Corn Next home compostable drinking straws made from extruded corn starch bioplastic. Image Corn Next.

Superfest glass, also called CV-Glas or Ceverit and no longer in production, is known for being extremely durable. It was made with borosilicate glass, chemically strengthened to enhance durability. The process involves submerging the finished glass shape into a molten salt bath (such as potassium nitrate, KNO3) at high temperature. Through a process of ion exchange, smaller ions (sodium, Na) in the substrate are replaced with large ions (potassium, K) from the salt bath. This 'stuffing' creates high levels of compression in the surface. The hard surface provides enhanced resistance to flexural breakage, scratching and thermal shocks. Real-life performance is highly dependent on flaws in the glass. In the case of chemically strengthened glass, damage has to penetrate through the pre-compressed layer to cause failure.
Relevant materials
Borosilicate glass, Glass

Injection moulded reusable tableware made with Hemcell bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) mixed with palm leaf waste. This innovative material is home compostable as a result of the unique process Hemcell use. The PLA is partially degraded during processing, which opens up the polymer structure. This produces a material with some performance enhancements, like higher stiffness and heat deflection temperature (HDT), but also the possibility to be home compostable at relatively thick wall sections. Once exposed to heat, humidity, sunlight and microorganisms, the material starts to breakdown naturally.

Happy Cups colourful reusable drinks cups produced with Kaneka bio-based and biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA).

Positive Plastics injection moulded sample of BrightBio biodegradable polyester made from bio-based polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA). This sample is 68% bio-based.
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