Innovation in Business- Q3 2024 | 14 The Journey to a Sustainable Utopia Sharina Perry founded Utopia Plastix in 2018, following her lifelong aspiration to make the world a better place. Growing up, Sharina understood first hand what it meant to be an African American woman before being a businesswoman and has continuously strived to uphold and empower other minority businesses. At the core of Sharina’s mission is a desire to help multi-generational minority and disadvantaged families and communities. Utopia Plastix describes its business model as circular. The company operates by controlling its supply chain through a sustainable eco-system business model. The Utopia Model Model Companies oversee farming, processing, manufacturing, distribution, as they collectively work together following the Seed to Sell methodology. The objective is that eventually all plastics within households will be produced with seeds sown by local farmers, creating a sustainable economy within communities. After years of extensive research and development of plant-based products, Sharina was able to create a plant-based straw at home. Her goal was to create an alternative to the petroleum-based plastics that are polluting the environment and increasing global health issues. Sharina turned away from common, single-use plastics to develop materials that are compostable and degradable, having minimal impact on the environment in both its creation and its implementation. According to a 2024 brief from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, over 460 million metric tons of plastic are produced every year, with an estimated 20 million metric tons of plastic litter ending up in the environment every year. This amount Utopia Plastix is a woman minority owned business that has developed a plant-based alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Based in the USA, the company is comprised of a diverse team of professionals, all aligned with the common goal of bettering the world. Utopia Plastix produces resin made with crops that replenish the soil with valuable nutrients, meaning that its products are environmentally friendly from the start. Here, we take a look at the ways in which Utopia Plastix is building a sustainable future. is projected to increase significantly by 2040. There are many adverse effects to the pollution stemming from irresponsible plastic disposal to both the environment and our personal health. Plastic waste has become a large factor in biodiversity loss, it effects food and water safety, contributes to climate change, and negatively impacts human health. Utopia Plastix has developed a patent-pending compounded resin that is entirely plant-based and produced in USA FDA Compliant, ISO Certified manufacturing facilities. The resin is made with crops that are approved by the United States Department of Agriculture and absorb carbon at four to five times the rate of trees, making them the more environmentally conscious option. This, in addition to supporting communities through supplying seeds to local farmers contributes to ensuring that Utopia Plastix is responsible in its production methods. The resin has been developed to be suitable for use in any plastic application for manufacturers looking to use sustainable alternatives. The company has intentionally developed the resin so that manufacturers do not have to modify their equipment or processes to use it and can instead integrate it seamlessly into their existing methodologies. Working closely with manufacturers across the country, Utopia Plastix has developed numerous samples of finished goods, including straws, cutlery, film, bags, and a variety of container types. These products are made with plant matter in blown film processing, blow molding, extrusion with a thin wall, and injection mould. Despite these innovative advancements, Utopia Plastix is not here to replace manufacturers, but instead assist them on a shared journey to a more sustainable future. The company recognizes that global sustainability can be achieved at a much faster pace through sharing resources and collaborating on developing solutions. Additionally, Utopia Plastix has ensured that its costs are significantly lower than any other plastic alternatives currently available on the market. The core goal of the company is to provide sustainable solutions, which would not be possible if prices were too high to entice manufacturers to make the switch to sustainability. In less than ten years of operation, Utopia Plastix has worked relentlessly to develop the sustainable plastic of the future. These altruistic efforts will not only have a major impact on local communities, but also on the greater world. We eagerly anticipate the ways in which Utopia Plastix will continue to pave the way for a brighter future. If you would like to keep up with the latest advancements in the development of a sustainable world, you can visit Utopia Plastix’s webpage for more information. Contact: Sharina Perry Company: Utopia Plastix Web Address: https://utopiaplastix.com/ Mar24573 Top 10 Innovators 2024
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