Packaging

This article talks about how much packaging the US goes through in one year. The US alone spends $150 billion a year. Now, with a focus on going green, many companies like Natureworks, has developed bioplastic (biodegradable) plastic in which is derived from corn. Overseas, this technology has been seen in fruit packaging, sandwich boxes, dessert cups, and coating coffee cups. This product is becoming so popular, it cannot make enough to keep up with the demand. There are numbers given in percentages that prove the CO2 goes down when using this type of packaging; it in fact does help the environment.

I think that this article was very interesting in the fact that it connects with one of our ideas about the Dutch Brothers coffee, in that making the cups and lids compostable and/or biodegradable. Companies like these are an interest while we are researching who makes products like these and what the benefits are. This technology has facts behind it that prove it truly does benefit the environment. Having these types of cups, could always help with out idea behind not only composting coffee beans, but the cups as well. We could not only have bins outside of the Dutch Bros. locations, but also bins for cups and lids that can be composted as well. I think technology like this is helping our world progress in a healthier manner, whether we are helping the environment, or helping our livestock by giving the compost to farmers and/or the people in our country that produce our food, etc.

Do you think that producing products like this is worth the extra time and money? Do you think it matters what products we choose to put this technology forward with?

Desirae MacGillivray

Works Cited: EBSCO

http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.oregonstate.edu/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=9&sid=0804cfb5-5683-4015-b592-18d2bb67def4%40sessionmgr10&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=27198887