verterra
now, here’s a cool story:
While driving down a dirt road in rural India during a summer internship, Michael Dwork saw a woman pressing leaves soaked in water in something that looked like a crude waffle iron. She pulled out what appeared to be a plate and served the food she was selling on it.
Plates made from only leaves and steam that are also completely compostable?
“verterra” is “based on the Latin phrase Veritas Terra or ‘true to the earth.’ We do this by using pure materials that we borrow—and then return—to the earth.”
genius.
granted, the products are pricey, but reusable. and ultimately, 100% biodegradable.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Great, concise entry. I recently bought these plates myself, and can confirm that I’ve been able to wash and reuse them 10 times, and that they compost well.
When I read that they could be used for baking in an oven, I thought what, for 10 minutes? So I wrote and asked. They said 350 degrees for 45 minutes. With their honest estimate of composting time, I would tend to believe this too. Will try it out soon.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I agree - concise entries that get to the point are best. I, too, have some Verterra plates and started using them over and over again at work. I have microwaved, washed, used and re-used.
They are a little warped, but still beautiful and tough as nails. I love them.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
How cool to find someone else who uses them! Yes, I noticed the warping too. Just eat some hot food on it, and it goes back into the original shape.
August 12th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
this is good for me to hear. I am trying to figure out how to weave verterra products into my daily life at home and at work. I have even more confidence in recommending them, now.
November 5th, 2008 at 1:59 am
Critique of Michael Dwork, founder of Verterra
By Richard - Murwillumbah, Australia.
I am an occasional reader of Time magazine and stumbled upon a business article by Jeremy Caplan on Verterra Dinnerware in the October 13, 2008 edition (Australian) of Time (page 52). Also at: http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1706699_1707550_1846340,00.html
Jeremy Caplan’s article is careful not to over-state or claim. However, it strongly implies that Michael Dwork had an “idea” in southern India in 2006, that Mr Dwork developed his idea with “engineer friends”, “crossed Asia to find plants for his plates”, “through Laos, Thailand and Cambodia”, “testing dozens”, “in search of the perfect leaf” and so on. Before settling on a palm leaf in southern India - wow.
I think it should be known that plates and bowls steam-pressed from the leaf-base (sheath) of the Areca (the so called ‘betel nut’) palm (Areca catechu) have been manufactured in southern India since long before 2006.
Indeed, in 2006, steam-pressed Areca palm plates and bowls were already in Indian city stores and on display at trade expos in southern India, and have been imported into Australia with the name of Eco-Vision Bioplate since 2005 or earlier. Areca plates have also been imported into Germany, Switzerland and United Kingdom since or before 2003.
Jeremy Caplan’s article includes a photo of Mr Dwork leaning on a small palm tree. I can say, with reasonable certainty, that this small palm is of the species Areca catechu, the common, plantation, Areca palm.
It seems Mr Dwork copied a well established product (material and method) and imported Areca plates into the US market - which is hardly an “entrepreneurial gamble” and is definitely not an original idea.
Mr Dwork was a member of the ‘entrepreneurship class’ at Columbia School of Business. Mr Dwork went on, with ‘his idea’, to become the 2007 winner of the A. Lorne Weil Outrageous Business Plan Competition, and received $100,000 in seed funding from the Eugene M. Lang Entrepreneurial Initiative Fund - which is remarkable considering the Lang Fund’s emphasis for originality.
What is outrageous is Michael Dwork appearing to grab the credit and failing to acknowledge Indian ingenuity, Indian producers and Indian exporters who have manufactured quality steam-pressed Areca plates identical to the Verterra product, and who have done so for years before Michael Dwork arrived in 2006.
For a history of the Areca plate visit:
http://www.ecovision.com.au
http://www.eco-vision.in/companyprofile.htm
This limited critique has been sent to the following:
Michael Dwork michael@verterra.com
Jeremy Caplan via Time
Time magazine
Columbia School of Business
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The New York Times
New York Post
And others.
Richard
30th October 2008.