Denise Stilling, a research engineer at the University of Regina, has developed a sustainable solution for the common issue of mushy paper straws. By using food-grade materials and agricultural crop residue, she has created an environmentally-friendly straw that does not disintegrate in your drink. Stilling’s upbringing on a farm instilled a sense of sustainability in her, as she recalls feeding scraps to the pigs and recycling waste back into the soil. Her interest in finding innovative ways to use agricultural waste led her to start making single-use plates out of flax straw and eventually to the creation of the eco-friendly drinking straw.
In 2021, Stilling received a $150,000 grant through the province’s Agriculture Development Fund for her project focused on utilizing cereal and flax straw to make compostable products such as drinking straws, stir sticks, container sleeves, and medical devices. Initially, she had considered using Polylactic acid (PLA) as a bioplastic for the project, but the legislation banning single-use plastics, including PLA, prompted her to seek alternative materials. Stilling believes that while paper straws have become popular in response to the plastic ban, they also have a negative impact on the environment due to the resources required to produce them and the use of harmful chemicals in the process.
With the plastic ban in place and dissatisfaction with the quality of paper straws, Stilling saw an opportunity to introduce her environmentally-friendly straw to the market and began seeking investors for her company, EcoFlexPlus. The company is currently one of the top 20 Saskatchewan startups competing for funding at the Startup TNT Investment Summit. Through this event, Stilling aims to pitch her product to major food franchise groups as a more customer-friendly alternative to paper straws. The importance of early-stage investment in local startups was emphasized by Mike Woldfeld, Startup TNT Saskatchewan Lead, who highlighted the potential for these companies to become global businesses with the support of investors.
Startup TNT operates as a venture capital firm, investing in high-growth and high-potential companies that show promise for success. With over 400 investors backing 96 companies across western Canada, the organization plays a crucial role in providing funding to help startups grow and thrive in their early stages. At the Startup TNT Investment Summit, each investor commits $5,000 before hearing company pitches, with one company ultimately chosen for investment after an eight-week due diligence process. The top five companies selected by the investors and Startup TNT will present their final pitches on June 13, showcasing their innovative ideas and potential for growth in the market.
