The Ditch the Plastic Initiative
why it matters
Every day millions of people prepare food on plastic cutting boards without giving it a second thought. This page exists in an effort to change that. Not to sell you something. Just to share what we know and let you decide for yourself.
The Problem With Plastic
Plastic cutting boards seem like the practical choice. They are lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to find. But every time a knife blade drags across a plastic surface it leaves a mark. And inside every one of those marks is a groove that traps food, bacteria, and something most people have never considered, tiny fragments of plastic.
Researchers have found that plastic cutting boards shed microplastic particles directly into food during everyday use. The harder you cut, the more you get. Those particles do not wash off. They end up on your plate, in your food, and eventually in your body. The science on what that means long term is still developing but the question worth asking is a simple one. Why take the chance?
What Wood Does Differently
Simply put, when wood leaves a trace it is natural, harmless, and unimpactful. When plastic does, it is none of those things. Cutting into wood does not release synthetic particles into your food. What stays on your board is wood, a material humans have used as a food prep surface for centuries.
Additionally, hardwoods contain natural compounds that actively work against bacteria on the cutting surface. Wood also draws moisture inward pulling bacteria beneath the surface where they die off rather than sitting on top where they can spread. A well maintained hardwood board is not just better for what goes into your food and ultimately your body. It is better for keeping harmful things out.
Unlike plastic boards that dull, stain, and warp over time, a hardwood board gets better with age. Properly cared for it will outlast any plastic board you have ever owned.
It Comes Down to This
You don’t have to be a scientist or an environmentalist to make this call.
Ask yourself one question. What do I want touching my food every single day? A highly processed synthetic material or a simple, completely natural one.
Wood.
Plastics do have their place. But as a cutting surface, absolutely not.
A little about us
We build handcrafted hardwood cutting boards in small batches in West Jordan, Utah. Every board is made by hand from hand selected hardwoods and finished with a food safe conditioner. We have been making the case for wood since day one and the Ditch the Plastic Initiative is our way of putting that conversation in front of as many people as possible.
Join the Initiative
Share this page. Talk about it. Ask questions about what is on your cutting board. The more people who know, the better. And if you are ready to make the switch, we will be here.