Comments on: SpudWare Cutlery made from potatoes http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/ Future-forward design for the world you inhabit Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:48:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: seagathttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-91774 seagat Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:27:19 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-91774 Hey Goldfish, while there are many imitators, there is only one SpudWare! The cutlery at Whole Foods is not SpudWare if it gets mushy in heat. And composting SpudWare does need green waste. Like any other brown material (compost has to have equal parts of "green" (fresh nitrogen waste) and "brown" (woody carbon source), it needs to be shredded. With moisture, enzymatic action and the heat that ensues, SpudWare is being composted at many sites across the country. Hey Goldfish, while there are many imitators, there is only one SpudWare! The cutlery at Whole Foods is not SpudWare if it gets mushy in heat.
And composting SpudWare does need green waste. Like any other brown material (compost has to have equal parts of “green” (fresh nitrogen waste) and “brown” (woody carbon source), it needs to be shredded. With moisture, enzymatic action and the heat that ensues, SpudWare is being composted at many sites across the country.

]]> By: luckybirdhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-86497 luckybird Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:56:13 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-86497 spudware is a great idea, however its unpleasant to use because it smells. spudware is a great idea, however its unpleasant to use because it smells.

]]> By: Bat Mitzvah Decompression « The Life and Times of Organic Mamahttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-78030 Bat Mitzvah Decompression « The Life and Times of Organic Mama Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:45:15 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-78030 [...] the last-minute things like plattering had to be done.  ‘Ka had brought cutlery from CA -SPUDWARE, to be precise- made from potato starch and soy oil, while I had bought Earthshell, disposable, [...] [...] the last-minute things like plattering had to be done.  ‘Ka had brought cutlery from CA -SPUDWARE, to be precise- made from potato starch and soy oil, while I had bought Earthshell, disposable, [...]

]]> By: Alihttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-72724 Ali Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:07:53 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-72724 *make *make

]]> By: Alihttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-72723 Ali Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:06:50 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-72723 Okay! Calm down!1. Is what way is by any measure similar to conventional plastic cutlery? 2. Cutlery replaced by compostable alternatives isn't styrofoam - it's mostly PP. The price for a ton of PP would get you 1/3 of a ton of this material 3. Potato is rarely GM - and this stuff comes from China who have no GM crop. 4. PLA Cutlery can come with heat resistance (www.compostablepackaging.co.uk) 5. It's agreed generally that this will compost within a year in a home compost heap 6. So what if it ends up in landfill? No oil used to burn it 7. If you want takeaways to give away stainless steel cutlery to people - know that that's a hell of a workload to replace. Not to mention added shipping weight adding to fuel consumptionIt's all good in the compostable packaging hood.Ali Okay! Calm down!

1. Is what way is by any measure similar to conventional plastic cutlery?
2. Cutlery replaced by compostable alternatives isn’t styrofoam – it’s mostly PP. The price for a ton of PP would get you 1/3 of a ton of this material
3. Potato is rarely GM – and this stuff comes from China who have no GM crop.
4. PLA Cutlery can come with heat resistance (www.compostablepackaging.co.uk)
5. It’s agreed generally that this will compost within a year in a home compost heap
6. So what if it ends up in landfill? No oil used to burn it
7. If you want takeaways to give away stainless steel cutlery to people – know that that’s a hell of a workload to replace. Not to mention added shipping weight adding to fuel consumption

It’s all good in the compostable packaging hood.

Ali

]]> By: Davidhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-66370 David Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:58:24 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-66370 I really think we need to be wary of using items that are made from food sources. Sure, these items have a lower impact on the earth, but how many more people will go without basic starches because we are now making forks, spoons, sporks and fpoons with them? I really think we need to be wary of using items that are made from food sources. Sure, these items have a lower impact on the earth, but how many more people will go without basic starches because we are now making forks, spoons, sporks and fpoons with them?

]]> By: industrial designs for sale - ROGUEXCHANGEhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-61478 industrial designs for sale - ROGUEXCHANGE Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:32:28 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-61478 [...] Inhabitat read more about Bioplastic here Posted in Eco, [...] [...] Inhabitat read more about Bioplastic here Posted in Eco, [...]

]]> By: Charlottehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-59722 Charlotte Sun, 11 Nov 2007 13:52:54 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-59722 […] spudware […] […] spudware […]

]]> By: take-out trash :: craftastichttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-58971 take-out trash :: craftastic Wed, 07 Nov 2007 06:17:53 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-58971 [...] spudware [...] [...] spudware [...]

]]> By: Technomanai.net » Blog Archive » Bulviniai stalo įrankiaihttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-58317 Technomanai.net » Blog Archive » Bulviniai stalo įrankiai Sat, 03 Nov 2007 01:56:50 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-58317 [...] [inhabitat.com] Pažymėk: Šios nuorodos veda į socialinių žymų puslapius, kuriuose skaitytojai gali dalintis ir atrasti įdomius www puslapius Tagai: bulvė, ekologija, įrankiai, maistas, peilis, soja, spudware, šakutė, šaukštas Panašūs įrašai: Spurgų kepimo automatas, Helouvyniško maisto rinkinukas [Foto], Nagus į maistą!, Ozono skylė traukiasi, Pakrovėjas su saulės baterijomis, 1 arklio galios autobusiukas, Dažai, generuojantys elektrą, Ekologiškas duomenų centras, Žaliausias automobilis - Smart Roadster, Dviračiai - žoliapjovės [...] [...] [inhabitat.com] Pažymėk: Šios nuorodos veda į socialinių žymų puslapius, kuriuose skaitytojai gali dalintis ir atrasti įdomius www puslapius Tagai: bulvė, ekologija, įrankiai, maistas, peilis, soja, spudware, šakutė, šaukštas Panašūs įrašai: Spurgų kepimo automatas, Helouvyniško maisto rinkinukas [Foto], Nagus į maistą!, Ozono skylė traukiasi, Pakrovėjas su saulės baterijomis, 1 arklio galios autobusiukas, Dažai, generuojantys elektrą, Ekologiškas duomenų centras, Žaliausias automobilis – Smart Roadster, Dviračiai – žoliapjovės [...]

]]> By: compost compost compost « articul design’s Webloghttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-57974 compost compost compost « articul design’s Weblog Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:04:34 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-57974 [...]   http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/ Filed under: Uncategorized [...] [...]   http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/ Filed under: Uncategorized [...]

]]> By: Jóvenes Por la Ecología de Asturias » Una cubertería hecha de patatas!!??http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-57283 Jóvenes Por la Ecología de Asturias » Una cubertería hecha de patatas!!?? Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:32:54 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-57283 [...] Visto en Inhabitat [...] [...] Visto en Inhabitat [...]

]]> By: Max Christian Hansenhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-57220 Max Christian Hansen Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:45:14 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-57220 I notice two themes in this thread: "Does it really biodegrade?" and "Is it sturdy?". Note that if both these are ideals, they probably conflict. Folks in the business of designing bioresins have to do a balancing act. They want their products to be shelf-stable and heat- and mouth-resistant, but also compostable.To make this possible at all, the standards for compostability have to call for a very bioactive process. And the "official" standards (ASTM D6400 and its Euro equivalent) do just that. To be certified compostable, a bio-based product needs to break down in the conditions common to municipal and commercial composting operations. These include carefully controlled moisture and oxygen, and pretty high temps, usually over 150F. Few of us get those conditions in our piles at home. (When I do, it's through very generous use of urine-rich horse manure.)Spudware(R) can stand up to boiling water because the latter hasn't the bioactivity of the compost heap. Heat and bioactivity are both required.Notice the (R) after Spudware. The name is a registered trademark of Excellent Packaging and Supply, and if your food service is using biodegradable cutlery that isn't Spudware, it may not be the same stuff at all. If it droops in the soup, it certainly isn't Spudware. More likely, it's PLA (corn plastic), which is pretty cool stuff, but decidedly not heat-resistant.Exactly the same stuff as Spudware does exist under different names. The cutlery sold as "Vegware" by the company of the same name in the UK is the same. (The owner of that biz plans to register "Vegware" as his own trade name for the product.)[Disclosure: I'm currently doing work for Excellent Packaging and Supply. Great company.] I notice two themes in this thread: “Does it really biodegrade?” and “Is it sturdy?”. Note that if both these are ideals, they probably conflict. Folks in the business of designing bioresins have to do a balancing act. They want their products to be shelf-stable and heat- and mouth-resistant, but also compostable.

To make this possible at all, the standards for compostability have to call for a very bioactive process. And the “official” standards (ASTM D6400 and its Euro equivalent) do just that. To be certified compostable, a bio-based product needs to break down in the conditions common to municipal and commercial composting operations. These include carefully controlled moisture and oxygen, and pretty high temps, usually over 150F. Few of us get those conditions in our piles at home. (When I do, it’s through very generous use of urine-rich horse manure.)

Spudware(R) can stand up to boiling water because the latter hasn’t the bioactivity of the compost heap. Heat and bioactivity are both required.

Notice the (R) after Spudware. The name is a registered trademark of Excellent Packaging and Supply, and if your food service is using biodegradable cutlery that isn’t Spudware, it may not be the same stuff at all. If it droops in the soup, it certainly isn’t Spudware. More likely, it’s PLA (corn plastic), which is pretty cool stuff, but decidedly not heat-resistant.

Exactly the same stuff as Spudware does exist under different names. The cutlery sold as “Vegware” by the company of the same name in the UK is the same. (The owner of that biz plans to register “Vegware” as his own trade name for the product.)

[Disclosure: I'm currently doing work for Excellent Packaging and Supply. Great company.]

]]> By: Cubiertos biodegradableshttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-57206 Cubiertos biodegradables Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:30:21 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-57206 [...] Vía | Inhabitat [...] [...] Vía | Inhabitat [...]

]]> By: Killusion » Blog Archive » Alright, I’ll force you to changehttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/comment-page-1/#comment-56797 Killusion » Blog Archive » Alright, I’ll force you to change Sun, 21 Oct 2007 01:20:23 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/13/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/#comment-56797 [...] systemic level. Instead of telling people to stop buying petrol-based plastics, let’s create patato-based plastics instead. Whatever, just make them from anything other than the poisonous chemicals we use [...] [...] systemic level. Instead of telling people to stop buying petrol-based plastics, let’s create patato-based plastics instead. Whatever, just make them from anything other than the poisonous chemicals we use [...]

]]>