What Are Renewable Resources?
When we talk about renewable resources, we’re really talking about sustainability. The renewable resources definition is simple: a renewable resource is a natural material or energy source that replenishes faster than it’s consumed, so it won’t run out on a human timescale. Sunlight, wind, and plant fibers all fit that description.
Whether we’re referring to raw materials or energy, a renewable source is always the better starting point. Creating from a renewable source means we won’t run out of, harm, or deplete the critical habitats that support life on Earth.
Greenprint® makes single-use disposable products, which have traditionally been made from plastic. Plastic and other petroleum-based products are harmful to the environment because they don’t break down.
Our line of disposables leverages renewable resources including plant-based bioplastics like PHA and PLA and natural fibers such as sugarcane, agave, and cassava.
Today we’ll explore renewable resources, how they differ from nonrenewable ones, and the materials we use to make Greenprint single-use disposables.
Examples of Renewable Resources
Most renewable resources fall into a handful of widely recognized categories. Here are the five people cite most often.
- Solar. Energy captured from sunlight, which the sun supplies every day without depletion.
- Wind. Energy generated as moving air turns turbines. Our own manufacturing facility runs on 40% wind power.
- Hydropower. Energy produced by moving water, most often flowing rivers or water released from dams.
- Geothermal. Heat drawn from beneath the Earth’s surface, used for both electricity and direct heating.
- Biomass. Energy and materials derived from organic matter, such as plants, agricultural residue, and wood.
Renewable resources aren’t limited to energy. Renewable material feedstocks matter just as much, and that’s where our products come in. Plant fibers and agricultural waste, like the agave fiber and sugarcane bagasse we use, replenish season after season, which makes them a practical alternative to fossil-based plastic.
Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Resources
The difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources comes down to how quickly they replenish. Renewable resources restore themselves naturally within a human timescale. Nonrenewable resources don’t.
Nonrenewable resources include coal, oil, and natural gas. These fossil fuels form over millions of years, so once we use them, they’re effectively gone. Every barrel of oil or ton of coal we burn is one we can’t replace in our lifetime, or in many lifetimes to come.
So is coal a renewable resource? No. Coal takes millions of years to form and depletes with use, which places it firmly in the nonrenewable category. This is exactly why we build our products from renewable and recycled inputs rather than virgin fossil-based plastic.
| Attribute | Renewable | Nonrenewable |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | Solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, biomass, and plant fiber. | Coal, oil, and natural gas. |
| Replenishment | Restores within a human timescale. | Takes millions of years to form. |
| Availability | Virtually inexhaustible when managed responsibly. | Finite and depletes with use. |
Why Sustainability is a Core Human Value
Sustainability is more than just a buzzword. It’s a holistic way of approaching life, encompassing societal, economic, and environmental concerns. Sustainability addresses today’s needs without compromising how people will survive in the future.
We’re already seeing the ill effects of climate change around the world. With the health and wellbeing of the planet at stake, it’s more important than ever to make sustainable choices and ensure a bountiful future for generations to come.
The choices we make today have far-reaching impacts. For a foodservice operator, that gets concrete fast: choosing packaging matched to your local waste system, whether that means home compostable, industrial compostable, or recyclable. By aligning our core values with practical decisions like these, we can catalyze positive change.
Renewable Materials in Greenprint Products
At Greenprint, we’re dedicated to building a sustainable ecosystem in the single-use disposables category. The restaurant and food service industry contributes to the 35.7 million tons of plastic the US generated in 2018, according to the EPA. Many countries, including the US, have legislated single-use plastic bans, forcing companies to rethink how they operate in the realm of single-use disposables.
The renewable resources we defined above are the same renewable materials we build products from. Our purpose is to give food service businesses easy, sustainable, renewable-source options that look and perform as well or better than their plastic predecessors. We understand some companies’ apprehensions about switching, either because of price or concern about product quality. Greenprint disposables address these issues, helping companies make the switch without sacrificing performance or impacting their bottom line.
As new technology, machinery, and materials become known, we’ll continue to innovate and improve in the single-use category to serve our industries better. Let’s look at the renewable materials currently used to make Greenprint disposables.
PHA
PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) are polyesters biosynthesized by a bacterium fed by inexpensive oils derived from the seeds of plants such as canola and soy. That description comes directly from our supplier Danimer Scientific. Their Nodax PHA is a pioneer in the sustainable raw material industry.
PLA
Polylactic acid (PLA) is a compostable bioplastic made from plant-based starches like agave, cassava, and sugarcane. The feedstocks we use for our PLA often come from plant waste that wouldn’t have any other use. PLA looks and performs like petroleum-based plastic, but standard PLA needs an industrial (curbside) composting program operating at 55–60°C to fully compost.
Our Green Dot Compostable Upcycled Agave Straws are the exception. They use a proprietary enzyme-enhanced agave-PLA/PBAT compound: the enzyme masterbatch catalyzes hydrolysis of the PLA polymer chains, which lets the straws break down at home compost temperatures of 20–30°C. That’s what earns them TÜV Austria OK Compost HOME certification, a rare achievement for a foodservice straw. Our Green Dot Compostable Upcycled Agave Cutlery uses a PLA-based compound without that home-compost profile, so it carries BPI Commercial Compostability certification and requires an industrial composting facility at 55–60°C. It isn’t home compostable, and we want you to know the difference so you can match each product to your local waste system.
Greenprint Biofading Products
Our Biofading Technology blends recycled plastics with agro-industrial waste. In other words, agave or plant fibers are mixed with recycled post-consumer plastic to make straws and cutlery. Because these products contain post-consumer recycled plastic, they aren’t compostable, and we don’t market them as such. In internal lab testing, samples showed measurable breakdown over roughly one to three years when discarded in a trash can that reaches an active landfill, though real-world landfill conditions vary. The value here is in the inputs: reusing post-consumer plastic is a practical way to decrease demand for petroleum-based resins, and no separate end-of-life composting process is required.
Molded Fiber Products or Bagasse
We use bagasse to make Greenprint clamshell takeout food containers that are typically made from polystyrene foam. Bagasse is sugarcane fiber derived from plant waste left after the juice and oils are extracted from the plant. Normally, this waste would be incinerated or otherwise disposed of. Our bagasse foodware falls under our Fiberware™ line, a different material and supplier from our agave-based products, and it carries TÜV Austria OK Compost INDUSTRIAL certification, so it requires an industrial composting facility.
Paper Products
Greenprint’s paper cups contain no plastic and can be recycled or composted in home or commercial systems. Many hot and cold beverage cups have a plastic coating to make the product more durable, which means they’re neither recyclable nor compostable. Paper is made from wood, and though trees are renewable, they take a long time to grow back. Whenever possible, we prefer bagasse over paper because it’s prolific and doesn’t require a lot of resources to grow.
Post-Consumer Recycled Products (recycled plastics)
Recycling plastics gives conventional plastics a second life as other useful products. Recycling and remanufacturing items into new products keeps plastic out of landfills and reduces the need to manufacture more.
Though the objective is to reduce or eliminate single-use plastic altogether, post-consumer recycled goods fall under the “less bad” category. It’s critical, however, to ensure these products are disposed of properly. Per the EPA, just 8.7% of plastics were actually recycled in 2018, meaning the rest end up in landfills, waterways, or the environment. Proper plastic disposal is essential to give these items a chance of being recycled into a new use, and you can play a part in making that happen.
Sustainability is a collective responsibility. The more mindful we are about the products we use and the materials used to make them, the more we foster a renewable mindset that benefits all humankind.
Biodegradable vs. Compostable
These two terms get used interchangeably, but they don’t mean the same thing, and the difference matters when you’re choosing packaging. “Biodegradable” only means a material will eventually break down through natural processes. The term is unregulated, with no fixed timeframe and no guarantee about what’s left behind. “Compostable” is a stricter, verifiable standard: the product is certified to break down into non-toxic matter within a defined time under defined conditions. That’s why we describe our products only by their named certifications, such as TÜV Austria OK Compost HOME for our Green Dot straws and BPI Commercial Compostability for our cutlery, rather than with broad terms. It keeps our claims specific and in line with the FTC Green Guide.
| Attribute | Biodegradable | Compostable |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Breaks down through natural processes, but the term is unregulated. | Certified to break down into non-toxic matter under defined conditions. |
| Timeframe | No fixed or guaranteed timeframe. | A defined time set by the certification standard. |
| Certification / verification | None required, and claims are often unverified. | Verified by a named body such as TÜV Austria OK Compost HOME or BPI Commercial Compostability. |
| What’s left behind | Can leave microplastics or residue. | Non-toxic organic matter that supports soil. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common examples of renewable resources?
The five most widely recognized renewable resources are solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass. Renewable plant-based materials, such as agave fiber and sugarcane bagasse, also count because they replenish season after season.
What is the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources?
Renewable resources replenish naturally within a human timescale, while nonrenewable resources like coal, oil, and natural gas form over millions of years and deplete with use. In short, renewables restore themselves and nonrenewables run out.
What is the difference between biodegradable and compostable?
People often ask about “biodegradable vs compostable,” and the distinction matters: compostable means a product is certified to break down into non-toxic matter within a set time under defined conditions, verified by a certification body. We describe our products by their specific certifications, such as TÜV Austria OK Compost HOME or BPI Commercial Compostability, rather than with broad terms, in line with the FTC Green Guide.
Is coal a renewable resource?
No. Coal forms over millions of years and depletes as we use it, so it’s a nonrenewable resource. It can’t replenish on any human timescale.
Is water a renewable resource?
Yes. Water is generally considered renewable because the water cycle continuously replenishes it, though local supplies can be over-drawn faster than they recharge.
Are Greenprint’s products made from renewable resources?
Yes. We build products from renewable and recycled inputs, including Upcycled Agave fiber, plant-based PLA, sugarcane bagasse, and post-consumer recycled content. Where we make compostability claims, we tie them to a named certification like TÜV Austria OK Compost HOME for our Green Dot straws or BPI Commercial Compostability for our cutlery.
Explore Greenprint’s Sustainable Solutions
Ready to replace plastic disposables with renewable and certified compostable options? Explore our sustainable product lines, or contact our team today to match the right solution to your local waste system.
Planning a net-zero event? Learn how to measure, cut, and offset emissions across venue, food, waste, and travel, then choose certified compostable foodware.
Microplastics in common disposable foodware shed into hot food and drinks. Learn the top sources, the health questions, and compostable options you can trust.
Material traceability tracks raw inputs from source to finished product. See how chain of custody, certification, and testing back your sustainability claims.