Material	Foamed starch
	Starch can be environmentally friendly blown into a foamed material using water steam. Foamed starch is antistatic, insulating and shock absorbing, therefore a good replacement for polystyrene foam. It can be used as packaging material or can be pressed into starch-based sheet for thin-walled products, such as trays, disposable dishes etc.
Category	Biopolymers
Products	Loose-fill Disposable cup
Processes	Water steam foaming Extrusion Cutting Moulding
Similar materials	Foamed PS
References	Biotec GmbH (BiopurŪ) National Starch & Chemical (Eco-FoamŪ) Norel (EnvirofillTM)
Environmen- tal notes	Creation: Foamed starch is 99% starch, which is a renewable resource found in corn, wheat, rice, potatoes, etc. Foaming is performed using water steam instead of hydrocarbon-based blowing agents used for blowing PS. Disposal: It dissolves when soaked with water leaving just a dilute corn starch solution. The solution is not toxic and is consumed by microbial life in about ten days, leaving only carbon dioxide and water. It can also be re-used, recycled, incinerated, or composted along with other organic materials, since it decomposes very quickly.
Photo	Thomas Nissen (Computer graphics)
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