Waste, pollution, environmental issues and climate consequences are on everyone’s lips. Attention to the environment is not a trend, but a philosophy of life and also of business. Values that are also important to restaurant professionals for increasingly conscious management of food and organization.
There is much consideration, first of all, toward food waste, which in Italy amounts to 75 grams of food per day in 2022, down, fortunately, by 12 percent from the previous year. The Ho.Re.Ca. sector accounts for about 17 percent of global food waste, and in Italy in particular, the latest figures report more than 660 liters of weekly waste. However, virtuous examples are on the rise, such as taking home what is not consumed, while striving to purchase km0 products, focusing on quality that can avoid further waste and discards.
There is another way to contribute to the health of the environment and thus of everyone, an opportunity not to nullify the determination to reduce food waste: using environmentally sustainable tableware that can also contribute to a presentation that stands out for class and elegance.
MPS porcelain is an elegant and environmentally friendly material
Why porcelain tableware is environmentally sustainable
As awareness of our ecological footprint grows, the evaluation of tableware for restaurateurs becomes truly decisive. Prioritizing a sustainable choice is not only about values, but also about profitability, since the benefits of one material in particular, porcelain, are many. Let’s find out why this is a truly cost-effective option.
1. Natural raw materials: zero environmental impact
Porcelain is made from natural raw materials and is derived from clay. Our wares are created from a mixture of feldspathic porcelain composed of top-quality feldspar, quartz and kaolin, carefully selected from the best suppliers, including the renowned French site of Limoges. Clay gives plasticity for working, while feldspar provides hardness and strength. Precisely because these are natural raw materials, they are easy to recycle and reuse, with no impact on the environment. At the same time, the use of clay and minerals does not involve the exploitation of natural resources, protecting the environment in this way as well.
The process of making porcelain has a reduced environmental impact: we use industrial and manual methodologies that not only aim to ensure the best end product, but also an eco-sustainable quality. Processing natural raw materials is a great place to start, but the green philosophy must be followed throughout the production, processing and distribution chain. Unlike other tableware materials, such as plastic, no chemicals are used. MPS Porcellane has also always been committed to ensuring the absence of lead and cadmium in the cover glass, along with certification from ICQ confirming the safety of our porcelain tableware for food use.
Ours is a simple production, which does not involve the use of excessive combinations of materials, but focuses on quality and workmanship done with manual precision. Similarly, even in the kitchen, it is often simplicity that is most appreciated. If you feel the same way, we recommend you choose our Simple line: essential lines form the basis for the most original and modern creativity. A versatile collection of oval plates and baskets, salad bowls, and fish plates that feature a clean, light design that leaves room for refined foods by putting them in the foreground and accompanying them in a sublime presentation.
Essentiality that highlights the chefs’ creations, Simple line
2. The durability of porcelain for less waste
A noble material that gives rise to elegant and refined creations: porcelain has always been synonymous with aesthetics. But it is no longer about fragile items like grandmothers’ tea sets. The exquisiteness remains unchanged, but MPS porcelain items are strong and durable. This translates into a significant decrease in waste and scrap. While it is true that a disposable tableware, such as a plastic plate may be, does not consume water for washing, it is necessary to consider the significant impact of its production, which not only uses water but also trees and forests.
It is firing at high temperatures that makes porcelain more resistant. This is why porcelain kitchen and tableware from MPS can be used in the oven and even in the microwave. Its texture and the raw materials used then make this material stronger and more durable than ceramic and, especially, plastic. The smooth, pore-free surface does not absorb water – the absorption of our products is less than 0.01% – nor odors and fats, thus not even slightly changing the flavors and taste of the prepared dish. A mechanical strength of 550-600 kg/cm2, and a mohs hardness of 7/8 make MPS porcelain dishes and containers more durable, sturdy and resistant to scratches and the wear and tear dictated by the hectic pace of a restaurant business. This is also why our items can be conveniently washed in the dishwasher.
If MPS Porcelain tableware is more durable, it means you’ll have to replace it less often: choosing porcelain is an efficient investment for any type of restaurant. Beauty and functionality come together in a natural inspiration, bringing the power of the earth and even the sea to the table with the Conchiglia line. The water, earth and fire elements of cooking come together in a swirl of skillful creation of salad bowls, plates and containers with original shapes, capable of accompanying seafood delicacies, but not only, in an innovative artistic representation.
Refined force of nature, Conchiglia line
3. Scientific data and new frontiers
The thermal capacity of the material also has an impact on its eco-sustainability. Simplifying, we can identify as thermal conductivity the ability of a certain material to store heat energy for an extended period of time. This value is higher for porcelain, which in fact retains heat in order to serve each course at the right temperature. The consequences are less energy loss and greater resistance, even to thermal shock, which our items withstand up to 250 degrees centigrade. An even “greener” solution is to use Gastronorm Induction, for induction cooking, a type of cooktop that has less environmental impact than gas stoves, without using fossil fuels and thus reducing harmful emissions.
The greater sustainability of porcelain has also been demonstrated by several studies (CIRAIG, Canada, Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, Deutsche Umwelthilfe), including one that compared a paper, plastic cup and a porcelain cup. The latter proved far better for environmental impact with regard to water consumption, resources and influence on health. A porcelain cup, in particular, results in a significant advantage in energy efficiency after the tenth use. Not only that, disposable cups are more expensive in the long run than reusable porcelain cups, while materials such as bamboo, often used as an environmentally friendly alternative, actually include plastics that are toxic to the environment.
Speaking of alternative sustainable materials, porcelain is set to become even more environmentally friendly with a new use of wood waste that is processed for its production. Waste materials are, in fact, ideal candidates for partial replacement of ceramic raw materials due to their large-scale production. Currently, this processing is being experimented in building materials, where sawdust is incorporated to form the pores of tiles, which will be particularly lightweight but still mechanically strong. The advantages are environmental, with the valorization of wood waste, and economic, the thanks to reduced product density decreasing transportation and distribution costs.
A smart choice: MPS porcelain tableware
While waiting for solutions to make porcelain production even more sustainable, we can already count on an excellent material for both chefs and the environment. We are proud to be able to work daily with endless possibilities of shapes, lines, colors and textures to create containers that will become the turning point for the menu of discerning restaurateurs. We want to explore all aspects of our favorite material more and more: porcelain enchants us in its elegant practicality, and we see ourselves as pragmatic artists in coming up with ever-improving solutions for the kitchen and table. The durability of the final product and natural raw materials, along with careful and responsible manufacturing processes, contribute to the greening of our porcelain items. The choice to respect the environment is ours alone, for smarter courses and a more sustainable future for all.
