One Solution for Reducing Plastic Waste: Eat It

In a world that’s increasingly reliant on (and burdened by) plastic, today we’re happy to share a bit of good news.

An Indonesian start-up company, Evoware, has created a type of edible, seaweed-based packaging that’s not only replacing plastic, it’s also benefitting the farmers who grow the seaweed.

The new packaging has a two-year shelf life and is being used to make things like single-serving coffee sachets that melt in hot water, sugar and seasoning packets, edible hamburger wrappers and even toothpicks. And because it’s packed with vitamins, it’s also good for you!

Seaweed is one of Indonesia’s most prolific resources; the country produces about 10 million tons of it every year. But the farmers who grow it are usually among Indonesia’s poorest residents. Indonesia is also one of the world’s largest contributors to ocean plastic.

Evoware’s edible bioplastic is seen as a biological win-win because it supports the farmers who supply the seaweed, and it also creates a sustainable, biodegradable product that could ultimately help prevent so much plastic waste from entering oceans.