Fwd: The Plastic Maize Craze: Overrated?

[Guest guest]

> Ideal Bite <dailytip

>

> Wednesday, May 10, 2006

>

> IDEAL BITE ~ a sassier shade of green

>

> ===============================================

> Today's Daily Tip: The Plastic Maize Craze:

> Overrated?

> ===============================================

>

> Plastic made from corn is biodegradable, but is it

> really better for

> the environment?

>

> The Bite:

> So there’s this new polymer popping up on shelves

> from Wild Oats to

> Wal-Mart. It’s made from corn, so it’s

> biodegradable. But before doing

> the green victory jig, decide for yourself whether

> the stuff (which is

> often made from genetically-modified corn) is really

> the best thing

> since sliced cornbread, or if manufacturers are

> guilty of plastic

> perjury.

>

(http://idealbite.com/tiplibrary/tip.php?tip=20050803 & title=Food_for_the_World_o\

r_Just_for_Frankenstein?)

>

>

> The Benefits:

> Growing corn uses a ton of water (the water used to

> raise one acre

> could run your dishwasher over 42,000 times), and

> you have to find a

> local drop-spot for used containers, but the

> benefits of PLA

> (polylactic acid) plastics are significant:

> - Corn-based plastic doesn’t emit toxic fumes when

> incinerated, and

> requires 20-50% less fossil fuel to make as compared

> to regular

> plastics.

> - An affordable alternative. Corn-based straws or

> cups won’t break the

> bank.

> - Fully biodegradable within 47 days, but you can’t

> just throw it on

> your backyard’s compost pile. To decompose, PLA

> plastic requires a

> temperature of up to 284 degrees.

>

>

> Personally Speaking

> We’re both big fans of avoiding all plastics

> whenever possible -

> including the corn ones. But for those times when we

> forget our SIGG

> bottles and have to go for bottled water, we grab

> Biota (in corn

> plastics) when available, as it’s the better Biting

> choice.

>

(http://www.reusablebags.com/store/sigg-liter-traveller-classic-reusable-bottles\

-p-207.html)

>

>

> Wanna Try?

> - Wild Oats - return your used PLA-based containers

> at most

> locations. (http://www.wildoats.com/)

> - Nat-Ur Cutlery - corn-based plastic utensils

> ($16/240 pc).

>

(http://w5inter2.hivelocity.net/biocorp/cart/showall.asp)

> - Biota Spring Water - the first PLA-bottled water,

> available at many

> natural foods stores. Find out if it’s sold in your

> area at their

> website. (http://www.biotaspringwater.com/)

>

>

> Bang for the Bite Rating: 2 Apples (out of 5)

> Corn-based beats petroleum-based, particularly if

> you have easy access

> to recycling facilities, but avoid plastics when you

> can.

>

>

> Cocktail Tip

> Corny beginnings: Eva Mendes, Charlize Theron, and

> Naomi Watts all

> appeared in sequels to Children of the Corn.

>

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> PET PROMISE. Read our crazy story. FREE! ($15 value)

> “How Dog Food Saved the Earth” is a story about how

> Anthony Zolezzi’s

> visit to a strawberry patch led to the introduction

> of Pet Promise pet

> food. Receive a free copy of his book to learn more.

>

(http://www.petpromiseinc.com/PetPromise_bbp/book_offer_idealbite.htm)

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>

>

> © 2006 Ideal Bite, Inc.

>

>

> All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result

> of testing and a

> preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid

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