Fahrenheit ℉ Fahrenheit
Celsius ℃
It’s the end Feb. here in China, and the temperature is 0~10 degrees. We’ve got a complaint, although the customer is so gentle and polite to say that it’s not a complaint but just feedback with questions, in our eyes it is and we must find out the reasons and provide solutions.
They’ve got a bad review on Amazon that theCPLA cutlerybreaks. Since we’ve got no pictures or videos of how it breaks under what conditions, we made tests based on customers’ questions.
Feedback from the customer:
My product finally became available for sale last week on Amazon. Unfortunately, our first customer complained that the cutlery was breaking and left us a negative review. So we refunded them and sent another 2 pcs as well.
This is really scary for us because we already have quite a little negative feedback about cutlery breaking. It has slowed our sales a lot since they left the review and I am worried we will get more bad reviews.
I just want to confirm a few ideas on why this might be happening so soon.
Reply:
Compared with traditional plastic cutlery( PP/PS), it’s true that CPLA cutlery is easier to break, and this is decided by its material and biodegradability. However, I believe you must remember that our cutlery is the strongest among the CPLA cutlery, while what we produced is the same quality as the samples provided. If you still have some at hand, you can also test them. For normal usage of enjoying food, no problem at all for its strength. Meanwhile, thank you for your questions below. And we’d like to find the causes and solutions as well.
Questions 1:
Is it possible the cutlery material is sensitive to temperature? it is winter in the USA now and maybe it got hot and cold a lot in the container as well?
1) In fact, the CPLA cutlery’s heat resistance is from 0 to 80 degrees generally. It becomes more crispy when the temperature is below 0, and easier to break for sure. Anyway, better let me make some tests and then share with you the results.
Here are 3 videos of the tests.
1stly we put the cutlery into the freezing refrigerators by packs of 3 types:
Type 1: naked cutlery (without any package);
Type 2: cutlery by kraft paper bags;
Type 3: cutlery by PE bags;
After 20 hours, we take some of them to test their strength by bending and cutting foods to see if it breaks easily or not.
In video 1, you can see that we took the bulk-packedcutleryin black color from the freezing refrigerator and then bend them, and cut the food with a knife directly.
In video 2, you can see that we took thebag-packed cutleryin both black and white colors, and then bend them, or cut the food immediately.
In video 3, you can see that we took the bag-packedcutleryfrom the freezing refrigerator, and then put them into the boiling waters for a second. When we took the knives, forks, and spoons out of the boiling water, they becomes soft. When you put them into the air it cools down in seconds, and then you can soon use them to enjoy food without any problem.
From the videos above we can see that, the strength is still so good as to enjoy food with knives, forks, and spoons. Of course, it is true that in the united states, the temperature in Feb. is from -1 degrees to -4 degrees, all minus. That’s indeed a fact that makes the cutlery weaker. However, we do believe and we do suggest people enjoy foods in a warmer environment, such as indoor rooms. When it gets warmer, enjoy yourselves outdoors.
Question 2:
How long is the expiry date on the cutlery? I do know it gets less sturdy and weaker over time.
The shelf life is 2 years by keeping the original package. Indeed, it will be weaker as time goes, this is the property of PLA material’s biodegradability;
Question 3:
Because it is wrapped in paper bags can any moisture or dryness from the air affect the life of CPLA?
That’s a good question, even if there is moisture or dryness from the air can go inside the paper bags, it doesn’t affect the cutlery’s life, at least not so quickly as 2-3 months;
After watching the tests above, the customer is satisfied and still have a few more request as below:
It would have been good to see the spoon held by the handle when used and bent cutlery until the break. But I understand why you did the test this way. To see what’s possible before breaking. This has given me some very good visual information and learning.
So, let’s expect more tests sooner. We will be coming soon.
Post time: Mar-22-2023