Paper Products in the UK: A Theory

Paper plate or taco: your call

I mentioned in an earlier blog post that paper products are much fewer and harder to find here in the UK than in the US.  Whereas in the US, napkins, paper plates and disposable cutlery, Ziploc bags, aluminum foil and such take up vast shelf space on in supermarkets, their existence here is relatively scant.  I buy paper napkins in the bargain section of Tesco when they have them.  Our friends Tim and Alicia, my Mom and John have supplied us Press 'N Seal, Ziploc bags and Chinet plates when visiting from the US.

I'm sure a lot of this product product minimalism has to do with the cultural values of not being wasteful.  However, I decided to buy a few disposable items here to use on those occasions that we just can't face washing the dishes again.  (We don't have a dishwasher.)

Well, John was just eating a sandwich and his disposable plate buckled into a state of ruin as he ate.  John said it was "the worst" paper plate he'd ever used.

This got me thinking.  I used to think there was some additive that could be used in US products but not allowed here--kind of like that triangle you get on fine China which is only considered a health hazard in some US states and not others.  However, I now wonder if paper products here are purposefully lower quality, a behind-the-scenes eco-government initiative.  Think about it.  Product dissatisfaction dissuades usage.  Therefore, people waste less.  I mean, I won't be buying those plates again.  My plastic wrap gets tangled so I use a plate to cover my food.  Paper shmaper.  I will have to call my MP about this.