Compostable Packaging from Agricultural Residues

$14.8 billion of foodservice disposables and packaging (plates, utensils, take out containers, meat trays, bowls etc.) are purchased each year in USA (Freedonia 2009). They are mostly made from Styrofoam/plastics and cause pollution and toxicity in production, usage and disposal. Cities and consumers are looking to increase landfill diversion rates and reduce pollution. Compostable products are starting to replace plastic products, but are still a very small part of the overall foodservice market. They are much more expensive and cost is given as the main reason for non-adoption of these products. Our goal is to produce a composite material at a price point, which will make it economically viable to manufacture domestically and be price competitive with plastics/Styrofoam products. The objective is to use very low cost agricultural resides in high proportions in combination with biodegradable polymers to get to the desired price point. Other benefits including creating value to farmers for their agriculture residues, reducing landfill waste, reducing imports, manufacturing domestically, creating jobs and using the technology for other verticals like building materials, consumer products etc.