# Dairy-Based Disposable Dishes Milk Styrofoam is Tough and Biodegradable By Michael Hines | Published 2010-10-27 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/milk-styrofoam References: [ecofriend.org](http://www.ecofriend.org/entry/researchers-develop-biodegradable-styrofoam-from-milk-and-clay/) & [news.discovery](http://news.discovery.com/tech/biodegradable-styrofoam-made-from-milk.html) Milk Styrofoam may not sound all that exciting initially, but this seemingly unimportant invention could help make our planet significantly greener very quickly. Scientists at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio combined clay and [milk](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/labmade-milk-proteins) to create a new kind of Styrofoam that is commercially viable and [biodegradable](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soft-drive1). One third of the Milk Styrofoam had dissolved in a month's time, which is a big upgrade over the thousands of years that it currently takes for Styrofoam to biodegrade. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.9/10 - Popularity: 9% | Activity: 11% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Biodegradable Styrofoam:** The development of biodegradable Styrofoam using milk and clay presents an opportunity for widespread adoption of eco-friendly packaging materials. - **Sustainable Packaging:** The creation of dairy-based disposable dishes opens up possibilities for the development of more sustainable packaging solutions across various industries. - **Eco-friendly Materials:** The use of milk-based Styrofoam highlights the potential for incorporating eco-friendly materials into everyday products and reducing environmental impact. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Food Packaging:** The food packaging industry can explore the use of dairy-based disposable dishes as an alternative to traditional non-biodegradable packaging materials. - **Hospitality:** The hospitality industry can benefit from adopting milk-based Styrofoam dishes as a sustainable and eco-friendly option for food service and takeaway containers. - **Retail:** Retailers can consider using biodegradable Styrofoam made from milk and clay for packaging and shipping products, aligning with their commitment to sustainability. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Eco-Friendly Styrofoam Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/we.md) - [Bio-Based Single-Use Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/verigreen-plus.md) - [Biodegradable Cheese Packagings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selfpacking-cheese.md) - [Biotransformable Cup Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/verigreen.md) - [Eco-Friendly Biodegradable Straws](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biodegradable-straw.md) - [Recyclable Reusable Coolers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gochill-cooler.md) - [Non-Soggy Biodegradable Straws](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lignin.md) - [Styrofoam Furniture Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trashy.md) - [3D-Printable Packaging Pastes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reishi-mushroom-printable-material.md)