One scientist carefully removes the lid of a Petri dish containing a volatile, corrosive acid that could cause serious injury. Reaching into the dish ever-so-slowly with a pair of tweezers, the scientist removes a translucent film that researchers later discover could help save our planet.

Eliminating plastic waste from our landfills is an issue that companies across the globe are trying to combat. Creating an alternative to plastic isn’t easy. Those who are able to create their own innovative solutions spend thousands of dollars on research and development, not to mention time–it usually takes a few years until a viable solution is discovered.

Although not everyone is successful, one company has developed a bio-plastic manufacturing process that helps reduce environmental impact, and could revolutionize the packaged foods industry.

Plastic producer Futamura has partnered with sustainable packaging producer Bio4Pack, to create NatureFlex – a sustainable solution to combat the growing issue that is pollution. Most renewable bio-plastics are made using materials such as corn, potatoes, or wheat; however, NatureFlex bags are produced using Cellulose, one of the most abundant organic materials on our planet.

This Cellulose actually comes from the wood pulp of sustainably harvested trees, making it anywhere from 90% to 99% fully compostable. The process is simple: by taking pieces of wood and soaking them in Trifluoroacetic acid, you are separating the cellulose cells from the sugar molecules, creating a cellophane-like film as a result. That “cellophane” is then used to manufacture NatureFlex bags.

Not only do these bags help reduce our carbon footprint, but they are also extremely similar to regular synthetic polymer bags, providing the same texture and durability. Thanks to this break-through manufacturing process, the NatureFlex bag could very well become the future of packaged foods.

The post Bio Plastics – A Green Alternative appeared first on Inventionland.

Coffee cups wreak havoc on our environment and are a nightmare when it comes to recycling. A majority of coffee cup designs involve a piece of cardboard tightly wrapped between two pieces of plastic (foam). Because of this design, coffee cups are a challenge to recycle – taking about 20 years until they decompose entirely.

A staggering 600 billion of these cups are used by food and beverage chains each year with Starbucks accounting for roughly 6 billion.

Starbucks attempted to create a solution before by grinding down old cups into fiber, then reusing that fiber to make new cups. This short-term solution, however, didn’t solve the bigger issue: eliminating this material entirely from our landfills.

That strategy has carried the company where they are today. Currently, Starbucks cups are manufactured using only 10% recycled material. Also, because of regulations on appropriate infrastructure (regulations set forth by local municipalities) Starbucks is only able to recycle material from Seattle, San Francisco, New York, and Washington DC.

Besides their grant challenge, Starbucks is conducting its 13^th round of testing for a “greener” coffee cup. Plant-based fiber seems to be the next plan-of-attack for the company as they painstakingly search for a more eco-friendly alternative.

Starbucks isn’t the only chain feeling the heat from the eyes of environmental groups leaning on them to develop a sustainable alternative. Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonald’s have both vowed to eliminate polystyrene cups and create more environmentally friendly alternatives by the early 2020’s.

In today’s world, the word “green” means more than just money: it’s a way of life for businesses looking to become sustainability icons – starting with their manufacturing processes.

The post Starbucks Cups: A Need for Change appeared first on Inventionland.