Have Your Plate and (Let The Birds) Eat It, Too!

The recent InDisposed exhibition in New York included contemporary eco-friendly design ideas that embodied the concept of sustainability.

All participants were challenged to "create pieces made from environmentally sustainable materials...able to be disposed of in a responsible/convenient ways and able to be mass produced."

One of the most clever entries in the bunch -- the UFO picnic plate -- was submitted by designer Andrea Ruggiero.

Her surprisingly durable, water resistant, vegan and completely food grade prototype meal disc was made out of potato starch, seaweed binder and guar bean gum.

The materials alone are intriguing enough and make a lot more sense than conventional disposable dishware, but what makes Ruggiero's idea even that more outstanding is that the bottom of her dish is studded with bird seed.

This addition, while aesthetically pleasing, is not just intended to help you grip your plate.

Destined as a post-meal avian snack, you simply chuck your plate at the closest tree upon the completion of your meal, shattering it to bits.

Birds and wildlife can then enjoy a wholesome treat and once they've removed every bit of nutty goodness, the remaining plate shards will harmlessly break down under normal weather and precipitation conditions in 14 days.

This is the type of idea that makes me have great hope for the future of our consumer goods.

I love the fact that designers have been trying to crack the eco-friendly disposable dishware and cutlery nut for several years now, but Ruggiero's design is one that I'll gladly plunk down my cash for!