A buyer checklist for food-contact materials in disposable tableware and tablecloths: what the common plastic grades are used for, and which questions to settle before an order is placed.
Why this page exists
Food-contact requirements differ by market, and they decide which item a supplier can offer you, not only which document is attached to the shipment. Buyers who settle these questions before quoting avoid re-quoting an order after it has already been packed.
Common materials in disposable tableware
Cold-food drink cups, tumblers and dessert cups are normally produced in the plastic grades used for cold food service. Plates, bowls and cutlery are supplied in rigid and lighter constructions, and the choice is usually made on the use case rather than on the material name alone. Napkins are paper, and cotton or polyester options are available for reusable programmes.
Tablecloths: PEVA, not PVC
For table coverings we produce PEVA, and we do not produce PVC. PEVA is the material used for our table cover rolls, printed tablecloths and disposable tablecloths, and it is the material you should assume when comparing our tablecloth quotations. If a requirement specifically calls for PVC, tell us at enquiry stage so we can say clearly whether we can meet it.
Questions to settle before ordering
Ask, in writing: which material the item is produced in; whether the item is intended for direct food contact; which market the goods will be sold in, since the required declaration follows the market; and whether the requirement applies to the finished item or to the packaging as well. Bring those four answers to the enquiry and the item we quote will be the item your market accepts.
Related pages: Full catalogue · Factory videos · Wholesale FAQ · How we quote
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Documents buyers ask for, and what we can actually supply
Food-contact questions usually arrive as a document request rather than a technical one: a declaration for the film or the resin, a migration or compliance statement for the finished item, or a packing list and carton marks for your customs broker. We supply the documentation we actually hold for the item you are buying and we do not issue papers we cannot support – so tell us which file your market requires and we will confirm whether we can provide it before you commit. Material and migration basics are covered in materials.