PLANT IT FOR THE Planet By Melissa McCullough Photos Yanni
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rothers Benjamin and Dylan Presutti are going to change the world. Or, at least, how people drink their takeaway coffee. Dad (Alex), mum (Chelsea) and their kids love being out in nature. They love planting things and watching them grow. At the young ages of five and four, the nature-loving dynamic duo have admirable ambitions: Benji’s mission of saving the world and Dylan’s yearning to reuse paper and plastic rubbish mesh together perfectly and have inspired the family’s patented innovation called 'Litterbug'. Segueing from the old non-recyclable paper cup, 'Litterbug' takeaway coffee cups are made from recycled paper products and agricultural bi-products (plant fibres) and a 100% biodegradable plant-based polymer. They break down within 30-60 days. Alex tells us, “The sad truth is that most paper cups end up in our
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landfills, waterways, oceans, or somewhere on the international waste market. We’re going to change that.” What takes the cups to next-level sustainability is that they have been imbedded with heirloom seeds native to the area. After use, 'Litterbug' cups can be planted, and in a few weeks the seeds will sprout, and an edible plant will grow. If nurtured, they will provide food and more heirloom seeds. The concept of heirloom seeds is interesting because they are the original organics and they continue to produce. Plants have the potential to reduce 25% of carbon emissions from human activity but the heirloom seed factor makes that exponential, continuing to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Plants use the energy of sunlight, and through the process of photosynthesis they take carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air and water from the ground. In the process of continued next page...