What are our Mâche clamshells made out of?

Our clamshells are made from the corn-based NatureWorks® biopolymer (Polyactide-PLA), which is an environmentally-friendly plastic derived from 100% annually renewable resources rather than traditional petroleum-based plastics.

How can plastic be made from corn?

NatureWorks® PLA harnesses carbon naturally stored in plants through the process of photosynthesis. This is achieved by tapping into the carbon stored in plant starches, which can be broken down into natural plant sugars. The sugar is then fermented in a manner similar to making wine or beer, and then turns it into lactic acid. The lactic acid is what is then turned into the polymer known as polylactic acid or NatureWorks® PLA.

Does NatureWorks® Contain Genetically Modified Material?

No it does not contain genetically modified material, nor does the production require any genetically modified raw material.

Why is the Mâche clamshell a more sustainable/environmentally responsible material?

Based on a peer reviewed and published Life Cycle Assessment (insert link on the words to go to what is Life Cycle Assessment) data shows that NatureWorks® PLA requires much less fossil fuel resources and generates fewer greenhouse gases than traditional plastics. In fact, throughout the production process, from corn to plastic, NatureWorks® biopolymer uses 62-68% percent less fossil fuel resources than the entire production process of conventional plastics. It also contributes 65% less greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere on its own, including the greenhouse gases released during land use change. It emits less carbon dioxide because it uses renewable resources as a feedstock. With the purchase of wind-power based Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), the offset reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 80-90%.

What is Life Cycle Assessment?

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), also called cradle-to-grave analysis, is the primary tool for measuring sustainability and environmental impacts associated. It covers all stages of a product's life, from the extraction of resources to ultimate disposal. The term 'life cycle' refers to the notion that a fair, holistic assessment requires the assessment of raw material production, manufacture, distribution, use, and disposal including all intervening transportation steps necessary or caused by the product's existence.

What about the issue of using agricultural products that diverts crops from being produced for food?

Looking ahead, NatureWorks is working to develop technologies to facilitate the use of lignocellulosic biomass feedstock, such as corn stover (plants left in the field after harvest), wheat and rice straw (leftover after harvest) and bagasse (biomass remaining after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract juice). So, today we are using agricultural products, tomorrow we intend to use agricultural waste streams.

Is the Mâche Clamshell Recyclable?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is that it has the potential to be recycled (it is recyclable) once there is a sufficient volume of the product in the market and the infrastructure is in place to make recycling economically feasible. Until then, Nature Works LLC has established a North American post-consumer buy-back program to facilitate the removal of collected PLA bottles and packaging from recyclers until the market for recycled PLA has matured.

What is the best way to dispose of the Mâche clamshell?

As the clamshell is labeled, they are compostable, but only in municipal/industrial facilities. The BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) has placed NatureWorks PLA on the positive list for compostable materials and it is certified compostable by the US Composting Council. To find a composting facility nearest you please visit www.findacomposter.com/search for the U.S. and Canada.

Can I throw NatureWorks PLA into my backyard compost?

NatureWorks PLA should be composted in industrial compost facilities, which contain the right managed combination of temperature and moisture. Therefore, it is not recommended for use in typical backyard composting due to the lack of high temperature and inconsistent conditions.

What if the Mâche Clamshell is thrown away and land-filled?

If land-filled, PLA is inert it contains no harmful toxins that can leach into the soil. It also does not contain persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic chemicals.

What does the SPI Code (number inside the recycle symbol) 7-OTHER Mean?

The SPI codes are used to indicate the type of plastic from which the article is made. At the time of their creation, codes one through six were developed, as the overwhelming majority of plastic packaging was made from one of six main resins. The code 7 was developed for articles made from plastics that did not fall in one of the 6 categories. Many new plastics have been invented, including NatureWorks® biopolymer, that fall under the 7 category.

Does the SPI Code 7-Other indicate product safety?

The SPI resin categories are intended to indicate resin content for the purpose of facilitating recycling and sorting efforts. They were never intended to be, and are not, an indicator of product safety. NatureWorks PLA does not contain or ever used any amount of Bisphenol A ( BPA ), which is in some type 7 plastics. The 7-OTHER code cannot be used as a means to determine the particular type of plastic that was used the manufacture the article bearing the code.