Q. What is EarthShell^® Dinnerware?
A. The composite technology behind EarthShell^® combines widely available natural resources such as limestone, starch and water with small amounts of recycled fiber and protective coatings. From this technology, EarthShell^® Corporation has developed food service disposables designed with the environment in mind that offer high-quality performance and competitive pricing.

Q. Can I serve any type of food on EarthShell^® including meat or hot soup?
A. Yes, EarthShell^® has a natural protective laminate made from materials such as paraffin wax and select polymers. The laminate is heat, moisture and cut resistant and, like the substrate (material underneath), will safely biodegrade in a compost system or in your backyard compost. Because the laminate is much slower to breakdown than the substrate, it won’t begin to biodegrade immediately. This means your bowl of soup won’t leak, but it will eventually compost.

Q. Is EarthShell^® safe for my family to use?
A. All EarthShell^® products are safe for food applications meeting FDA requirements.

Q. Does bleach make EarthShell^® white like many paper products?
A. EarthShell^® is naturally white without chlorine bleach. This keeps dangerous toxins from being released into the environment during manufacturing as well as keeping bleached products out of your home and eventually into the soil or landfills.

Q. Why does EarthShell^® make a crackling noise when pressure is applied to it?
A. Rest assured the crackling noise does not compromise the strength or performance of the product. EarthShell^® is designed to have premium strength and rigidity equal to or better than other leading dinnerware brands. The technology used to make EarthShell^® causes it to look and feel slightly different than traditional disposables.

Q. Can I store foods in the refrigerator and freezer on EarthShell^®?
A. You can temporarily store moist foods in the refrigerator no longer than 24 hours…let’s not forget, EarthShell^® is biodegradable. You can store dry foods for any length of time. Extended freezer storage is not recommended.

Q. Can I heat any type of food on EarthShell^® in the microwave?
A. You can safely heat wet or dry foods in the microwave on EarthShell^® without melting or moisture saturation. Follow microwave cooking directions on food packages. EarthShell^® does not become hot to the touch so you can remove plates or bowls from the microwave immediately without burning your hands. EarthShell^® has natural insulating properties that keep foods warmer or colder depending on the temperature of the food.

Q. How long does it take EarthShell^® to biodegrade?
A. On average EarthShell^® takes 30-60 days, depending on the compost conditions, to fully biodegrade into Class 1 compost. Class 1 compost is that with unrestricted use, including use for food crops, according to US EPA guidelines.

Q. What happens if EarthShell^® ends-up in a landfill or worse as litter?
A. Studies prove EarthShell^® occupies significantly less space in a landfill environment than traditional disposable dinnerware. If it ends-up as litter, EarthShell^® degrades within 60 to 90 days in a roadside environment, given normal rainfall patterns. Even better EarthShell^® biodegrades completely in water (oceans) and its bi-products are not toxic to marine animals.

Q. What is composting? What is compost?
A. Composting is the process of controlled decomposition of organic matter. Compost provides multiple benefits such as soil amendment, potting mix supplement and mulch. Yard trimmings and food residuals together constitute 23 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream. That’s a lot of waste to send to landfills when it could become environmentally beneficial compost instead. For more information about composting please visit: www.epa.gov/compost/

Q. Where can I find municipal composting facilities?
A. Check in your local phone book or call your local government office.

Q. What is a Life Cycle Inventory or LCI?
A. LCI is the first step in a multi-staged process called life cycle analysis (LCA) – a method used to estimate the environmental performance of a product or process over its entire life cycle, including raw material extraction from the earth, production, use and end-of-life disposal.

Q. How is EarthShell^® manufactured?
A. The manufacturing process is very much like making waffles. The ingredients are mixed together, resulting in a "batter" which is placed between two heated molds. The water in the batter turns to steam, raising the pressure in the molds, which forms and sets the products. They are then protected with a biodegradable laminate.

Q. Can I use EarthShell^® in the oven, stove top or grill?
A. EarthShell^® is not designed to be used near an open flame or extremely hot heat source.

Q. Will EarthShell^® dinnerware start to biodegrade during use?
A. No. The natural protective laminate will keep EarthShell^® “picture perfect” during use.

Q. Is EarthShell^® dishwasher safe?
A. Because EarthShell^® is biodegradable it is not recommended for dishwasher use. However, you can feel good about using environmentally friendly EarthShell^® only once.

Q. Is EarthShell^® Dinnerware more expensive than traditional packaging?
A. EarthShell^® is competitively priced with other premium brands, which means that you can choose it as a premium food service packaging option without having to pay more, and its unique environmental benefits offer added value.