While nothing beats reusable dishware for your festive events, these biodegradable plates from VerTerra are a great alternative to yucky paper or plastic dishes. VerTerra{true to the Earth} plates are made from organically-grown palm treeleaves from India. The fallen leaves, which would traditionally havebeen burned on the roadside, are collected, sterilized, steamed andpressed into plates. The process uses no chemicals, glues or bondingagents, and over 80% of the water used during the steaming and pressingprocess is recaptured and recycled. Best of all, VerTerra’s plates are 100% natural and biodegradable!The idea for VerTerrabegan in the summer of 2006 when creator Michael Dwork saw a woman at aroadside food stall in rural India make plates by simply pressing palmleaves into what looked like a waffle iron. Michael took the idea withhim into his final year at Columbia Business School andentered the idea for VerTerra plates into the school’s business plancompetition. He won the $100,000 prize and was also awarded secondplace and another $100,000 prize at the DJF East Coast Venture Challenge.VerTerra dishes are microwave, oven and freezer safe. And, becausethey are made from only leaves, they are fully compostable andbiodegrade in as little as six weeks. VerTerra’s manufacturing facilityin India is fair trade, ensuring that production adheres to principles of sustainable communities as well as materia
www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/14/verterra-dishware-made-from-fallen-leaves/