WorldCentric Biocompostables

Biocompostables is really doing their part -- they produce a variety of cups, containers and bags with Bagasse (sugar cane fiber, a waste byproduct from sugar mills), reed, potato starch and corn.

Most paper disposable products are made from virgin wood fiber, which depletes our natural forests and the eco-services that forests provide. In comparison, bagasse is a byproduct of sugar cane production, a readily renewable resource and widely grown all over the world.

I use their "bio bags" for cat waste on a daily basis -- and was really surprised at the wide range of products that they provide. The website is very educational - here's an overview of the difference between compostable and biodegradable products:

Compostable Plastic -- is "capable of undergoing biological decomposition in a compost site as part of an available program, such that the plastic is not visually distinguishable and breaks down to carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass, at a rate consistent with known compostable materials (e.g. cellulose). and leaves no toxic residue."

3 criteria must be met:

1. Biodegrade - break down into carbon dioxide, water and biomass at the same rate as cellulose (paper).
2. Disintegrate - the material is indistinguishable in the compost, that it is not visible and needs to be screened out.
3. Eco-toxicity - the biodegradation does not produce any toxic material and the compost can support plant growth.

Biodegradable Plastic -- will degrade from the action of naturally occurring microorganism, such as bacteria, fungi etc. over a period of time. Note, that there is no requirement for leaving "no toxic residue", and as well as no requirement for the time it needs to take to biodegrade.

Remember - it doesn't matter what you use if you don't properly dispose of it.

I liked the shape of these cups. A little squat and wide. It was unique. And the material was nice to interact with--a little soft and modulated. It is definitely a more thoughtful cup to serve a drink in (when compared to the red plastic guys, the epononymous dixie cup, and other peer drinking vessels). It is nice to make a mundane thing like a diposable cup a little more luxurious--i think it's the best part of design.

The material does not scream "recycled," but if you know it is made of recycled materials, it will make sense to you. Much less "biocombustible," which is awesome. They use refuse from the sugar milling process to develop these cups!

Sometimes when I have big groups over and use disposable cups, I like to draw a picture or write everyone's nickname on the cups to differentiate. That way people can alwas find their cup and there is not waste. i was happy to see that the material of these cups would allow you to color on them with any type of marker or ballpoint or pencil.

 I would buy these paper cups in the future.