Styrofoam Replacement
Polystyrene cups, long considered a threat to the environment, are being supplanted by biodegradable products made from bioprocessing cornstarch.
Corn is nature’s renewable building block and plays a role every day in our lives. It’s a versatile resource that can be used for just about everything – from making our food taste better and our cosmetics last longer, to making our packaging more environmentally friendly and our medicines easier to swallow.
The kernel of innovation is everywhere – including in our office! Explore all the products corn is in below:
Polystyrene cups, long considered a threat to the environment, are being supplanted by biodegradable products made from bioprocessing cornstarch.
Dextrin serves as the water-activated adhesive on stamps and envelopes.
Chocolate coatings made with the low-calorie sweetener maltitol keeps sports bars soft and protects essential nutrients.
How does wallpaper stick? Dextrin is a key ingredient in many wallpaper adhesives.
Liquid glucose is added to shoe polish to prevent it from caking and to give footwear a shinier finish.
Some bandages include cornstarch. Its super-absorbent properties help accelerate healing and reduce scarring.
In the tanning industry, liquid glucose is used to improve the flexibility of leather.
Rubber made from bioprocessed cornstarch reduces rolling resistance and weight for better fuel economy and better traction.
Erythritol is a zero-calorie sweetener and sugar substitute that results in moister, softer baked goods.
Cornstarch helps to strengthen hair, while corn oil acts as a conditioner. Xanthan gum, made from corn bioprocessing, is a stabilizer and thickener.
Corn oil is used in frying tortilla and other snack chips, reducing both saturated fat and trans fat.
Cornstarch hardens when heated, protecting spark plugs from the high temperatures and acid solvents in car engines.