Charitable organizations and retailers have been marketing “eco-friendly” bamboo cups and children’s tableware that contain plastic resin. This situation persists despite emerging warnings that such eco-friendly claims may be deceptive and that these products could potentially pose health risks.
The so-called “eco-cups” crafted from bamboo have been positioned as a solution for protecting the environment, but an alarming reality persists—most of these cups are non-recyclable. Regulatory bodies have cautioned that these green claims might be misleading consumers into using products they presume to be sustainable.
Additionally, there are significant apprehensions that these products could hasten the degradation of plastics, potentially leading to contamination of food or drink and, in turn, posing health risks. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) indicated that it advised retailers to discontinue such products in June, emphasizing that any further sales would be unlawful.
Despite this ban, the bamboo and plastic-based products continue to proliferate online, including items like children’s cups and plates. Typically, these items are made from bamboo, along with a melamine formaldehyde resin, creating an appearance akin to plastic.
Remarkably, WWF-UK, a prominent wildlife charity, was recently promoting a reusable bamboo cup for £7.50, asserting that it “helps protect our planet.” On their website, it was stated that the bamboo cup, derived from organically sourced bamboo fiber, has a minimal environmental impact. Nevertheless, this cup contains 20% melamine. WWF-UK now advises shoppers to verify with local councils whether the cup can be recycled. After being contacted by the Observer, the charity promptly removed the cup from sale.
Another charity, the Wild Planet Trust, which oversees Paignton zoo in Devon and Newquay zoo in Cornwall, offered a Tiger travel mug made from bamboo, corn powder, and melamine for £8.99. The trust is currently investigating the product and has withdrawn it from sale.
Numerous online retailers are still marketing children’s bamboo and melamine tableware. Notably, Etsy, an online marketplace, was recently selling a “Roarsome” dinosaur tableware set for £12 and a bamboo tableware set adorned with tractors and fire engines, also priced at £12. To date, Etsy has not responded to requests for comment.
Conversely, Caroline Gardner, a retailer, was selling a “scattered spot” eco-travel bamboo mug for £6.25, which contains 25% melamine. The company disclosed that it had swiftly moved away from bamboo cups after realizing the potential implications. A few remaining mugs that were mistakenly placed for sale have since been removed and will be destroyed.
Amazon has instituted a policy prohibiting its retailers from selling bamboo and melamine cups and tableware products. This decision was made about two years ago. Under EU regulations that are still applicable in the UK concerning products used for food, tableware made from 100% bamboo or 100% melamine remains permissible for sale.
The concerns surrounding bamboo products mixed with plastic came to light in November 2019 after testing conducted by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. The tests warned that melamine and formaldehyde could be released from “bambooware” products when they come into contact with hot liquids such as tea, coffee, or baby formula. The formaldehyde release from some of these cups exceeded the tolerable daily intake by 30 times for adults and 120 times for young children. Although there is no immediate health risk from these bambooware products, repeated exposure to heightened levels of melamine and formaldehyde could pose health risks, with melamine linked to toxic kidney effects.
In November of the previous year, the European Commission cautioned that tableware containing bamboo and other unauthorized additives had not been adequately assessed under regulations, rendering their sale illegal.
In the UK, the FSA declared in June that the Committee on Toxicity, an independent scientific advisory entity, had determined that the migration of formaldehyde and melamine from bamboo composite cups could potentially concern human health. Consequently, a more comprehensive risk assessment was recommended.
Certain suppliers have conducted their own tests, maintaining that their products do not pose any health risks. The FSA is currently seeking feedback on these products and has urged manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers to provide relevant data.
The FSA stressed that “any person placing these products on the market could be committing an offense, as these products contain unauthorized additives.” They have taken measures to bring the market back into compliance, akin to steps previously taken in the EU.
Businesses selling these items were firmly reminded that “plastic food contact articles containing unauthorized plant-based additives such as bamboo powder should be withdrawn from the market immediately.”
