Sustainability

Our Product Life Cycle

Our Product Life Cycle

Everyday we strive to make an impact is in the way we create our products and how we operate.


Rethinking the Plastics Problem

Of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic ever produced, 6.3 billion metric tons has become plastic waste. Most plastic waste is not recyclable- only 9% of all plastic produced has been recycled. Instead, discarded cups, straws, and food containers end up in the environment for centuries after only minutes of use.

Most plastic waste is sent to landfills, where the chemicals in plastic break off and turn into toxic leachate. Many landfills still do not have the technology to capture or treat this leachate before it enters local waterways. About 12% of plastic waste worldwide is incinerated. Incineration releases harmful toxins into the air and disproportionately affects poor communities.

Each year, more than 8 million metric tons of plastic ends up as litter in our rivers and oceans. Breaking into microscopic pieces, plastic becomes toxic to animals, bio-accumulates in our food chain, and enters our drinking water.

Learn more about ocean pollution from plastic.

Made from Plants, not Petroleum

To help reduce waste destined for landfills, we chose to make our products out of plants like wheat straw and bagasse (sugarcane) as alternatives to plastic. Both of these materials are agricultural byproducts that are typically thrown away. By starting with leftover plant materials, we are reusing valuable renewable resources. Our compostable plastic products, like cold cups and lids, are made from a material called Ingeo, which uses starch from plants and looks like traditional plastic, but contains no petroleum.

Learn more about our compostable materials.

Cleaner, Safer Manufacturing

Making products made from plants, not petroleum, conserves oil resources and supports cleaner production. Our eco-profiles shows that compostable plastics like PLA need less manufacturing energy and water and generate less waste. In contrast, petroleum-based plastics use more energy and water and emit large amounts of carbon and solid waste.

Learn more about the upfront environmental benefits of our products.

Destined for the Soil, not the Trash

Our products are designed to begin and end in the same place. They have been certified compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute. This means that they will fully decompose within 3-6 months in a commercial composting facility to make nutrient-rich soil – nourishing plants and starting the process all over again.

Learn more about composting our products.

 

Written by

World Centric

 

Read time

3 minutes

 

Published on

Mar 16, 2020

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