Whether they were off-white, beige, tan, black or clear, green is the popular color for disposable knifes, forks, spoons, take-out containers and drinking cups.

That’s green, as in recyclable, bio-degradable and all-around earth-friendly.

Such were the take-out utensils, containers and bags that bloomed in the aisles of the Northwest Foodservice Show at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in Seattle on Sunday and continuing today.

Manufacturing ingredients for these items include sugar cane, potatoes, corn starch and wheat – all sustainable resources. They’re recyclable, compostable and, in come cases, biodegradable.

Some products can stand up to heat, too. Clamshell containers made from sugar cane, for example, are heat stable to around 410 degrees – meaning you can re-heat restaurant leftovers in the microwave without melting the sugar-based containers.

Vendors weren’t advertising prices, but one restaurateur who purchases earth-friendly utensils said such products cost him up to five times more than conventional products.

I’ve only found a few places in the South Sound that use earth-friendly flatware and containers. They are Vitals Café, Blue Lotus Café and i.talia Pizzeria, all in Olympia. If you encounter earth-friendly utensils and containers elsewhere, please send me an e-mail or comment below.