Shark Tank is undoubtedly my guilty pleasure. When I’m having a bad day I’ll often spend the night at home watching a mini marathon of episodes. No matter the entrepreneur in question, it’s endlessly inspiring to see people go after their dreams and pursue their ideas, often without any formal business background. On a recent episodes, two young women presented an idea that immediately got me excited. Called Loliware, the brand makes disposable cups that you eat instead of throwing away! Available in four flavors, each of which is 100% all natural, non-GMO, gelatin-free, gluten-free, plastic-free, BPA-free, non-toxic, and FDA-approved. The flavors are Yuzu Citrus, Tart Cherry, Matcha Green Tea, Vanilla Bean, and an unflavored “Natural Clear” to complement drinks and desserts. The cups are made from seaweed, as well as organic sweeteners, flavors, and colors derived from fruits and vegetables; and they work for frozen drinks and desserts as well. Of course, after airing, the cups are back ordered so I haven’t had a chance to try them yet, and I don’t have any details on the actual nutritional breakdown; but I imagine that the calorie count is low given the ingredients (though the sugar content may be high depending on the sweeteners and flavors used). They retail for $11.99 for four, so clearly they’re not cheap but what an awesome (and super memorable!) idea for a party, especially come summer when fruity drinks hit their popularity peak.
Plans are already in the works to expand to other edible disposable products like tableware and straws (anyone else remember how fun it was using a Twizzler as a straw and then eating it as a kid?!).