Plates and utensils from Ultra Green can go straight from your party or picnic to your backyard compost pile. The Plymouth start-up says they’ll break down at about the same rate as garden waste. Plates and bowls are made from sugar cane fiber; utensils and cups are made with plastic derived from cornstarch.

Ultra Green, available at local grocery chains and online and traditional retailers around the country, also has a thriving food-service business. Next up: single-use baking pans, now being tested by commercial bakers.