Outdoor Kit: the design of the plastic tableware set between design and sustainability

The request for the development of a plastic tableware kit

The Outdoor Kit project was born from the need to develop a line of plastic tableware intended for outdoor use, capable of combining functionality, aesthetics, and environmental awareness. The initial idea involved the use of a wood-filled plastic material to achieve a warm formal language, inspired by the artisanal world, yet with a strongly contemporary identity.

For this project, the client chose PowerPlast as both design and manufacturing partner, as the company is able to manage the project from concept to engineering for molding, ensuring strong attention to design and consolidated know-how in the processing of innovative materials.

The design of PowerPlast plastic tableware

PowerStudio is the division of PowerPlast dedicated to the study, design, and prototyping of plastic products, with particular attention to design. The department managed the entire creative and technical process, starting from the concept stage, to develop the requested plastic tableware kit. The core idea was to create a set that would evoke the handcrafted aesthetic of artisanal products, featuring “sculpted” and hammered surfaces, reinterpreted in an industrial way through injection molding.

This vision progressively evolved: while the initial objective was to simulate the effect of carved wood, the project found full consistency in the adoption of a recycled plastic material, Tritan Renew, certified according to the ISCC+ standard (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification PLUS), which guarantees the traceability of recycled materials throughout the entire production supply chain.

The most significant challenge of the project was to transform a handcrafted aesthetic into a surface that could be technically produced on a serial scale. The result? A hammered finish across all external surfaces, capable of delivering a visual and tactile sense of authenticity, without compromising the precision and repeatability of the industrial process.

The washable hard plastic tableware kit consists of:

• Plates;
• Bowls;
• Glasses;
• Carafes.

Each of these products was designed to be easily stackable, lightweight, and durable. All components were developed by optimizing weight and volume according to outdoor use and transport requirements.

Compliance with MOCA regulations in the design of plastic tableware

A fundamental aspect in the development of the plastic tableware kit was compliance with MOCA regulations (Materials and Objects in Contact with Food), which govern the safety of products intended for food use.

To ensure that each element of the set was suitable for direct contact with food and beverages, PowerPlast applied rigorous design and production protocols in accordance with the relevant European directives.

Compliance with MOCA regulations required:

• Careful selection of certified materials suitable for food contact use;
• Traceability controls throughout the entire production supply chain;
• Specific migration tests to ensure that no unwanted substances are transferred from the material to the food;
• Dedicated production procedures ensuring hygiene, safety, and process repeatability.

Compliance with the regulations allowed the client not only to place a safe and compliant product on the market, but also to strengthen the identity of the kit as a concrete example of responsible, sustainable, and certified design.

The result of the request for the development of a plastic tableware set

The result is a complete washable hard plastic tableware kit for outdoor use, aesthetically distinctive, ergonomic, and sustainable, characterized by:

• Hammered finishes achieved through molding with recycled plastic material, recalling the look of a handcrafted object;
• Stackability and lightness optimized for transport and outdoor use;
• ISCC+ certified materials, guaranteeing the origin and sustainability of the recycled raw materials used;
• Compliance with MOCA regulations, ensuring the food safety of the products.

From an environmental perspective, the use of materials from recycled and traceable sources has made it possible to significantly reduce the overall environmental impact of the product, in line with the most recent European directives on sustainability and circular design.

Are you looking for a partner for the development of innovative plastic products? PowerPlast and PowerStudio are at your disposal. Contact us and tell us about your needs.