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.

The kween of klean (and popcorn), Khloe Kardashian, recently gave us a tour inside her infamously organized pantry on her YouTube channel. As it turns out, a lot of people were up in arms over her garage-sized walk-in pantry and the "gluttonous" and "excessive" amount of food she stored within. While some viewers were concerned about the "vulgar display of wealth" the Kardashian sister showed off, I had my eye on one particular—and sustainable—item she happened to store in one of her many drawers: corn straws.

Big news for Corn Next!

Our new Flavored Straws were featured on NBC 6 South Florida by Emmy® award-winning meteorologist Steve MacLaughlin! 🎉

The segment highlights how we're redefining the future of sustainability, with our 100% naturally degradable, corn starch based, flavor-infused straws. 🍋🫐 🍓 🍋‍🟩 🍊

Proud to see our amazing COO, Winnie weng, share our mission and vision on air! 📺

Watch the full story and see how we're making eco-friendly fun, functional, and flavorful!

Corn Next-17 is a revolutionary material being dubbed “the Terminator of the Plastic Age.” Corn Next-17 is the breakthrough material behind Corn Next straws — fun, flavorful, and fully compostable straws that are made from corn starch and break down in just 30 to 90 days in any environment (yes, even the ocean). No microplastics. No greenwashing. No long-term waste.

These aren't just better-for-the-planet — they're also a better experience. With fruity flavor options (like strawberry, lemon, blueberry and more), Corn Next straws turn every sip into a sustainable moment. They're a fun, guilt-free alternative to plastic or even so-called “bioplastics,” which often take decades to degrade and can leave behind harmful residue. What sets Corn Next apart: 

• Truly zero-waste: No chemical coating, no microplastic residue 

• Designed to degrade naturally — even if it means softening over time 

• Flavored options make eco swaps more enjoyable for all ages 

• Supports ocean conservation with every purchase 

I've been prepping our backyard for the summer season for the past couple of weeks, and so I've been on the lookout for new products that'll help us entertain seamlessly (and take stuff off our plate while we host). I came across some outdoor lanterns that are also Bluetooth speakers, which seem great for BBQs and impromptu parties all season long. Other cool and clever finds I found this week include: sustainably made flavored disposable straws, a 10-in-1 countertop oven, a wall-mounted vase that doubles as a coat hook, and more!

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. 

These CORN NEXT straws are an alternative to traditional plastic straws and can be a nice addition to your camping kit. The straws are 100 percent natural and work best with ice-cold beverages (so skip the hot drinks). And they’re safe to bury in soil or drop in a lake as they break down naturally and can even serve as feed for aquatic life. Each straw comes individually wrapped in compostable paper, so you can toss it in your daypack or cooler and it’ll stay clean and hygienic. They come in non-flavored and flavors like lemonade, strawberry and blueberry.

Plastic straws are out. Ocean-safe, plant-powered Corn Next straws are in, and they’re making waves for all the right reasons. Meet the straw changing everything. Made from America’s most abundant crop, Corn, and powered by an all-natural blend of water and enzymes, Corn Next straws are crafted from CornNext-17, a patented material that fully biodegrades in just 30 days, on land, in water, or compost. No pollution. No trace. No compromise.

But Corn Next isn’t just about saving the planet, it’s about upgrading your entire drinking experience. These straws are tough, lasting over two hours in cold drinks without the soggy collapse you get from paper straws. Plus, they’re chemical-free, naturally durable, and available in both classic no-taste and fun fruit-flavored versions like lemon and lime. Bartenders and beverage pros are already obsessed because Corn Next straws never mess with the flavor of your favorite cocktails, mocktails, or iced coffee.

The innovation doesn’t stop there. Corn Next is expanding its eco-revolution with disposable cutlery, powder scoops, and more. And just launched Corn Next Flavored Straws, available exclusively on their site! Flavored naturally with strawberry, lemon, blueberry, and orange, they’re the world’s first fully biodegradable, negative-carbon-emission straws you can taste, a sustainability game-changer with every sip.

Every Corn Next straws purchase supports the Aquarium of the Pacific and vital ocean conservation efforts, a cause close to the heart of company founder Randy Zhang, an entrepreneur and competitive sailor. Available in cocktail and regular sizes (and pretty translucent colors), Corn Next straws are now online for home use,  and coming soon to restaurants, bars, and hotels across the U.S.

Corn Next isn’t just reducing environmental harm, it’s doing more good. Because better beverages start with better choices.

I hate it when I go to a restaurant and the server delivers my drink with a straw.

Most folks don’t need straws – or single-use plastics in general – but we use them anyway, because someone hands them to us. (And yes, I understand some people need straws because of coordination or medical issues. That’s fine.)

I avoid straws and other single-use plastics when I can, which is most of the time. Plastics are filling up trash dumps, washing up on beaches and breaking into tiny bits that, ultimately, wind up inside our bodies as microplastics.

Corn Next has developed a next-gen eco-friendly drinking straw that’s plastic-free, non-toxic, and made from U.S.-grown corn. The 100% natural solution are made with corn starch and enzymes and should be used with caution by those allergic to corn ingredients.

Their patented CornNext-17 material looks and feels like plastic but breaks down naturally, leaving no microplastics behind.

Made with food-based ingredients derived from natural origins, Corn Next products make a positive impact with sip. With a mission to combat plastic wastes and preserve our planet. Corn Next offers a guilt-free natural alternative to plastic products that decomposes completely in any environment--soil, water and even your own backyard.

Corn Next has launched CornNext-17, a biobased material aimed at addressing the issue of plastic pollution.

Drawn from renewable corn starch, CornNext-17 leverages a patented fermentation process and has rapid decomposition capabilities.

According to the company, CornNext-17 serves as a sustainable solution that retains the natural polysaccharide structure of corn starch, allowing for complete biodegradation within 30 days in natural settings.

The company also claimed that its material maintains the necessary mechanical properties for a broad spectrum of uses, from packaging to consumer goods and industrial components.

CornNext-17 serves as an alternative to conventional plastics and bioplastics such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA).

The product comes with the potential to ‘transform’ various industries, encouraging them to shift towards more sustainable materials.

The CornNext-17 White Paper, released alongside the product launch, provides an in-depth look at the material’s characteristics.

Biotech company Corn Next has released CornNext-17, a corn starch-based material made through a natural fermentation process. It can be used to make biodegradable packaging such as straws, table ware and single-use food containers.

The biobased material is USDA and BPI certified and breaks down in 30 days in natural environments without the need for additional equipment, said David Xu, the company’s fractional CFO. It does not contain PFAS and “can even be eaten by birds. And if it’s mingled with water, it can be used as a food for fish,” he said.

The company plans to move its home base and operations to Decatur, Illinois, this year. Corn Next first launched in China and its operations are still there, but its holding company is currently based in Irvine, California.