What time is it? It’s picnic time! Let’s create a list of all the things we’ll need. Picnic basket? Check. Blanket? Check. Snacks? Check. Hmmm. It seems like we’re forgetting something. What could it be? That’s right! Paper plates!
When you’re going to the park to enjoy sandwiches and chips, you definitely don’t want to bring your fancy china with you from home. You also don’t want to place your food on your lap. That’s when the convenient paper plate comes to the rescue.
Modern paper plates are light, yet durable. They can hold your sandwiches, chips, fruit, and pretty much anything else you want to put on them. When you’re finished, there’s no need to wash them. Just throw them away in the trash or recycling bin along with your other disposables and your clean-up is done!
Paper plates are so useful. You might think that they’ve been around for a long time. And they have. But the exact duration depends on how you define “long.” People have always needed to eat and paper has existed for thousands of years. But paper plates? They’ve only been around for a little over 100 years!
The person usually credited with inventing the paper plate is Martin Keyes. In the late 19th century, Keyes is believed to have observed workers at a veneer plant in New York having their lunch on thin waste pieces of maple veneer. The resourcefulness of these workers inspired Keyes to start thinking about disposable tableware.
Over the next two years, Keyes worked hard to develop new machines that could crush wood pulp and shape it into paper plates. Once he had completed his machine, he attempted to patent it, but he discovered that someone else had stolen his idea. Using his daily diary as evidence, Keyes successfully fought the issue in court and eventually obtained the patent for his paper plate machine.
With the help of family members and other investors, Keyes established the Keyes Fibre Company and began producing paper plates in 1904. Soon, other competitors entered the market, manufacturing cheaper paper plates to compete with those made by Keyes. However, Keyes maintained a high-quality product and his sales received a boost from an unfortunate disaster: the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906 created a huge demand for paper plates.
Today, paper plates can be found in most households’ kitchens. Their convenience is unparalleled and they are usually not very expensive. While most paper plates are plain white, they can also be found in various colors, sizes, and designs. Some paper plates are even shaped like animal heads, with small ear “cups” to hold condiments!
In addition to plates made from plant fibers (wood pulp), disposable plates can also be made from other materials. A trip down the paper products aisle of your local supermarket will reveal disposable plates made from plastic and Styrofoam, too.
Aside from using them to eat a meal, you can also utilize paper plates for a variety of other purposes. Most children know that they are great for crafting. Some teachers also know that small paper plates can make excellent flashcards!
Give It a Try
Step up to the (paper) plate and explore the following activities with a friend or family member:
- Have you ever wondered if paper plates desire to be a different kind of plate? Do they perhaps long to be china plates? Would becoming a plastic plate be considered an upgrade? Put yourself in the position of a paper plate (if paper plates can even have positions), and envision what life must be like for them. How much time do they spend sitting on store shelves? Once they are brought into someone’s home, how long do they sit in the pantry? What is it like for them when they finally get used? How do they feel when they are thrown away after a meal? Let your imagination run wild and create a short story about the life, hopes, and dreams of an average paper plate!
- It’s time for a field trip! Visit a local grocery store or supermarket to explore the different types of paper plates available today. How many different kinds can you find? What similarities and differences do you notice among them? Compare the prices of the various types of paper plates. Which one is the least expensive? Which one is the most expensive?
- Were you aware that paper plates have uses beyond serving food at a picnic? There are plenty of fun crafts you can make with paper plates. Here are a few examples for you to try: + Porcupine + Nutrition Wreath + Wombat + Frog + Patriotic Bird Feeder
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