benefits from advanced waste management systems that support the effective composting of biodegradable materials, thereby reinforcing the practical viability and widespread adoption of sustainable cutlery solutions.

Recent Developments

• In March 2025, Fiberdom entered into a retail partnership with S Group to expand the availability of its plastic-free cutlery across Finland. Through this collaboration, the company’s range of home-compostable spoons, forks, and knives, made from FSC-certified wood fiber, became available in S Group stores nationwide. The partnership focuses on providing consumers with a high-performance, sustainable alternative to conventional disposable utensils, complying with strict European regulations regarding single-use plastics and supporting the retailer’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
• In January 2025, Corn Next officially launched CornNext-17, a breakthrough bio-based material derived from renewable corn starch designed to replace traditional plastics in cutlery and other applications. This new material utilizes a patented fermentation process to create a fully biodegradable product that decomposes within 30 days in natural environments while retaining the necessary mechanical properties for durability. The company released a white paper alongside the launch, highlighting the material's potential to eliminate microplastics and support global sustainability initiatives in the foodservice industry.
• In January 2025, Koovee, a Marseille-based manufacturer of edible cutlery, announced a strategic partnership with the French supermarket giant Carrefour. This collaboration involves the distribution of Koovee’s durable, wheat-flour-based forks and spoons in approximately 600 Carrefour stores across France. The initiative aims to offer consumers a practical, waste-free alternative to single-use plastics, aligning with the retailer's broader environmental goals and the increasing consumer preference for eco-friendly dining options in the European market.
• In June 2024, Crunch Cutlery, a Singapore-based startup, unveiled a new compact automated machine for producing edible cutlery at the Speciality Food & Drinks Asia event. The company introduced a satellite manufacturing model, intending to ship these compact machines to local sites rather than exporting finished products, thereby reducing transportation emissions and breakage risks. This innovation allows for the on-site production of spoons made from ingredients like chia, buckwheat, and jowar, catering to the growing demand for sustainable, zero-waste dining solutions in the region.

Key Market Players

• Blasso, LLC
• Greenwood (Dalian) Industrial Co., Ltd.
• BeGreen Packaging, LLC
• Aevia Ideas, Inc.
• WoodAble
• Greenprint
• WorldCentric
• Papelyco
• Ecoware Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
• Biopac UK Ltd.

By Product Type	By Raw Material	By End User	By Distribution Channel	By Region
Spoon Knife Fork Plates and Others	Wood Husk Paper Plastic and Others	Hotels Hospitals Restaurants Catering Services and Others	Offline Vs. Online	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Biodegradable Cutlery Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Biodegradable Cutlery Market, By Product Type:

• Spoon
• Knife
• Fork
• Plates
• and Others

• Biodegradable Cutlery Market, By Raw Material:

• Wood
• Husk
• Paper
• Plastic
• and Others

• Biodegradable Cutlery Market, By End User:

• Hotels
• Hospitals
• Restaurants
• Catering Services
• and Others

• Biodegradable Cutlery Market, By Distribution Channel:

• Offline Vs. Online

• Biodegradable Cutlery Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE