USA – Germany-based technology company creating thin clay containers, raised US$6.5 million in Seed funding to introduce its products to the US via a trial with Californian coffee chain Verve.

Based out of San Francisco, US, and Berlin, Germany, GaeaStar uses clay, water and salt to create single-use cups and bowls that have “no impact on the environment.”

GaeaStar’s founder Sanjeev Mankotia believes there are no environmentally sustainable solutions for single-use products on the market.

The company states the product can be crashed on the ground since it is made from earth, without a need for recycling.

Mankotia adds that the single-use clay meets people “where they are” rather than making people adopt new recycling habits.

The products are made from geo-neutral materials and the clay is sourced locally in California. The vessels can be created based on individual demand, which the company calls a micro-factory model.

The company states that there are notable differences between biodegradable, compostable and geo-neutral materials.

It explains a biodegradable item will break down under certain conditions with the help of bacteria or other living organisms.

A compostable item is biodegradable organic matter that can completely break down to make nutrient-rich compost, while a material that is geo-neutral will have no impact on the environment.

The cups and bowls are made from clay, water, salt and “a bit of energy,” with two options. The first is the dry and semisolid range.

The solutions come in three different sizes in terracotta color. The company says it is “good for ice cream, fruit, salads and tapas.” GaeaStar also offers its range to be branded.

The other option is the liquid range which is made from the same ingredients but is in the shape of a taller cup as opposed to a bowl-like shape. This design is suitable for hot and cold beverages.

The company’s move comes at a time when single-use plastic is posing environmental problems in the USA.

The country announced plans to ban the sale of single-use plastic on public lands and national parks by 2032, to mitigate a major contributor to plastic pollution as the country’s recycling rate continues to decline.

The measure would help to reduce the more than 14 million tonnes of plastic that end up in the ocean every year.

Under the order, single-use plastic products refer to items that are disposed of immediately after use, like plastic and polystyrene food and beverage containers, bottles, straws, cups, cutlery and disposable plastic bags.

For all the latest packaging and printing industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.