On average, a single American discards 150 single-use plates and cups each year. That adds up to over 1 million tons of plates — about the same weight as an offshore oil platform. 

The Lifepack company, based in Cali (Colombia), contributes to the care of the environment manufacturing biodegradable dishes made with recycled paper and natural fibers, such as the crown of pineapples and corn husks, which come out of the harvesting process carried out by the farmers of the region. 

They put seeds in plates that further germinate in the countries where they are marketed. So after the plates are thrown away they germinate into a whole variety of plants. The plates are Lifepack’s latest effort to reduce plastic waste worldwide. The 12-year-old company also makes sandwich containers and coffee cup sleeves that contain seeds from edible plants like cilantro, amaranth, and strawberry. Covered with just a thin layer of earth they will produce, in less than three weeks, plants, fruits, trees, shrubs or vegetables. Not something that you can do with plastic or styrofoam.