Northland College and Chartwells will be selling refillable travel mugs made of 100 percent corn-based plastic. The biodegradable mugs, produced by Project Green Thumb and NatureAd, will be available for sale in Sandella’s, the Northland campus store, and in the Baldwin Commons in the Ponzio Campus Center beginning Monday, January 7. They are available now through the new online store at http://shop.dineoncampus.com/northland. The mugs will sell for $9.99 each and will be the only refillable mug allowed in the College cafeteria.

Unlike conventional plastic mugs manufactured using petroleum products, Project Green Thumb travel mugs are made from all-natural corn-based plastic. Corn-based plastic breaks down naturally by composting. Corn plastics decrease our dependence on oil and support U.S. agriculture through a readily available product. Because they are made to break down naturally, corn mugs cannot be washed in a dishwasher, but with regular hand washing they can last as long as conventional plastic drink ware.