Yumi EcoSolutions is building a cleaner, healthier world now and for future generations by replacing petroleum-based plastics with new and revolutionary bio-materials. 

Combining beauty with function to meet everyday needs with plant-based alternatives to keep pollutants out of landfills, oceans and skies. 

Together with our earth conscious consumers, Yumi is leading the development of innovative, state-of-the-art products that contribute to a better, cleaner world for all.

All of Yumi’s products replace plastics made from fossil fuels. Did you know that plastics:

• Use up to 8% of all oil consumed worldwide
• Make up 15% of all solid waste in landfills
• Can be harmful to our health when in contact with food or water
• Can last 1,000 years after they are thrown away

Bamboo

Our Yumi bamboo products (Art+™, Earth+™ and Nature+™) are made from natural bamboo fibers and other organic materials such as rice husks. All of the biologically based materials are certified to be free of GMO materials and safe for use with foods.

The bamboo used for these stylish, colorful and versatile Yumi bamboo products is harvested from farmed bamboo forests and does not affect the food source for pandas. 

These beautiful contemporary bamboo products are made from bamboo wood pieces which remain after making other bamboo consumer products such as chopping boards, flooring and furniture; we repurpose these leftovers which used to be dumped in landfills. 

The ingredient formulas and manufacturing processes are protected by international patents.

All three families of Yumi bamboo products are certified safe for contact with food according to regulations of the US Food and Drug Administration. All our Yumi bamboo products are melamine and petroleum free.

Starch Based Products (Return® Brand)

Return brand starch based products are made with biologically based, environmentally friendly, sustainable and renewable non-GMO plant materials. 

These natural starches are blended with colors and other ingredients to form plates, cups, bowls, and cutlery products. All of our materials are made with proprietary formulas and processes and have the industry leading tolerance for working temperature, strength and resistance to stains, cutting or tearing.

Return brand products are tested to be microwave safe and meet all food contact safety regulations of the US Food and Drug Administration. In addition, these eco products are water and grease resistant as well as crack and cut resistant.

Return brand products are certified to be compostable meeting the European EN 13432 industrial standard, requiring biodegradation of 90% within 90 days. ASTM D6400 the American standard and the criteria for certification by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) requires a less stringent threshold of 60% biodegradation within 180 days.

We go beyond being a marketer of sustainable products and solutions. We embrace sustainable options in every aspect of our business and we heartily encourage our customers and suppliers to do likewise.

Our Values:

In addition to obeying all the laws of the land, we conform to the highest standards of honesty, integrity and fair play in the way we treat our customers, our suppliers and our employees.

Q: What makes Return products different from the products I now buy?

The disposable plates, cups and utensils you now buy are made from paper, plastic coated paper or different kinds of plastic. All of them take significantly more energy to make and some can be around for 1,000 years after you are finished using them. Return products are made from corn starch and other plant materials using a patented process. They take far less energy to produce and can return to soil in 180 days when composted in a professionally managed facility. Return is “the throw away that goes away”

Q: There have been products in the market made from corn for some time that cannot be exposed to heat, without quickly deforming. Will the same happen with these Return products?

No. All Return products can be used for either hot or cold without worry. The temperature range these products can sustain is from -40 to +300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Q: Is Return material made from plants safe?

Yes. The ingredients are made from natural plants. They have passed all US FDA tests for food safety.

Q: Do Return products contain genetically modified ingredients?

No. Return products are certified to be GMO free.

Q: Is Return material bleach free?

Yes, Return is bleach free. No bleaches or solvents are used in the manufacturing process.

Q: Can this material be recycled?

Because the material breaks down quickly, it is not suitable for recycling because the new product made from recycled Return will have reduced life. We recommend you dispose of Return products by sending them to a commercial composting facility near your home. If that is not possible, the second best solution is to compost them in your back yard.

Q: Can I throw Return products on the side of the road?

No. It is not a good idea, nor is it legal in many states, to simply throw them on the side of the road. Ideally these products are best disposed of by composting. If that is not possible, throwing them in the trash they will still break down.

Q: Return products are compostable, but what happens if it ends up in a landfill? Have we really accomplished anything?

Yes, the benefits of using Return fully renewable, biodegradable materials are real even if you cannot compost them. These benefits, compared to either paper or plastic, include reduced greenhouse gas and reduced consumption of energy sources in how they are manufactured.

Q: What kind of impact can I have as a single consumer?

Individual consumers in the United States alone use about 40 billion paper & 35 billion plastic and foam cold cups every year. 16 billion paper hot cups and 25 billion foam hot cups are also used in the US every year. Each package of our plates or cups saves the equivalent of one gallon of gasoline in the amount of energy used to make paper or plastic.