Spotted: It’s estimated that up to 50 per cent of all plastic produced every year is single-use, meaning it’s only needed for a few moments before being thrown away. In a bid to cut that figure, in 2021 the EU implemented a ban on various single-use plastics, including cutlery. This ban has since created a big gap in the market for sustainable, disposable cutlery. French startup Koovee is working to fill that gap.

Koovee has developed edible cutlery designed to replace all types of single-use plastic utensils. The edible forks and spoons are made from a mix of flour, rapeseed oil, salt, and natural flavours, and have the taste and texture of crackers. Customers can purchase various flavours of the cutlery: natural, almond, and Herbs de Provence. To improve the sustainability of the cutlery further, Marseille-based Koovee also sources its flour from French wheat.

The edible utensils can last more than five minutes when completely submerged in 70 degrees Celsius water, so can be used for soup and other hot foods. Koovee was developed by ecologist and Sciences Po graduate Tiphaine Guerout, who told Springwise that the utensils are “organic, yummy, and sturdy enough for any type of meal.”

The cutlery was developed with the help of financing provided by the French Bank of Public Investment (Bpifrance) and the company also raised €500,000 in an angel round of funding in 2022. Koovee currently produces more than 7,000 pieces of cutlery a day and has a number of commercial customers. Guerout told Springwise that the company hopes to scale in Europe to provide Koovee to “every restaurant and supermarket.”

A number of other recent innovations spotted by Springwise are also working to eliminate single-use plastic, including packaging made from milk proteins and sustainable straws made from sedge grass.

Written By: Lisa Magloff