An article of manufacture comprising a planar utensil element fabricated of an elongated foldable material and having a plurality of scores indicating where the planar utensil element is to be folded in order to become a usable utensil. Folding the planar utensil element about the scores produces a handle and a bowl. An element of a food package fabricated of the same material as the planar utensil element, such as a cover, covers at least a portion of the planar utensil element. The cover or other element of the food package provides physical and hygienic protection to the planar utensil element during transportation of the planar utensil element. The planar utensil element is positioned under the cover or other element on a surface of the food package.

Provided are protector articles, comprising: a plurality of sheets overlaid one to the next, the plurality of sheets comprising a bottommost sheet, a sheet comprising a comfort face and a barrier face, the comfort face comprising a biodegradable spunlace nonwoven material, the barrier face comprising a water-resistant biodegradable material, and at least one of the plurality of sheets being releasable (e.g., releasably attached) to the article. The articles can be used in bedding, apparel, and furniture.

The invention relates to drinking U-straws and more particularly to a paper for manufacturing drinking U-straws, which is environmental friendly, bio-degradable and is able to be formed in the shape of a bent straw with an accordion-like structure at the bend. The paper has high water resistance as well as high strength and elongation properties compatible with the intended use. In particular, the paper for forming a U-straw includes: •between 10 and 50 dry wt % of first fibers having a length of between 1.4 mm and 2.5 mm; •between 40 and 80 dry wt % of second fibers having a length of between 0.3 mm and 0.8 mm; and•between 1 and 6 dry wt % of a sizing agent.

Processes and devices are for manufacturing edible and/or biodegradable articles. Examples of the edible and/or biodegradable articles that can be manufactured include kitchen utensils, tableware and/or household articles or utensils, such as, knives, forks, spoons, stirrers, chopsticks, skewers, rods, straws, popsicle sticks, cones, ice cream cornets, packaging and containers of all kinds with or without a lid such as cups, mugs, demitasses, plates, dessert bowls, trays, bowls, and salad bowls. The edible and/or biodegradable articles can also be used as sports equipment.

Tubular conduits are provided which have an outer surface and/or an inner surface functionalized with at least one antimicrobial peptide having the sequence X.sub.1X.sub.2WVX.sub.3IWVX.sub.4X.sub.5, wherein X.sub.1, X.sub.2, X.sub.3, X.sub.4 and X.sub.5 are independently selected from K and R and wherein each amino acid is independently in the D or L configuration, or a salt or solvate thereof. The tubular conduits are preferably made of biodegradable polymeric material. The functionalization of the tubular conduits with the at least one antimicrobial peptide prevents contamination caused by Gram negative bacteria, Gram positive bacteria, fungi, yeasts and/or viruses.

An oral motor spoon for improving oral motor skills includes a handle attached to a bowl section that forms a forwardly-sloped concave bowl that curves sharply upwardly to a vertical plane adjacent the tip. The underside of the bowl section preferably includes a series of linear, textured ridges running transversely in parallel relation thereacross. The tip of the bowl section is preferably formed into a generally flat exterior edge in a vertical plane, and the upper horizontal edge of the tip is preferably elevated above than the remaining perimeter of the bowl.

A flexible paper straw includes a paper tube which is a spiral tube having a tube wall with at least two layers and formed by using glue and paper material while the paper material is paper sheet material having at least two layers of paper, a first layer of paper and a second layer of paper; and a compressed corrugated portion which is a circular tube having parallel ridges and grooves on longitudinal sections thereof, formed on the tube wall of a part of the paper tube with a certain length and able to be bent freely.

The present invention relates to a disposable folding paper cup that folds flat and, when unfolded by the pressing of a folded portion, has a cylindrical upper end, the paper cup comprising: a cup body, which is made of a coated paper of which the inner surface is coated with a cup body coating layer, forms a cylindrical shape when unfolded, and forms a flat surface when both sides thereof are folded at folding lines; bending lines forming oval press parts that unfold bisymmetrically around each folding line when the folding line height center portion of the cup body is pressed, and dividing the oval press parts, spaced from the upper and lower ends of the cup body, therefrom; a bottom sheet which is a coated paper having a bottom sheet coating layer formed on the surface thereof so as to be fused with the cup body coating layer at the inner side of the lower end of the cup body, of which both ends are primarily fused therewith while the bottom sheet is folded along a transverse center folding line that is upwardly convex, and which is fused with the bottom edge of the folded cup body to form a bottom fused band; and fusion columns at which the front and rear surfaces, having the folding line at the center thereof, and the bottom sheet, having the end portion fitted therebetween, form a column shape higher than the fusion height of the bottom fused band and lower than the lower end of the bending line, thereby fusing, at a portion at which the bottom fused band and the folding line meet, the end portion of the bottom sheet through the three sides altogether.

The present invention relates to biodegradable and compostable granules consisting of natural ingredients comprising starch and thickening and gelling agents and does not comprise bioplastics. According to the invention, the granules are used for producing biodegradable and preferably compostable products and articles of daily use. The present invention also relates to methods for producing the granules according to the invention, as well as methods for producing different products by using the granules according to the invention.

The invention discloses a method for preparing straws from grass stems, which adopts a green and environmentally friendly method technology, takes the Lepironia articulata, known as grey sedge stems, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide water as raw materials, and prepares the drinking straws under specific processing conditions. The method of the invention mainly comprises two aspects: firstly, the preparation of grass stems after being harvested from the field, and secondly, the process of turning grass stems into drinking straws is prepared from the membrane removal and cleaning processes using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide solution. According to the invention, the manufacturing processes are ecologically friendly and produce commercial straw products with zero waste, the technology disclosed by the invention has the advantages of environmental protection, low cost, and has great industrial application value.