Fairview turns to corn starch for biodegradable Styrofoam substitute
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by Shelby Capacio -
Fairview Pharmacy Services is using an Earth-friendly cooler to ship out all their medications, becoming the first health system in the world to ditch the standard Styrofoam cooler.
Now, their patients -- some of whom receive as many as three shipments a week -- are receiving a biodegradable substitute created from corn starch.
Pharmacy workers send out over 40,000 coolers each year, but few recyclers will take Styrofoam. In fact, most winds up in the garbage, and it's estimated that Styrofoam composes 30 percent of landfills.
Fairview isn't stopping there, though. They're also using a biodegradable bubble wrap.
Other shippers, like Omaha Steaks, work to give customers ideas on how to reuse their Styrofoam coolers in an effort to keep them out of landfills. Some options include:
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