Corn Plastic is Not That Fantastic

It’s not just for eating anymore. Corn is a huge food crop. But it is so much more. And it ain’t necessarily all good.

PLA is manufactured by agribiz giant Cargill at a plant in Blair, Nebraska. Cargill is a major player in the genetically modified corn market, is apparently the world’s largest grain handler, and operates its PLA product division under the name NatureWorks. The long and short of it is that this “green” plastic is made from GMO corn by one of the largest private companies in the United States, one with a terrible track record on environmental issues.

So when we use these cups, we are supporting GMO crops and industrial ag. And that sucks. But there’s more…

We are not necessarily creating less waste. Yes, the cups are biodegradable, but only in commercial composting facilities or other composts that reach 150 degrees with 90 percent humidity. So even if you composted in your apartment—which you could!—you likely would not have the right conditions.

Fact is, it is the same with our product, All Occasion Veneerware® bamboo plates, trays and utensils. The conditions need to be right for things to biodegrade. Period.

That’s where the similarity ends.

The bamboo source crop is grown abundantly, and in the wild. The harvesting of bamboo supports small scale independent farmers who harvest in a sustainable manner. The bamboo is not grown with fertilizers or pesticides. And that is documented. Our source is the only source that has been Certified Organic. The creation of our plates uses no petroleum.

Corn, on the other hand, is a petroleum-intensive crop, promotes mono-crop agriculture, and is a food source.