BAMBOO UTENSILS
How do I clean my utensils?
You can hand wash them with soap and water, but they will sustain the dishwasher.
Why bamboo?
There are so many great reasons to choose bamboo. First, it's beautiful. The delicate grain of bamboo, whether natural or amber-toned, makes it distinctive, refined, and enjoyable to eat with. Bamboo is extremely durable and can withstand a great deal of use without damage. It's stronger even than oak, and when laminated, bamboo is nearly as strong as soft steel. Bamboo doesn't swell or shrink as hardwoods do, and won't impart food flavors or staining.
Bamboo is not a tree-it's a grass, and it grows like one. Many species of bamboo can grow two feet or more a day. When it's harvested, it need not be replanted, because it will grow a new shoot from its extensive root system. So bamboo renews itself readily, unlike hardwood trees, which, once cut, are gone forever. Bamboo is an endlessly renewable resource.
It enhances the environment. Farmed bamboo stabilizes the earth with its roots, preventing erosion. It takes in greenhouse gasses and produces oxygen. In fact 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees. It can also provide habitat for birds and animals.
It is extremely versatile. Used in everything from housing, to fiber, to food, bamboo is an extraordinary resource. It provides a long-lasting, non-petroleum based material that has endless applications for use.
Where are your utensils made?
Our bamboo utensils are sourced and made in China by a small cottage industry factory. The forest the bamboo is sourced from has been personally visited by our third party certifier and their audits assure us that the sourcing and harvesting is sustainable and that they employ fair labor practices.
Can I take my utensils on a plane when I travel?
Yes, you can! No one carrying To-Go Ware has ever had a problem traveling with their gear. In fact our founder traveled with 50 sets of utensils in her suitcase and the only thing that got pulled was her shampoo!
BAMBOO UTENSIL WRAPS
How do I clean my wrap?
The WEAVE cotton wrap will sustain the washing machine and the CONSERVE recycled plastic wrap can be hand washed with a wet sponge.
Where are the utensil wraps made?
The cotton holders for our utensil sets are crafted by WEAVE, a Burmese refugee women's project on the Thai-Burma border. All materials are sourced from Thailand. The recycled plastic wraps are made by CONSERVE, an NGO in New Delhi, India.
What are CONSERVE wraps made of?
At dawn every day employees deliver plastic shopping bags they’ve collected off the streets of New Delhi to the CONSERVE headquarters. The handles and bottoms of the plastic bags are snipped away and the open sheets washed with detergent on a cemented buffalo water trough. They are hung to dry on a clothesline and then layered together and pressed to make sheets that are designed, cut and stitched to make amazing, durable, environmentally friendly, recycled plastic products!
How big are the wraps?
CONSERVE is 12” high, 8 ¼” wide (when open) and 4 ½” wide securely closed.
WEAVE is 12 ¼” high, 8 ¼” wide (when open) and 4 ½” wide securely closed.
STAINLESS STEEL FOOD CARRIER
What grade of stainless steel is your food carrier?
Our stainless is 200 grade, a grade specifically made for safe storage of food stuffs. 300 and 200 are the most popular, with 200 containing less nickel than 300. Lab tests have shown that our stainless steel contains no levels of materials harmful to people or the planet.
How big is the food carrier?
The 2 tier food carrier is 7 ¼” high fully assembled and 7 ½” wide; each individual unit is 4 5/8” high.
The 3 tier food carrier is 8 ¾” high fully assembled and 6 5/8” wide; each individual unit is 4 ½” high, with the top unit a little taller at 4 ¾” high.
Is there a coating on the food carrier?
Due to the nature of stainless steel, particularly the kind approved for food storage, it's not necessary to put a coating on it - that's why it's such a popular material for kitchen, food and medical use. Additionally, we only use a grade of stainless that is approved for the health and safety of our consumers - we are deeply committed to protecting the Earth and the people who live here!
How do I clean my stainless steel food carrier?
The food carrier is dishwasher safe, or you can wash it with soap and water.
Can I cook with the stainless steel food carrier?
The food carrier can be used with heat such as ovens, stove top, toaster oven, or put over an open flame - which makes it great for camping! Like all steel and metal products, it is not safe to use in the microwave.
Is the food carrier water/leak proof?
While we do not advertise our food carrier as leak proof, it is water-resistant. The food carrier successfully carries soups and sauces. As long as the carrier is not aggressively shaken or flipped upside down, it usually holds liquids very well. The top unit is recommended for soupier items, as it is the tighter of the two units. Additionally, the new sidekick is perfect for carrying sauces, dressings or baby food inside the food carrier to keep them separate until you’re ready to eat!
Will my food stay hot or cold in the food carrier?
The tiffin is not insulated, but paired with the cotton carrier bag (which itself is not insulated) seems to be a good combination for regulating the temperature of foods to a degree. If you aren’t going to be using all of the units of the food carrier, we suggest using one of them to store a cold pack. We cannot in any way guarantee that hot foods will stay “hot,” so we always recommend that folks heat it up in a toaster oven or even encourage using the To-Go Ware as a storage container and transfer it to a bowl to heat up in the microwave – this is still a preferable option to using leaching, toxic plastic tupperware.
Where is the stainless steel food carrier manufactured?
The food carriers are made in Mumbai, India by a company that is certified ISO 9001 (quality assurance) and has a proven track record of protecting the human rights of their employees. The company they source their stainless steel from is located in India, is also certified ISO 9001, as well as ISO 14001 (environmental protections).
SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH FACTS
Are your products Fair Trade?
Some of our products are Fair Trade, such as those we have made by WEAVE. We provide both hand-made and manufactured items, therefore not all of our products are at present covered by fair trade certification. Those generally covered are hand-crafted goods and agricultural products (such as tea, coffee, chocolate, etc.). For our products not covered under this kind of certification, we work with companies abroad that conduct regular, surprise audits to ensure that the manufacturers are doing well by people and the planet.
Why is stainless steel better than plastic?
Although the process to make stainless steel requires extractive practices, which overall is not best for the environment, it should be noted that the intensive extractive process is offset by the fact that stainless steel, by it's very nature, is 100% recyclable. Therefore, given the lifecycle of our products as compared to plastics and compostables (both of which are extremely resource intensive to manufacture in relation to the amount of time they are actually used before being thrown away), we felt the intensiveness at the manufacturing stage was far outweighed by the extensive lifecycle and reduced overall environmental impact of our products. Additionally, because of its hygienic quality, stainless steel does not require harsh cleaners or a seal or finish applied to make it safe – adding additional health and environmental benefits to using stainless for food storage and transport.
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Stainless steel is a great alternative to plastic.
Bamboo is an incredible renewable resource. | | |||
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