Here at Smarty Had a Party, we’re always looking for ways to make party planning easier and more stylish. We offer a wide variety of attractive single-use dinnerware options, ranging from simple classics to artistically themed sets. Of course, the thought of plastic waste sitting in landfills for a virtual eternity doesn’t sit well with many people.

That includes us. While we encourage recycling our single-use plastic products after proper rinsing, we realize that doesn’t always go far enough. That’s why we’ve expanded our offerings to include palm leaf compostable plates and flatware—an attractive and environmentally friendly single-use line of products for your next event. But what are palm leaf compostable plates, exactly?

How They’re Made

The plate-making process begins with the fallen fronds of areca palm trees. If you’ve been to South Florida, Southern California, or anywhere else where palms grow, you know that those plants constantly shed old fronds, and they fall to the earth as new ones replace them. Unlike the lush, tropical-green fronds on the tree, these discarded versions are orange-brown and look more like wood than leaves.

Let’s shift our focus from California boulevards to the tropical jungles of Africa and Asia, where palms aren’t just ornamental additions, but prevalent native plant life. Farmers harvest fallen fronds for processing. Unlike plastic plates, it doesn’t take much to turn this plant waste into an attractive part of your dinner table. The process continues with a series of thorough rinses to remove any dirt or other materials from the palm fronds. As the fronds air-dry, attendants gently flatten them to avoid any curling or warping. After this, it’s time for the palms to truly take shape.

Heated presses do the work of molding leaves into recognizable forms. Applying high heat and pressure is all it takes to shape palm leaves into plates, flatware, and anything else for your table. Chemical treatment isn’t necessary to achieve the finished product.

Why Palm Leaf?

Being nothing but compressed plant matter, palm leaf plates are eminently eco-friendly. While they take the appearance of wood grain, they are simply the product of what would otherwise be refuse. Not only are they biodegradable, but you can even add your used palm leaf plates to your compost heap. Add palm leaf products to your pile of banana peels, coffee grounds, and old newspapers for a green alternative to the garbage—one that can you even put in your plants’ pots or backyard garden. This is what palm leaf compostable plates are all about.

Go Green With—and Beyond—Palm Leaf

Looking to make your next party environmentally friendly? Check out our selection of disposable plates. Palm leaf plates, along with equally sustainable birch and bagasse products, will make for the perfect setting for your next outdoor party.