Can I add on an extra carrying case or composter to my pledge?
You will totally be able to, yes! We are partnering with BackerKit, and when the campaign is over they will be offering a way to purchase items separately to add on to your pledge. The backer surveys will be sent out on May 15th with the details of how to purchase, as well as what items will be available.
Last updated: April 11, 2019 09:48
What makes this different than other PLA corn starch products that have been available for a while now?
These small changes make positive steps and it is our mission to make PLA go further to be as sustainable as it possibly can be.
By adding bamboo we see a few benefits-
1) Reduced price to the consumer. PLA is very expensive and bamboo is far less reducing the financial burden of doing something sustainable.
2)Sustainability- While PLA is more sustainable then traditional plastic by a mile it still requires refining to go from starch to Bio plastic. Bamboo is still more sustainable than PLA as it does not have to go through any refining and grows abundantly. Especially as the fibers we used come from the off cuts of furniture making, which would usually be destined for the incinerator. The more PLA we can remove from the product the less ecological impact each product is responsible for.
3)Aesthetics- The bamboo adds a speckling effect adds a more natural look to the product. PLA did not get widely accepted as it looked no different from shiny plastic.
4)Reusability- PLA currently most widely used in disposables. This essentially equates to throwing out all the energy used in making the product after a very short use. Astrik is designed specifically for reusable applications allowing consumers to get the most out of the impact that making the product has caused.
PLA is still essential to our formulation as it allows the product to be dishwasher and microwave safe.
Last updated: April 12, 2019 10:01
Is the idea to put this into compost bins, would cities accept something that takes two years to biodegrade?
Industrial composers are unfortunately not as common as they should be. Our play here is at the average consumer who carelessly throws plastic away. This will reduce the degradation time in a landfill or out in nature to reduce long term impact. This action reduces the degradation time in a landfill, and reduces long term impact. Not to mention, composting is a great way to enrich soil, reduce pests, and when mixed with topsoil, prevents erosion.
Last updated: April 12, 2019 10:06
What is BackerKit?
BackerKit is a service that crowdfunded project creators use to keep track of hundreds to tens of thousands of backers—from shipping details, pledge levels, preferences and quantities, whether they have paid or had their card declined, special notes, and everything in between!
The BackerKit software and support team is independent from the campaign’s project team—BackerKit does not handle the actual reward shipping. For more information about the preparation or delivery status of your rewards, please check the project's updates page.
How does BackerKit work?
After the campaign ends, the project creator will send you an email with a unique link to your survey. You can check out a walkthrough of the process here.
I never received my invitation. How do I complete the survey?
The most common reasons for not receiving a survey email is that you may be checking an email inbox different from the email address you used to sign up with Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account, or it may be caught in your spam filter.
Confirm that the email address you are searching matches the email address tied to your Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or Tilt Pro account. If that doesn’t work, then try checking your spam, junk or promotions folders. You can also search for "backerkit” in your inbox.
To resend the survey to yourself, visit the project page and input the email address associated with your Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account.
How do I update my shipping address?
BackerKit allows you to update your shipping address until the shipping addresses are locked by the project creator. To update your address, go back to your BackerKit survey by inputting your email here.
When will my order be shipped, charged or locked?
That is handled directly by the project creator. BackerKit functions independently of the project itself, so we do not have control of their physical shipping timeline. If you want to check on the project’s status, we recommend reading over the project's updates page.
I completed the survey, but haven't received my rewards yet. When will they arrive?
As BackerKit does not actually handle any rewards or shipping, the best way to stay updated on the shipping timeline would be to check out the project's updates page.