New PHA pathway, stroodles noodle straws, bamboo poutine, seaweed bioplastic, rice husk travel mugs and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of November 28th

#9 Nevada entrepreneur hopes to scale up travel mugs made from rice husks

In Nevada, an eco-entrepreneur has developed a biodegradable travel mug from rice husks and starch.

Deborah Chang, president and CEO of Equity Incites and owner of Adaptive Appalachia LLC, tells Northern Nevada Business Review that despite its biodegradability, the mugs last several years.

The mugs are currently produced in China, but Chang hopes to move production to Nevada and hire individuals marginalized in the local economy, including the disabled, displaced miners, and former prisoners.

“While my company and inventory is now in Nevada and the cups will be sold and distributed from Northern Nevada, unfortunately it will probably take a couple of years at least for me to raise enough capital to start a new manufacturing factory to make the cups here,” says Chang.

The mugs sell for $14.95 on sage-sierra.com.
More on the story, here.