Today’s Solutions: March 20, 2026

Isn’t it ridiculous that disposable plastic plates are still being used even though they can take up to 500 years to break down? An innovative Polish company by the name of Biotrem thinks so, which is why they’ve created biodegradable tableware made from compressed wheat bran, a by-product of the cereal milling process.

By mixing the bran with water, then heating and pressurizing it, the company is able to turn wheat bran into a sturdy material. Once the material has been used, it can be tossed in the compost where it will take up to a month to biodegrade.

Biotrem can make up to 10,000 biodegradable plates and bowls from a ton of waste wheat bran that otherwise would be thrown away, and up to 15 million biodegradable plates per year. As Biotrem’s products hit the market, hopefully, they will decrease the number of plastic plates winding up in the landfill.

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