Simply put, the volume of plastic that is produced and incorrectly disposed of today is the greatest threat to our oceans’ and planet’s health. An estimated 8 million tons of plastic trash wind up in our oceans every year, where it is often mistakenly ingested by animals; this can cause serious injuries or death, or contaminate the overall food chain. Plastic production alone is harmful to the environment, as it is often accompanied by a huge carbon footprint.
Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) comes from the earth; it actually makes up 4% of the earth’s crust. It is found in a wide variety of rocks from all over the world, including marble, limestone, and chalk. Many natural organisms use calcium carbonate for the structures that protect them. It exists in snail shells, coral, pearls, and even egg shells. Calcium carbonate can also be found in a wide variety of rocks from all over the world. Our calcium carbonate is responsibly sourced by the world’s leading suppliers.
Yes, it has been used in very small amounts as a “filler”. Made From Stone’s innovative processes allow the majority of our compounds to be made out of calcium carbonate, displacing most of the toxic petrochemicals that make up plastic.
Only 9% of recyclable items are actually recycled, and less than 5% of compostable items are actually composted. Made From Stone is designed to cause less environmental impact where most of these products actually wind up––landfills, incinerators, or the open environment. Producing Made From Stone products also yields a much lower carbon footprint.
Made From Stone’s formulations have a carbon footprint that is up to ⅔ less than the petrochemical-produced plastic it replaces. Sourcing calcium carbonate and manufacturing our compounds locally also reduces the need for long-distance shipping, which ultimately decreases our overall carbon footprint.
No! Calcium carbonate is much cheaper than the petrochemicals it replaces, which means that we can keep the costs of our compounds low. Made From Stone technology can be made at the same price point or less expensively than your current plastic products. Producing the petrochemicals used in traditional plastic is much more energy and resource-intensive than the quarrying of natural stone.
Who wants a soggy straw? Most people react negatively to the performance of cardboard straws. Made from Stone straws don’t get soggy, don’t change the taste of what you’re drinking, and most importantly, have a much lower carbon footprint. By not using paper derived from trees that would normally absorb or remove carbon dioxide from our environment, the carbon footprint of Made From Stone straws is dramatically lower.
Yes, but with two exceptions. It cannot be made clear, and it cannot handle substances with high acidity without a liner.
Each production process is different and each finished product has different specifications based on varying design requirements for different products (greater resistance, greater elasticity, various shapes, color, and finishes). Our ultimate goal is to increase the concentration of calcium carbonate to 97%––equal to that of an egg, nature’s most perfect package.
Certain Made from Stone products can float, which allows them to be processed and recycled in facilities with other plastic products.
We can adjust the degradation time based on the desired product lifecycle with additives where permissible, from as little as a few months to as much as a few years. The important thing to keep in mind is that it is less than the four hundred years required for traditional plastic to completely degrade.
Hopefully, if our environmental education campaign succeeds, fewer single-use items will wind up in the ocean. However, in the event that a Made From Stone product finds its way there, we expect the polymer to degrade naturally in the open environment. The calcium carbonate will dissolve harmlessly in ocean waters, and can be re-used by ocean organisms like bacteria or marine animals with shells.
At Okeanos, we pride ourselves on not greenwashing. Yes, there is still a small amount of single-use plastic in products using Made From Stone’s proprietary compounds. However, we are continuously working to find better ways to degrade polymers and other non-petrochemical binders to create a practical, economical, and fully natural product in the future. Currently, our single-use products can degrade fully under certain conditions, and in a significantly shorter amount of time than 100% plastic products.
Made From Stone displaces plastic at its source, meaning that it greatly reduces the presence of plastic from the moment of manufacture. It is immediately less harmful for the environment, even before it is disposed of. Calcium carbonate is already a natural substance that doesn’t need to degrade, and can be re-used by our environment without significant modification. It is also less expensive compared to traditional plastics, and can be immediately implemented within the existing manufacturing supply chain.
Yes! Unlike paper or cardboard products, products Made From Stone are durable. They can easily be washed and reused.
Yes, Made From Stone produces a nearly identical product! We challenge you to get your hands on a regular plastic bag and compare against one that is Made From Stone…see if you can tell the difference!