A California Innovator Brings Climate Solutions to the Table—One Straw at a Time

Aircarbon Alliance: Turning Greenhouse Gas into Everyday Good

A New Kind of Sustainability

In a world increasingly aware of plastic pollution and carbon emissions, one company is taking an extraordinary approach: turning greenhouse gases into everyday products.

Meet Newlight Technologies, the California-based biotechnology firm behind Aircarbon®, a naturally occurring material made by microorganisms that consume greenhouse gases and convert them into a strong, flexible biopolymer.

With its latest initiative — the Aircarbon Alliance — Newlight is scaling that innovation to empower consumers, manufacturers, and foodservice partners to work together toward a shared goal: ending climate change through materials that remove carbon from the air.

From Carbon to Cutlery

Aircarbon® is composed of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a natural polymer that exists throughout the biosphere — in plants, soil, and even ocean life. By recreating that process using greenhouse gases, Newlight captures carbon that would otherwise contribute to climate change and transforms it into usable, durable material for products like straws, utensils, and packaging.

The results are nothing short of remarkable.

“Composting is important, but it’s not enough,” says Mark Herrema, CEO of Newlight. “We can’t solve ocean health without tackling carbon in the atmosphere. Aircarbon lets us do both — reducing waste and removing carbon.”

Compostable, Durable, and Certified

The new Aircarbon Alliance Straws are built to perform — strong, smooth, and never soggy. They hold up beautifully in cold drinks and hot beverages alike, making them a real alternative to paper and plastic.

Even better, they’re certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) for commercial composting and by TÜV Austria for home composting. That means they’ll safely decompose whether tossed in an industrial compost facility or a backyard bin.

Every straw and utensil is also PFAS-free, BPA-free, and FDA-approved, and complies with rigorous safety standards including REACH, RoHS, and California Proposition 65.

Measurable Climate Impact

Unlike traditional plastics — which emit carbon as they’re made — Aircarbon products remove greenhouse gases from the air.

Each Aircarbon Alliance product comes with third-party verification from ECG Global Solutions, ensuring its carbon-negative impact meets international standards such as ISO 14044:2006 and The Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

That means every straw, every fork, and every plate made with Aircarbon contributes to measurable climate repair.

“Small actions, taken together, can drive global change,” says Herrema. “That’s what the Aircarbon Alliance is about — empowering everyone to make a difference.”

A Pacific Northwest Connection

Here in the Northwest, Unity Foods LLC, a broadline food distributor servicing restaurants, manufacturers, institutions, and distributors throughout Oregon and Washington, has become a strong supporter of Aircarbon’s mission. With local deliveries to Bend, Corvallis, Centralia, Tacoma and Seattle, Unity Foods is committed to helping the region’s foodservice operators make more sustainable choices.

“These straws aren’t just compostable — they’re part of a bigger climate solution,” says Calvin Walsh, owner of Unity Foods. “Our customers want products that look good, perform well, and help the planet. Aircarbon Alliance checks every box. It’s exciting to bring this innovation to foodservice operators who care about both quality and carbon reduction.”

From coastal cafés to mountain resorts, more Northwest establishments are turning to Aircarbon Alliance straws as a practical, planet-positive upgrade — and Unity Foods is helping lead the charge.

“We see this as the future of food packaging,” adds Walsh. “If every restaurant in America switched to Aircarbon products, imagine the collective impact we’d have on reducing emissions.”

Why It Matters Now

According to NASA, coral reefs could decline by up to 99% if global warming reaches 2°C above pre-industrial levels. With the planet already at 1.1°C, urgent solutions are needed — not just to reduce waste, but to reverse emissions.

The Aircarbon Alliance brings a hopeful message to that challenge: that sustainability can be both beautiful and functional, and that collective consumer action can truly cool the planet.

Joining the Alliance

With its sleek new green straw symbolizing renewal and progress, the Aircarbon Alliance isn’t just selling products — it’s inviting businesses, consumers, and manufacturers to become part of a movement.

Whether you run a café, order takeout, or just care about what happens after you toss your straw, you’re part of the solution.

🌎 Learn more and join the movement at newlight.com

✳️ Quick Facts: Aircarbon Alliance Straws

• Made from Aircarbon®, a natural carbon-capture material

  
  

• Home & commercially compostable

  
  

• BPI & TÜV certified

  
  

• PFAS-, BPA-, and allergen-free

  
  

• Verified carbon-negative lifecycle

  
  

• Distributed in Oregon & Washington by Unity Foods LLC