Hitting the Books
Tatman is new Public
Service Librarian Page 6
What people say
What’s your favorite part of the David Traylor Zoo?
Page 7
EGW
JULY 23 AND 24, 2016
V V V
PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING
FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1895
WWW.EMPORIAGAZETTE.COM
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ahead of the curve
hopes to help
expand industry
in U.S.
variety of products.
“What Green Dot does is make
plastic more sustainable,” Ireland
said. “We have a variety of different
types of materials that we make in
Onaga. We do our research and
development in Ottawa and are
based out of Cottonwood Falls.”
The company uses a patented
process to mix natural fibers from
wood, flowers, hemp and flax —
among others — to make a biodegradable plastic material.
“We combine those with plastic to reduce the amount of petroleum-based stocks that we use ev-
By Jesse Murphy
[email protected]
Many may not know exactly
what Green Dot Bioplastics does
at their plant in Onaga, the laboratory in Ottawa — moved down
from Atchison — or at the headquarters in Cottonwood Falls.
“Ottawa is closer to our headquarters and closer to the plant
and also more convenient for our
lead scientist,” company communications manager Kevin Ireland
said. “We’ve also moved our main
building basically to consolidate
our office space.”
What they are doing is catching
COURTESY PHOTO
on, and their operation is growing.
The company — as the name Green Dot Bioplastics’ headquarter office is located at 226
suggests — makes compostable Broadway in Cottonwood Falls. The company hopes to lead the way
plastics that can be used in a wide to a massive growth in the use of bioplastics in the United States.
e r y
d ay, ”
I r e l a n d
s a i d .
“We began
the company
around a material
that was the market’s
first compostable soft-plastic material. It is unlike conventional silicones or polyurethanes
— this can be composted and will
biodegrade.”
The company submitted its
patent in 2011, but in lieu of waiting for it to be approved, it began
making iPhone cases for consumers. The patent for the privatelyheld LLC was approved in 2013.
“There are a lot of people that
submit patents,” Ireland said. “All
of the claims have to be verified to
be true. We didn’t want to wait for
that; we wanted to get the material directly in the hands of people.
They could see and feel the quality of the material.”
The product is often stronger
than standard plastics as well.
According to Ireland, the natural
fibers strengthen the products
along with making them biofriendly.
“What we really try to do is to —
not just make these products environmentally friendly — but to
make them better as well,” Ireland
said.
The cost for producers and consumers looks good on paper, too.
“What we’ve found in the
last few years is that these products can compete as far as price
is concerned as well,” Ireland
said. “There is a huge avenue for
growth.”
Please see Green Dot, Page 6
By Mary Ann Redeker
[email protected]
Corky the Hornet and the Emporia State University Department of
Nursing held a summer camp Friday
morning in Cora Miller Hall.
The camp offered the opportunity for about 30 attendees aged 10
- 12, to explore the world of nursing
and take a selfie with Corky.
Event coordinator Kari Hess,
MS, RN and associate professor at
the school, said the camp was something she had always wanted to do.
“I was excited for this opportunity and to be a part of it,” she said.
“I am passionate about our program
MARY ANN REDEKER/GAZETTE
YOUNGSTERS EXPERIENCE
WORLD OF NURSING
AT CORKY’S SUMMER
NURSE CAMP
Corky
poses with
attendees
of Corky’s
Summer
Nurse
Camp held
Friday
morning
at the
Emporia
State
University
Department
of Nursing.
here. It’s a great way for us to plant a
seed for the students I someday hope
to teach.”
Nursing school students and
ambassadors helped with the camp
activities, which promoted learning
skills necessary to the nursing profession.
Hattie Cooper of Emporia said
she was excited to attend the camp
and see what being a nurse was all
about.
“It’s fun to be getting a hands-on
experience,” she said. “I’m pretty
positive I want to be a nurse, but today, after going through the camp,
Good Evening
Please see Camp, Page 6
MARY ANN REDEKER/GAZETTE
VOL. 125, NO. 19
We can always use good nurses!