Conscious Cutlery Is Making It Easier Than Ever To Avoid Single-Use Plastic

Photo: @wildwoodmakersmarket

At some point we’ll probably start responding to single use plastic food service items with a level of disdain typically reserved for asbestos and lead paint. People are finally getting the message that we have to do something about the extraordinary amount of waste we (quite unnecessarily) produce each year. Looking for an easy way to sustain the sustainable lifestyle? A woman-owned Lake Tahoe brand has a handy kit to keep you on the eco-friendly straight and narrow when you’re dining on the go.

The company is called Conscious Cutlery, and they make 4 oz. stainless steel travel utensil sets ($19.99 each) in an 8” x 2” hemp pouch. Each set comes with a fork, spoon, knife, straw, straw cleaner brush, and chopsticks. There are four different pouch prints to choose from, and any of the utensil pieces can be replaced should you lose one. (Conscious Cutlery warns that, while their knives comply with TSA regulations, an over-zealous airport agent might choose to confiscate it. If you don’t need the knife on your flight, consider leaving it in your checked luggage.)

One of the drawbacks to toting your own utensils in the past has been the storage element; you don’t want a fork you’re going to eat with commingling with the mystery items in the bottom of your bag. The Swiss-Army-knife version of the utensil set is a start, but it poses cleaning issues, and it doesn’t come with as many tools as the Conscious Cutlery kit. The washable hemp pouch is a reasonable solution. Plus, the utensils are almost full-sized, so it’s easier to eat with them.

Locally, Conscious Cutlery is stocked at The Goods in Mill Valley. Online, or you can order your set online directly from the brand.