From plantable Sprout pencils to biodegradable Sprout spoons with tea? That’s true! Denmark based Sprout expands its portfolio, introducing a new patented and eco-friendly invention. The plastic free Sprout Spoon is made for both environmentally concerned consumers and companies, and it’s completely in line with Sprout’s mission to make the world a better place through green everyday products.
Six years ago, Sprout launched the world’s first sustainable pencil that you could plant after use and watch grow into herbs, vegetables and flowers. Since then, 12 million Sprout pencils has been sold in over 80 countries. This means, there are actually 14 million new potential plants growing from old pencil stubs out there.
The Sprout pencils have become particularly popular among companies around the world, engraving their logo and replacing Sprout pencils with traditional plastic company ball pens.
Since the pencil, a color pencil and even a plantable Sprout makeup pencil have been added to the portfolio, and now the family is being extended with another game changing member.
Plastic free spoon and teabag in one
It’s called the Sprout Spoon; a 100% biodegradable, foldable spoon with a teabag integrated. Unlike the pencil, it can’t grow into a plant, but it still makes the world sprout in a broader sense of the world. It doesn’t contain plastic, metal clamps, bleach or pesticides as most of teabags and stirring sticks do today.
It can be thrown directly in the biodegradable trash as it decomposes and is free from toxins. And as far as the market, the spoon will not only be relevant forhotels, airlines, gas stations and restaurants; it will also be an ideal company giveaway, because the spoon can get personalized with logo and message.
On the forefront of a ban against plastic utensils
The founder and chairman of Sprout, Michael Stausholm, is very enthusiastic about the new spoon that he expects to be just as demanded as the Sprout pencil.
-The Sprout Spoon represents – just like the Sprout pencil – a solution to one of the great plastic challenges that the world faces today. Especially the “drink to go-market” needs to rethink its waste problem. Alone in the US, 100 million plastic spoons and other plastic utensils are used and thrown out every day. They can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. In Europe, the problem has such importance that the European Union has decided to ban disposable plastic utensils by 2021.
-But also, the promotional gift industry needs more sustainability. It is still characterized by cheap throw away items like plastic ball pens and other stuff that has little use and soon ends up in the trash. We want to challenge the industry and offer a more thought through alternative.
Five years, 700 suppliers and 5000 emails
The Sprout Spoon (previously called Greenspoon) was invented by a young German entrepreneur, Jochen Gabler, who spent over five years developing it. He was in contact with 700 potential suppliers to make the right combination of components for the spoon and to get the right mix of food approved components. It should be biodegradable, foldable, customizable and at the same time endure boiling water without softening.
The inventor contacted Michael Stausholm, who was very impressed by the spoon and the fact that Jochen Gabler received over 1700 inquiries after he presented his invention on a German TV show. Also, the sales exploded by 1,000 percent from 2017 to 2018. Hundreds of companies in countries like Germany, Switzerland and Austria have already purchased the spoons, and after the purchase of Gabler’s company, patents and IP rights, Michael Stausholm looks forward to offering the Sprout Spoon to more markets.
About patented Sprout Spoon
Sprout Spoon is an eco-friendly and patented 2-in-1 product, easy to customize and use as a promotional giveaway. It consists of a foldable, 100% biodegradable spoon with integrated quality tea. You both use the item as stirring stick and teabag without any use of plastic, metal clamps or other harmful materials. It comes with 3 different tea variants and it can also be made with cocoa, soup or coffee. The basic material of Sprout Spoon is 100% without plastic coating (different to most to-go cups), environmentally produced virgin fiber that ensures stability of the Sprout Spoon in hot water. The colors are added with biomass, so they have natural ingredients. It’s analyzed, tested and approved.
The special material used to make the Sprout Spoon can also be used for a lot of other applications including food packaging. The Sprout Spoon is being sold to companies now, and to private consumers on Amazon later this year. Just like the Sprout pencil, the Sprout Spoon can be customized with logo and message.
About Sprout
Sprout is a Danish company that offers eco-friendly, everyday innovations to people and companies. The mission is to inspire people to reflect, change their behavior step by step and make more sustainable decisions.