Breaking it Down
Among the many things that I have had on my mind lately, corn starch based “plastics” is one of them. Sound strange? It’s not as strange as one may think. Alternate forms of fuel, energy and packaging has been all over the headlines lately. From ethanol fuels to corn stoves, new innovations are making big splashes in the environmental pool.
Corn starch based “plastics” is something that MOMs is working towards in our packaging, and something we encourage from our suppliers. Not only is the material made out of a renewable resource, corn, but it also has no toxic materials and biodegrades in a matter of months. This ultimately means less waste in our landfills and the materials can be composted to help grow more corn.
Many of MOMs suppliers already have taken the step to make a positive environmental impact. Many of the shipments we receive are packed in either edible popcorn or corn starch based packing peanuts. These have an even shorter span of time for biodegrability. The corn packing peanuts will dissolve before your eyes when in contact with moisture. We also carry products whose packaging is corn based; Annie Chun’s noodle bowls, Newman’s Own Organics salad mixes, and a new water bottle out by New Wave Enviro, just to name a few.
Keep your eye out next time you’re walking through MOMs for corn based products, whether that be your favorite salad in a corn starch container or MOMs prepacked prunes and dates.
September 12th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
As the parent of a child with severe multiple food allergies, those corn-starch based containers are a nightmare. Corn allergies are not as rare as many people believe and increased exposure will increase the severity of the reaction. Many scientists believe that the increase in peanut allergies is due, at least in part, to the steadily increasing use of peanut products; it is very likely that we will see a similar trend with corn.
September 12th, 2006 at 8:32 pm
Is corn really in that much food? I’d estimate that it’s about 1/20th of the food that wheat is in.
I happen to be severely allergic to peanuts. My friend insists it’s because I was not breast fed and given solids too soon as a baby. I’d easily be willing to stay allergic to peanuts if it would mean diminishing plastics littering the landscape and filling our landfills.