Trail Mix | Biodegradable energy gel packets are a new tool in trail runners’ quest for sustainability
- Bioplastic energy gel packets are made from compostable material that disappears with rain and insects
- They are not the perfect solution because they may perpetuate single use culture, but they are better than traditional plastic
Trail runners are generally pretty good about minimising the use of disposable plastics. We run with soft flasks, hydration packs and collapsible, reusable silicon cups – all of which help to cut down on single-use plastics. Well-organised trail running races rarely have disposable cups at checkpoints and water stations, and competitors are encouraged to bring their own cutlery for food at finish lines.
Unfortunately, we're less good about our gels and bars.
As much as we try to clean up after ourselves, a number of those plastic-coated foil wrappers inevitably find their way on to the sides of trails and into bushes, posing not just an eyesore but also an environmental hazard.
Lizzie Wright, an industrial designer, hopes her invention can alleviate the problem and represent a step towards a more sustainable solution.
She has developed a 100 per cent edible and biodegradable energy gel package, named Gone, which breaks down in a matter of days with the help of rain and critters. “Everything it’s made out of you can buy at the grocery store,” said Wright.
