Place settings are very much a part of the big issue of sustainability, not just in trends that favour a natural style, but also in manufacturing and disposal processes.
 
Tableware is like other fashion sectors: its colours, textures and styles keep changing. But one macro-trend that seems here to stay is that of establishing good green credentials. And that often means exploring new, more natural materials.
Confirmation of this comes from Marco Marocchi, sales & marketing manager for Tognana’s Professional Division. “Catering trends, which are evolving all the time, are moving mainly in the direction of the colourful and the casual, with a major emphasis on all things natural, veggie, organic and gluten free. Each year we try to identify styles and trends and mix them with high quality standards, something that is fundamental for the Ho.Re.Ca. sector. For this reason we are trying to combine aesthetics with functionality in a way that brings a touch of style and creativity to the table. But we must never lose sight of the importance of things being practical: that’s of paramount importance in the professional sector.”

All BtoB products follow three basic principles: quality, aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency. Combining quality of materials, efficiency and style. “We have also introduced new decorative idioms and mix&match lines, to bring a touch of imaginative originality to the table and set off the meals served there to their best effect.”
We asked him how he would sum up the future of tableware in three words? “Quick: trends are subject to rapid change, as are materials and technologies, which are becoming increasingly innovative. International: because the sector has an increasingly global vocation, which is why solutions are being studied that suit an ever-growing public. And trendy: styles need to be an integral part of the products on offer and match the mood of the moment”.
Innovation matters a great deal, also in place settings, says Stefano Alfonso, CEO of STEELITE. “We believe that innovation is essential if we want to keep up with the times, and to anticipate new trends. And innovation means being inquisitive, being able to draw on trends from a global marketplace and it involves designers knowing how to translate this information into the very latest production methods and glazes.”

But innovation is also about being aware of the big issues surrounding sustainability: “for this reason we will go on investing in manufacturing processes that can recycle up to 98% of waste material, can create ever more durable products, offering for example a lifetime guarantee on chipped rims, reduce breakages, then re-assortments and transportation by road, rail or air. All with a view to reducing CO2 emissions.”