Frequently Asked Questions
Provided are answers to many questions regarding maaterra's line of beautifully designed palm leaf tableware. If you cannot find an answer to your question, please contact with us at hello@maaterra.com.
General
Why did you launch maaterra?
maaterra wants to set the expectations for style and sustainability in the disposable tableware market so you do not have to compromise on what you want, need, and value.
How can I learn more about maaterra?
The best way is to learn about maaterra's full line of beautifully designed compostable palm leaf tableware is to join our mailing list to get notified about product launches, special offers, and company news.
We have a link in the bottom navigation bar of our website to sign up or click HERE. Also, we encourage you to check our Journal and to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
Please get in touch with us at hello@maaterra.com. We will get back to you within 2 business days, if not sooner.
Where can I buy maaterra tableware?
Currently, our full line of compostable palm leaf tableware is available on maaterra.com, select retailers, Etsy, and Faire. Please check out our Journal or our social media pages (Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn) to learn more about the retailers we are partnering with. If there is a retailer or e-commerce site that you think should sell maaterra's products, please let us know at hello@maaterra.com.
I'm a retailer, and I'd like to carry maaterra tableware in my store. How do I open a wholesale account?
We would love to partner with you. Please contact us at hello@maaterra.com.
We also have our full catalog available on Faire.
I'm a wedding and event planner. Do you offer bulk purchase discounts on your tableware?
Yes. We would love to partner with you and make your events even more unique and special. Please contact us at hello@maaterra.com.
Do you offer bowls, trays, or cutting boards?
At this time, we do not offer bowls, trays, or cutting boards. We are working hard to make that a part of our assortment as soon as possible. Sign up for our email list to be the first to know about new product introductions. Click HERE.
Custom Designs
Do you offer custom designs on your plates?
We do offer custom designs for our line of eco-friendly palm leaf tableware. We would encourage you to visit our Custom page for details on the options we offer.
You can also contact us at hello@maaterra.com for more details, including minimum order quantities, lead times, and design set-up fees.
At this time, we do not offer custom designs on our other tableware products -- i.e., napkins, cups, utensils, or straws.
I want to use one of your designs not shown in the Custom Builder and add two initials. Is that possible?
Yes. We can add two initials to one of our existing designs. Please fill out the Custom Design Plate Form or email us at hello@maaterra.com.
What is the minimum order for custom plates?
The minimum order is 24 plates per size. However, there are no restrictions on the number of plates per size you order over 24.
Is there a design setup fee for custom plates?
There is no design setup fee when you use our Custom Builder where you can choose one of two maaterra etched designs and add personalized initials. If you have a fully custom design, and can provide us with artwork, the setup fee starts at $25. Or you can work with our team to create something original. Design services start at $50. To submit a request, click HERE.
What is the cost for custom design plates?
The cost per plate is:
6-inch -- $3.50/plate
8-inch -- $4.00/plate
10-inch -- $4.50/plate
12-inch -- $5.00/plate
Orders under $200 have a fulfillment and shipping cost of $7.99 and orders of $200 or more have a fulfillment and shipping cost of $12.99.
If you need the order expedited, please contact us at hello@maaterra.com, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
If you are looking to place a large order for an event, party, or special occasion, please contact us at hello@maaterra.com for bulk pricing.
If I have a logo, family crest, illustration or an idea I would like to have engraved, how should I proceed?
We would love to work with. We would recommend you submit an inquiry (Click HERE) and we will get back to you within 1-2 business days on the next steps. If available, please provide with a file of your preferred design or provide us with a description of what you woud like to have engraved.
Certifications & Partnerships
Is maaterra a woman-owned brand?
We are certified as a woman-owned business enterprise through the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC National Certification Number: WBE2100147). WBENC audits us on an annual basis.
What is maaterra’s partnership with 1% Percent for the Planet?
1% for the Planet is a global movement inspiring businesses and individuals to support environmental solutions through memberships and everyday actions. Since 2017, our company has partnered with 1% for the Planet to give one percent of our gross sales to approved nonprofit partners. We currently use our contribution to offset our carbon footprint. 1% for the Planet's mission is "to bring dollars and doers together to accelerate smart environmental giving."
What is the USDA BioPreferred Program certification?
The goal of the BioPreferred Program, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is to increase the purchase and use of biobased products. The increased development, purchase, and use of biobased products reduces the nation's reliance on petroleum, increases the use of renewable agricultural resources, and contributes to reducing adverse environmental and health impacts.
The term "biobased product" means that maaterra plates have been certified by the USDA to be a commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed) that is composed, in whole or in significant part, of biological products, including renewable domestic agricultural materials, renewable chemicals, and forestry materials.
Biobased Products are derived from raw materials such as plants and other renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materials. Biobased products generally provide an alternative to conventional petroleum-derived products and include a diverse range of offerings such as lubricants, detergents, inks, fertilizers, and bioplastics.
maaterra plates had their biobased content measured using ASTM D6866 as part of the certification process.
What is the Compost Manufacturing Alliance certification?
Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA) is a global leader in providing industrial composting facilities with an acceptance standard for compostables. CMA performs field disintegration testing through several prominent processing methods to ensure eco-friendly products sent to industrial compost facilities adequately break down within the production cycle.
maaterra-certified palm leaf plates meet ASTM D6400 or ASTM D6868 standards and passed a disintegration test by composting.
Is maaterra carbon neutral?
maaterra is carbon neutral. Through a thorough assessment conducted by We Are Neutral, maaterra has made a financial investment to support the organization's community-improving projects.
We Are Neutral's American-made carbon offset and reduction projects include providing energy upgrades for low-income families, Indigenous tree planting, invasive species removal, urban agriculture, soil regeneration, composting, landfill diversion, landfill methane capture, vehicle fuel efficiency tune-ups, environmental policy advocacy, and massive amounts of environmental education.
Plates
What size plates do you offer and what are the suggested uses for each plate?
We currently offer our plates in the following sizes:
6-Inch Round
- Small Appetizers
- Desserts
- Bread & Butter
8-Inch Round
- Large Appetizers
- Desserts
- Salad
- Small Lunch
10-Inch Round
- Dinner
- Large Lunch
-Picnic
12-Inch Round
- Charger
- Large Dinner
- Buffet
- Platter
Why offer a compostable tableware and how long does it take to compost a maaterra plate?
Sometimes you need a single-use eco-friendly option — outdoor dining, wedding, holiday gatherings, backyard barbecue — when you want to focus on your friends and not the dishes. So, we researched disposable options that also had minimal impact. maaterra palm leaf plates offer the most stylish and durable option on the market to glass dishware.
If you do not use oily foods or ones that stain, we encourage you to rinse our plates off and reuse them. Otherwise, dispose of our tableware at an industrial composting facility (click HERE to find your closest CMA affiliate facility) or in your backyard compost pile (we suggest you break them into pieces so they disintegrate more quickly). Ultimately, our plates will return to nature because they are a leaf.
maaterra plates, under the proper conditions, will compost in 60-90 days.
Why are maaterra plates made from palm leaves?
We did significant research before deciding on palm leaves as the solution to better designed, higher functioning, and more sustainable tableware made from other natural resources like bamboo.
maaterra tableware is made from fallen palm leaves that are cleaned with water and light and molded with heat. That's all. Our plates and platters come from nature and are returned to nature when properly composted.
What does it mean when you say each maaterra palm leaf plate is “unique”?
We see perfection in the uniqueness of each plate's markings, textures, and tone. “Perfectly imperfect”, or as the Japanese refer to it, Wabi-Sabi (appreciating beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" in nature), is a quality we embrace.
Unlike other disposable and compostable plates, which are processed by breaking down the materials and manipulating them with dyes, glues, and finishes, maaterra opts for the purest, most sustainable processing. While we go through a rigorous process of choosing the most consistent leaves, we also celebrate the idea that no two leaves are created identical. Speckling, striping, and textural variations only add to our designs' unique and natural character.
Why do some of the maaterra plates have slight creases?
Creases can occur when the water content of the leaf is high due to heavier rainfall during the harvest season.
Our plates are made from a natural product with minimal processing. We believe that the effects of the natural environment such as rainfall which creates the variation in the creases brings beauty to our plates
What steps can I take to protect my plates from warping?
Since we use no dyes, treatments, or chemicals, maaterra plates can be susceptible to warping over a period of time. We recommend the following steps to prevent warpage:
- Keep the plates tightly sealed in their plastic packaging. Every package comes with a desiccant pack to help remove humidity and odor.
- Store our plates flat.
- Keep them in a location with consistent temperature and low humidity.
Are maaterra plates safe to go into the dishwasher?
maaterra plates should never be run in a dishwasher.
Can maaterra plates go into a microwave?
maaterra plates should never go into a microwave.
Can maaterra plates go into oven?
maaterra plates should never go into a microwave.
How do I compost maaterra plates?
Our plates have been certified "composter approved" by Compost Manufacturing Alliance, a leader in creating the most practical model for advancing the use of compostables and their acceptance into industrial compost facilities. Click HERE to find your closest CMA affiliate facility.
Our plates will also compost in your backyard compost. The time to breakdown and back into soil depends on the light, air, moisture and temperature conditions but it will typically take between 2-6 months. To expedite the process you may break the plates into strips.
Can I use maaterra plates more than once?
maaterra plates are designed for single use. In situations, when no grease, oils, or other food by-products stain the plates, you may be able to wipe the surface and reuse them.
Do you offer your plates without engravings?
Yes. We offer our plain plates in all four sizes, 6", 8", 10" and 12", in packs of 25. Please click HERE to make a purchase.
Where are your plates from?
We import our plates from India, and all design operations are in the U.S.
Orders, Billing & Shipping
What credit cards do you accept?
We are able to accept VISA, American Express, MasterCard, JCB, Diners Club, and Discover debit and credit cards.
What other forms of payment can you accept?
We can also accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay.
Where do you ship?
We ship to all 50 states and Puerto Rico. At this time, we are unable to ship outside the United States.
Please note: maaterra can not be held responsible for lost or stolen items or deliveries. If we receive carrier confirmation of a drop off at your address, we view this as a successful delivery. We do our best to chose safe, reliable shippers and subsidize shipping expense for all customers. But we can't control what happens once a package is delivered to your location and can't be held responsible to replace at our cost. Thank you for your understanding.
Do you ship to P.O. Boxes?
No. We are unable to ship to P.O. Boxes.
How long does it take to ship an order?
Standard shipping takes approximately 8-10 business days once an order is placed. Orders are shipped via UPS or FedEx.
Express Shipping takes 5-6 business days once an order is placed. Orders are shipped via UPS or FedEx.
At this time, we do not offer a next-day delivery option.
If an email address is provided at checkout, a tracking number for the order will be emailed to the recipient as soon as the information is available.
Is there a fulfillment and shipping fee on orders?
maaterra fulfillment and shipping rates are as follows for standard orders:
Standard Shipping for Orders $199.99 or less: $7.99
Shipping takes approximately 8-10 business days once an order is placed. We ship via UPS or Fedex.
Standard Shipping for Orders $200.00 or more: $12.99
Shipping takes approximately 8-10 business days once an order is placed. We ship via UPS or Fedex.
Express Shipping: $22.99
Express Shipping takes 5-6 business days once an order is placed.
Next Day Delivery
At this time, we do not offer a next-day delivery option.
If an email address is provided at checkout, a tracking number for the order will be emailed to the recipient as soon as the information is available.
What carriers do you use to ship?
We ship all of our orders via UPS or FedEx.
Once I place my order, can I change the delivery address?
If you have made an error entering your shipping address or need to make a change, please contact us as soon as possible at hello@maaterra.com.
We work hard to get shipments out quickly, so please reach out as soon as you are aware. If you have not contacted us prior to shipping with an address change, you will have to place another order (or accept the order at the address you originally provided). We will make every effort to ensure the correct delivery of your order.
Once I place my order, can I change my order?
If you would like to change your order, please contact us as soon as possible at hello@maaterra.com. We work hard to get shipments out quickly, so please reach out as soon as possible.
If you have not contacted us prior to shipping, we will be unable to accommodate the change. We appreciate your understanding.
If I don't need my order immediately, can I still place an order today and have it shipped at a later date?
Yes. Please contact us at hello@maaterra.com before placing your order and let us know when you would like to receive it. We will then advise our team of when the order needs to be shipped.
How do I use a discount code?
During the check-out process, please enter the code in the box that says “Discount code” and click the “Apply” button. The discount will be automatically applied to the total.
Can more than one discount code be applied to an order?
We only allow for one discount per order.
I received a discount code for my first order, and it's not working. What should I do?
Please email us at hello@maaterra.com, and we will take care of the issue as fast as possible.
Can orders be gift wrapped?
Currently, we do not offer gift wrapping. It is a service we hope to provide in the future.
What is your return policy?
maaterra has a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all orders. Please contact us at hello@maaterra.com and we will get back to you within two business days. If there is a refund on the order or the product needs to be returned or exchanged, we will process the return or exchange within 7-9 business days. We are fully committed to solving the issue.
What can I do if an item I want is sold out?
Please contact us at hello@maaterra.com and we will let you know when we expect to get it back in stock. If an item has been discontinued, we will suggest an appropriate alternative. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.