Recyclable Compostable Disposable Straws Fabricated From Rapidly Renewable Resources

Abstract

The invention provides improved straws, which are formed from paperboard sheets comprised of rapidly renewable resources and are recyclable, biodegradable and compostable. The paperboard sheets are comprised of bamboo, bagasse, reed or any combination or singularity thereof.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to single-use straws. More specifically, the present invention relates to recyclable, disposable straws which is entirely biodegradable or compostable and made from specific rapidly renewable resources, those being bagasse, reed and or bamboo, without the inclusion of previously recycled materials and may utilizie only FDA approved inks and dyes for decoration.

II. Related Art

Various straws are known in the art and are commercially available. The vast majority of said products are manufactured from plastics, PLA, or paper products which include wood pulp and other petroleum-based chemicals. Rapidly renewable resources such as bagasse (the dry, pulpy, fibrous matter that remains after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juice), reed and bamboo, an extremely fast-growing grass, are not utilized in the manufacture of disposable straws which are recyclable, biodegradable and compostable.

Today, the United States Department of Agriculture, manufacturers and packagers are trying to increase the use of “biobased” products as a means to reducing North America's dependence on oil and gas from overseas sources. Products that are biobased or contain certain quantities of renewable resources does not mean these products are entirely based on renewable resources. Instead many of these products combine both naturally based materials and petroleum based materials in order to satisfy consumer needs and desires and often include a portion of recycled materials. Recycled paper products specifically, frequently contain trace levels of bisphenol A (BPA) or other chemicals used in the inks or coatings on the paper which is recycled. Thus, great care must be taken when recycled paper is used as a source material, so that unsafe levels of these chemicals are not consumed or otherwise introduced to the end user. For this reason, the present invention specifically excludes the use of recycled material in the manufacture of the straws so as to entirely avoid this concern, as well as concerns caused by the introduction of chemicals which might be used to facilitate the removal of BPA.

Traditional disposable straw products, by the hundreds of millions, become fodder for the landfills that litter our continent and oceans and give rise to significant environmental concerns associated with disposal of trash.

Although these products are frequently adorned with the phrase “please recycle,” in actuality, these products are often not capable of being recycled, or cannot be easily recycled without chemical assistance, and they are not made entirely of rapidly renewable resources which are readily available as are bamboo, reed and sugarcane, and instead contribute to global deforestation and petroleum consumption. The phase “please recycle” is then simply a hopeful suggestion to the consumer, but is often inapplicable to the product. Additionally, these products are not made from materials which are biodegradable, or compostable. The forgoing invention anticipates a product which is actually and effectively recyclable, biodegradable, compostable, and fabricated from rapidly renewable resources without the inclusion of recycled materials or wood pulp.

In view of the foregoing, there is an absolute need for a shift towards recyclable, biodegradable, compostable disposable, straws made from readily and rapidly renewable resources that will achieve acceptable results for the consumer, and provide a viable, green, cost effective alternative for manufacturers and consumers alike as opposed to disposable products which are wood pulp based and petroleum based and have a significant negative impact on the environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the limitation of prior art disposable straws by providing a product which is manufactured from recyclable, biodegradable, compostable, rapidly renewable resources, specifically any combination of bamboo, reed or bagasse or the singularity of either component, which grow abundantly and far more rapidly than trees. Such materials are processed in a manner which results in paperboard rolls and then subsequently cut into the appropriate parts.

The forgoing summary has outlined features consistent with the present invention and in order that it may be better appreciated in its totality. The present invention is not limited in its application, details or components merely to those set forth in the descriptions and illustrations herein. The phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting unless explicitly stating as such.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and with reference to the following drawing.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a straw.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This description of the preferred embodiment is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. In the description, relative terms such as “lower”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “above”, “below”, “up”, “down”, “top” and “bottom”, “under”, as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “downwardly”, “upwardly”, “underside”, etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “connected”, “connecting”, “attached”, “attaching”, “joined”, and “joining” are used interchangeably and refer to one structure or surface being secured to another structure or surface or integrally fabricated in one piece unless expressly described otherwise.

As used herein, the term “compostable” refers to a substance that (1) breaks down at essentially the same rate as commonly found paper would under similar circumstances; (2) disintegrates in the compost over time; and (3) does not produce any toxic material such that the compost cannot support plant growth.

As used herein, the term “biodegradable” means a substance or object which is capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

As used herein, the term “rapidly renewable resource”, refers to resources derived from plant materials which grow abundantly or more rapidly than trees, and include such plant materials as bamboo, reed or bagasse.

As used herein, the term “recycled materials”, refers to waste products which have been treated or processed so as to make them suitable for a particular reuse, whereas “recyclable” material, as used herein, shall mean products which are capable of being treated or processed so as to make them suitable for a particular reuse.

The term “straws” as used herein, refers to straws of varying sizes and dimensions.

Recyclable, disposable, biodegradable straws comprising paperboard sheets which are composed of rapidly renewable resources, straws are depicted in FIG. 1.

As should be clear from the foregoing, the use of recyclable, biodegradable, cornpostable materials made from specific rapidly renewable resources, those being bagasse, reed, bamboo or any combination or singularity thereof.

Many recycled paper products include trace levels of bisphenol A (BPA) or other chemicals used in the inks or coatings on the paper which is recycled. Thus, when recycled paper is used as a source material, care should be taken to encapsulate or remove such chemicals so unsafe levels are not consumed. Removal may add to cost and encapsulation may add to cost or inhibit biodegradability and compostability. These types of problems can be avoided by using virgin paper products made from plants having a short growing cycle which do not contain such harmful chemicals.

The foregoing description is intended to explain the various features and advantages, but is not intended to be limiting. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims which are also intended to cover a reasonable range of equivalents.

Claims

1. Recyclable, disposable, biodegradable and compostable paper straw comprising paperboard sheets which are composed of rapidly renewable resources such as bagasse, bamboo, reed or any combination thereof, and excluding any recycled materials and wood pulp.