Sip sustainably all summer long with Corn Next’s CornNext‑17 flavored straws. Made from 100% corn starch and natural enzymes, these durable straws won’t get soggy in cold drinks. Perfect for BBQs, beach days, and poolside cocktails. Flavored with lime, lemon, orange, strawberry, and blueberry for a refreshing, plastic-free sip.They biodegrade in as little as 30 days—no microplastics, no guilt.

We were honored to be featured on Loving Living Local Colorado Springs, sharing how our flavored Corn Next straws are helping people sip smarter — and ditch soggy paper straws for good. From strawberry to lime, we’re proving sustainability can be fun, delicious, and easy to adopt, whether you’re at home, in a café, or grabbing your favorite to-go drink on the way to the office.

Big shoutout to everyone in Colorado Springs who’s already made the switch — every small choice adds up to a big impact. 🌎✨

Real talk: I love a straw. If I’m drinking any iced beverage at home — iced coffee, iced tea, iced water — I’m going to use a straw because, in my mind, it makes everything taste better. But most straws are problematic. Plastic ones are bad for the environment and marine life, and a 2003 study found harmful forever chemicals (aka PFAs) in paper straws, as well as glass and bamboo ones. Yes, stainless steel straws are a good alternative, but I honestly hate cleaning them, and many people can’t stand the feeling of metal on their teeth. That’s why I was thrilled to discover Corn Next Straws. 

Summer is the perfect time to celebrate sunshine with gifts that reflect the season’s energy and good vibes. Whether shopping for a beach lover or barbecue fan, our Hot Picks Summer Gift Guide has something for everyone.

Gift an eco-friendly beach tote with sunscreen, a reusable bottle, and a plush towel for seaside adventures. For grill lovers, try a barbecue tool set paired with gourmet rubs and flavorful sauces for standout cookouts. For those who love relaxing, a hammock or outdoor string lights can create a cozy, summery space anywhere.
No matter their summer vibe, these picks will brighten their season and bring joy all summer long.

Corn Next receives a major boost with its first round of equity investment and the selection of Los Angeles as the site for its U.S. Integrated Demonstration Unit (IDU). The California-based company, known for its innovative biodegradable material Corn Next-17, aims to replace harmful single-use plastics with sustainable alternatives.

The new investment will support early-stage production, strategic hiring, and expanded research partnerships. It marks an important step in advancing Corn Next’s mission to create fully compostable, plant-based materials.

After a thorough review of potential sites, Los Angeles was chosen for the IDU, which will serve as a pilot manufacturing and testing facility. The space will also support collaboration with partners and prepare the company for future commercial scaling. Together, these developments position Corn Next to lead in the transition to more sustainable, eco-friendly materials in the U.S. and beyond.

LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Corn Next, the California-based biobased material innovator, proudly announces two major milestones: the company has secured its first round of equity investment and officially selected Los Angeles as the site for its U.S. Integrated Demonstration Unit (IDU).

"Our decision to anchor the IDU in Los Angeles reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability..."

This initial funding marks a significant step forward in Corn Next's mission to replace harmful single-use plastics with its proprietary, fully biodegradable material, Corn Next-17. The investment will support early-stage production, strategic hiring, and expansion of research partnerships.

"We are thrilled to have the support of forward-thinking investors who recognize both the environmental urgency and market potential of our technology," said Randy Zhang, Founder and CEO of Corn Next. "This validation empowers us to accelerate our impact."

Simultaneously, Corn Next has chosen Los Angeles as the home for its U.S.-based IDU, following extensive evaluation of locations across the country. The IDU will serve as a pilot manufacturing hub, testing facility, and collaboration space for future commercial scale-up.

"Our decision to anchor the IDU in Los Angeles reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and proximity to global partners," Zhang added. "This city offers the infrastructure and talent we need to bring our vision to life."

Corn Next is best known for Corn Next-17, a starch-based material that naturally degrades within weeks without leaving behind microplastics or toxic residues. With the IDU in place, the company aims to demonstrate scalable production and attract additional partnerships in North America and beyond.

LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Corn Next, the California-based biobased material innovator, proudly announces two major milestones: the company has secured its first round of equity investment and officially selected Los Angeles as the site for its U.S. Integrated Demonstration Unit (IDU).

"Our decision to anchor the IDU in Los Angeles reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability..."

This initial funding marks a significant step forward in Corn Next's mission to replace harmful single-use plastics with its proprietary, fully biodegradable material, Corn Next-17. The investment will support early-stage production, strategic hiring, and expansion of research partnerships.

"We are thrilled to have the support of forward-thinking investors who recognize both the environmental urgency and market potential of our technology," said Randy Zhang, Founder and CEO of Corn Next. "This validation empowers us to accelerate our impact."

Simultaneously, Corn Next has chosen Los Angeles as the home for its U.S.-based IDU, following extensive evaluation of locations across the country. The IDU will serve as a pilot manufacturing hub, testing facility, and collaboration space for future commercial scale-up.

"Our decision to anchor the IDU in Los Angeles reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and proximity to global partners," Zhang added. "This city offers the infrastructure and talent we need to bring our vision to life."

Corn Next is best known for Corn Next-17, a starch-based material that naturally degrades within weeks without leaving behind microplastics or toxic residues. With the IDU in place, the company aims to demonstrate scalable production and attract additional partnerships in North America and beyond.

LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Corn Next, the California-based biobased material innovator, proudly announces two major milestones: the company has secured its first round of equity investment and officially selected Los Angeles as the site for its U.S. Integrated Demonstration Unit (IDU).

"Our decision to anchor the IDU in Los Angeles reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability..."

This initial funding marks a significant step forward in Corn Next's mission to replace harmful single-use plastics with its proprietary, fully biodegradable material, Corn Next-17. The investment will support early-stage production, strategic hiring, and expansion of research partnerships.

"We are thrilled to have the support of forward-thinking investors who recognize both the environmental urgency and market potential of our technology," said Randy Zhang, Founder and CEO of Corn Next. "This validation empowers us to accelerate our impact."

Simultaneously, Corn Next has chosen Los Angeles as the home for its U.S.-based IDU, following extensive evaluation of locations across the country. The IDU will serve as a pilot manufacturing hub, testing facility, and collaboration space for future commercial scale-up.

"Our decision to anchor the IDU in Los Angeles reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and proximity to global partners," Zhang added. "This city offers the infrastructure and talent we need to bring our vision to life."

Corn Next is best known for Corn Next-17, a starch-based material that naturally degrades within weeks without leaving behind microplastics or toxic residues. With the IDU in place, the company aims to demonstrate scalable production and attract additional partnerships in North America and beyond.

LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Corn Next, the California-based biobased material innovator, proudly announces two major milestones: the company has secured its first round of equity investment and officially selected Los Angeles as the site for its U.S. Integrated Demonstration Unit (IDU).

"Our decision to anchor the IDU in Los Angeles reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability..."

This initial funding marks a significant step forward in Corn Next's mission to replace harmful single-use plastics with its proprietary, fully biodegradable material, Corn Next-17. The investment will support early-stage production, strategic hiring, and expansion of research partnerships.

"We are thrilled to have the support of forward-thinking investors who recognize both the environmental urgency and market potential of our technology," said Randy Zhang, Founder and CEO of Corn Next. "This validation empowers us to accelerate our impact."

Simultaneously, Corn Next has chosen Los Angeles as the home for its U.S.-based IDU, following extensive evaluation of locations across the country. The IDU will serve as a pilot manufacturing hub, testing facility, and collaboration space for future commercial scale-up.

LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Corn Next, the California-based biobased material innovator, proudly announces two major milestones: the company has secured its first round of equity investment and officially selected Los Angeles as the site for its U.S. Integrated Demonstration Unit (IDU).

This initial funding marks a significant step forward in Corn Next's mission to replace harmful single-use plastics with its proprietary, fully biodegradable material, Corn Next-17. The investment will support early-stage production, strategic hiring, and expansion of research partnerships.

"We are thrilled to have the support of forward-thinking investors who recognize both the environmental urgency and market potential of our technology," said Randy Zhang, Founder and CEO of Corn Next. "This validation empowers us to accelerate our impact."

Simultaneously, Corn Next has chosen Los Angeles as the home for its U.S.-based IDU, following extensive evaluation of locations across the country. The IDU will serve as a pilot manufacturing hub, testing facility, and collaboration space for future commercial scale-up.

Corn Next, a California-based biobased material innovator, has announced two major milestones. The company secured its first equity investment and selected Los Angeles for its U.S. Integrated Demonstration Unit (IDU). This funding marks a key step toward replacing harmful single-use plastics with Corn Next-17, its proprietary biodegradable material. The investment will support early-stage production, strategic hiring, and research partnerships. 

“Our decision to locate the IDU in Los Angeles reflects our commitment to innovation and sustainability,” said Randy Zhang, Founder and CEO of Corn Next. 

Corn Next is focused on Corn Next-17, a starch-based material that naturally degrades within weeks. It leaves no microplastics or toxic residues behind.

The company’s goal is to demonstrate scalable production and attract partnerships across North America and globally. The new funding will accelerate these efforts. 

LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Corn Next, the California-based biobased material innovator, proudly announces two major milestones: the company has secured its first round of equity investment and officially selected Los Angeles as the site for its U.S. Integrated Demonstration Unit (IDU).

"Our decision to anchor the IDU in Los Angeles reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability..."

This initial funding marks a significant step forward in Corn Next's mission to replace harmful single-use plastics with its proprietary, fully biodegradable material, Corn Next-17. The investment will support early-stage production, strategic hiring, and expansion of research partnerships.

"We are thrilled to have the support of forward-thinking investors who recognize both the environmental urgency and market potential of our technology," said Randy Zhang, Founder and CEO of Corn Next. "This validation empowers us to accelerate our impact."

Simultaneously, Corn Next has chosen Los Angeles as the home for its U.S.-based IDU, following extensive evaluation of locations across the country. The IDU will serve as a pilot manufacturing hub, testing facility, and collaboration space for future commercial scale-up.

"Our decision to anchor the IDU in Los Angeles reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and proximity to global partners," Zhang added. "This city offers the infrastructure and talent we need to bring our vision to life."

LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Corn Next, the California-based biobased material innovator, proudly announces two major milestones: the company has secured its first round of equity investment and officially selected Los Angeles as the site for its U.S. Integrated Demonstration Unit (IDU).

Corn Next Secures First Investment and Announces IDU Location in Los Angeles

This initial funding marks a significant step forward in Corn Next's mission to replace harmful single-use plastics with its proprietary, fully biodegradable material, Corn Next-17. The investment will support early-stage production, strategic hiring, and expansion of research partnerships.

LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Corn Next, the California-based biobased material innovator, proudly announces two major milestones: the company has secured its first round of equity investment and officially selected Los Angeles as the site for its U.S. Integrated Demonstration Unit (IDU).

LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Corn Next, the California-based biobased material innovator, proudly announces two major milestones: the company has secured its first round of equity investment and officially selected Los Angeles as the site for its U.S. Integrated Demonstration Unit (IDU).

This initial funding marks a significant step forward in Corn Next’s mission to replace harmful single-use plastics with its proprietary, fully biodegradable material, Corn Next-17. The investment will support early-stage production, strategic hiring, and expansion of research partnerships.

“We are thrilled to have the support of forward-thinking investors who recognize both the environmental urgency and market potential of our technology,” said Randy Zhang, Founder and CEO of Corn Next. “This validation empowers us to accelerate our impact.”

In an exclusive interview, with Food Chain Magazine, Corn Next CEO Randy Zhang shares his journey from ideation to execution in building a pioneering biotechnology company dedicated to redefining sustainability. Randy discusses the foundation of Corn Next, rooted in a passion for creating scalable, eco-friendly alternatives to plastic. With a commitment to harnessing the power of biotechnology, Corn Next is leading the charge toward a future where sustainability drives every innovation. This interview provides insight into the strategic vision behind Corn Next’s mission, our journey to creating CornNext-17, and our unwavering dedication to leaving a positive, lasting impact on the planet.

Have you ordered takeout from a restaurant or grocery store lately? On a recent visit to Greenbrae’s Mollie Stone’s Market, I grabbed a bowl of lentil-vegetable soup for lunch. After checking out, my search for a spoon led me to a Preserve cutlery dispenser. I pushed a lever and out popped a sanitary, single-use, post-consumer number 5 100% recycled plastic spoon. Although Marin’s waste haulers do not accept number 5 plastics, the product is, theoretically, endlessly recyclable. Place it in plastics recycling, and companies like Preserve infinitely recycle it. (More on plastic reuse in this story.)

The product stream for upcycled plastics, however, is changing. California Senate Bill 54 aims to significantly reduce single-use plastic packaging by requiring producers to make all packaging recyclable or compostable by 2032. Also known as the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, SB 54 shifts the responsibility of managing plastic waste to the companies that produce it, insisting that producers fund the collection and recycling of their packaging. While the ramifications for consumers are still evolving, Marin businesses are changing their practices now. 

Whenever my family eats out and we are automatically offered plastic straws for our drinks, we tell the server we do not need them and to take them back. With what we know about plastic straws—they are non-biodegradable and take hundreds of years to decompose and break down into microplastics—you would think they would no longer be used…but no. They are still all too common in hospitality.

Numerous hotel companies have pledged to stop buying plastic straws. Six years ago, Marriott phased them out. Five years ago, Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. eliminated single-use straws from its branded properties as part of its continued effort to reduce its overall environmental footprint. A year earlier, Wyndham Destinations announced it would eliminate plastic straws from food and beverage operations at its timeshare resorts around the world.

Do a search on “straws” on Green Lodging News and you will find many other examples of companies phasing out/eliminating plastic straws.

To address the plastic straw problem, you can either adopt a “no straw” policy, offer them only on request, or replace the plastic versions with ones made from alternative materials (and offer those only upon request). I have come across many examples of plastic alternatives over the years. I most recently heard from Corn Next in regard to its flavored straws made from Corn Next-17, a fully biodegradable, starch-based solution that breaks down in weeks without microplastics. The following are some other plastic straw alternatives to check out:

Corn Next, the California-based biobased material innovator, has announced two major milestones: the company has secured its first round of equity investment and officially selected Los Angeles as the site for its U.S.Integrated Demonstration Unit (IDU).This initial funding marks a significant step forward in Corn Next’s mission to replace harmful single-use plastics with its proprietary, fully biodegradable material, Corn Next-17. The investment will support early-stage production, strategic hiring, and expansion of research partnerships.

As we all know Summer travel Season in full swing and millions of Americans are hitting the open road. I would like to share: “Top Road Trip Essentials for Summer 2025” now that Summer has arrived you may be planning a vacation or getting children ready for Summer Camp. I wanted to share new additions to our Top Road Trip Wellness Must-Haves. Take a look at the products and let me know which ones you would like to have.