Co-founders Garima Parnami and Gaurav Pranami created Foliumware after a landfill visit prompted them to seek a genuinely natural alternative to disposable tableware. The company makes single-use leaf plates and bowls for gatherings, replacing conventional throwaway serveware with products designed to return to backyard compost in a few weeks.
DuebestBorn from a pair of chopsticks pulled out over egg noodles in lower Manhattan, Duebest creates reusable products for lower-waste meals and everyday living. Founded by best friends Daphne Sculac and BobbiJo McCauley, the brand’s signature teak cutlery is handmade by Fair Trade artisans in Bali and designed to travel in a compact case. Duebest also develops practical kitchen reusables, including silicone stretch lids and glass straw sets, with the goal of helping people move away from single-use plastics.
Emerald EcovationsEmerald Ecovations grew from paper-industry executive Ralph Bianculli’s 1997 effort to challenge the use of trees and petroleum in everyday disposables. The company now makes renewable-fiber packaging and foodservice products for organizations seeking alternatives to conventional single-use materials, while also helping customers understand their environmental impact.HUNTINGTON, NY
EccoCaneEccoCane turns the fibrous residue left after sugar extraction into compostable food-service packaging, including trays and containers made from sugarcane bagasse. Founded by food-service professionals with more than 20 years of industry experience, the company focuses on replacing conventional paper, plastic and foam disposables with renewable-resource alternatives for wholesalers and their customers. Its products are designed for hot or cold food and are microwave- and refrigerator-safe.RIDGEWOOD, NY
Fuling Plastic USA, IncFounded in 1992 as a household tableware and fishing-equipment manufacturer, Fuling Plastic USA now makes disposable paper and plastic tableware for foodservice customers. Its Lehigh Valley headquarters, opened in 2015 as Fuling Global’s first U.S. expansion, connects American operations with manufacturing sites in China and distribution across North America and Asia. The company also develops biodegradable and PLA-based alternatives as part of its sustainability work.ALLENTOWN, PA