2007 Archives: GreenWare and EarthShell: Eco-Friendly, Compostable Party Goods
Thinking about an awards-season party but can’t stand the thought of tossing all those plastic cups? Recycling or not, the post-party bags of trash give pause to anyone with a hint of landfill guilt. And given that we have more than our share, we were thrilled to discover biodegradable party ware courtesy of reader extraordinaire Lisa McCarthy, who wrote to tell us she found them at her neighborhood Smart & Final in Long Beach, CA. (And you thought we didn’t read your emails). Our interest piqued, we did some investigation and found GreenWare, which is a line of cold drink cups created from a resin formed by renewable, natural cornstarches. Then we dug a little further (read: Googled) and found EarthShell, which makes foam bowls and plates out of vegetable starches like potatoes, corn and rice. Unlike petroleum based plastic and foam, these alternatives are so amazingly compostable that they begin to break down within 24 hours. No, they’re not farming organically but come on, they sell at supermarkets—baby steps, baby steps. Speaking of supermarkets, if you can’t find these types of products at yours and you’re feeling a wee bit activista on your next shopping run, try having a little chat with the manager and let him know how much more plastic you’d buy at his store if it were only made from renewable sources. Then let the party begin!
