Jelloware: Chug n' toss (or munch)

Have your cocktail and eat it too with Jelloware, a line of colorful, biodegradable cups made from an algae-derived gelatin substitute.

Mon, Jul 19 2010 at 6:52 PM EST

Images: The Way We See the World

Greetings from Vacationland! I’ve been working — but mostly lounging, lolling, and getting my lobster on — from Maine’s gorgeous southern coast for the past few days. Along with the throngs of sunburnt necks, clam shacks with mile-long queues, and souvenir shops shilling questionable shell jewelry, there’s been one reoccurring sight during my time here: an abundance of disposable drinkware. From the beach to the barbecue to the boardwalk, I’ve seen my fellow vacationers clutching water bottles, soda cans, and those ubiquitous red plastic Solo cups but reusable and/or eco-friendly drinking vessels? Not so much …

Well, Here’s a summertime cup alternative that might not be ideal for a sweltering day at the beach but that I still think has plenty of potential: Jelloware, a line of biodegradable, edible, and delicious cups molded from, you guessed it, gelatin.

Created by the lovely ladies of New York-based design firm, The Way We See The World, squishy and sustainable Jelloware took home the Structural/Sculptural Integrity prize at the 2nd annual Jell-O Mold Competition hosted by Gowanus Studio Space (be sure to check out grand prize winner Aspic Ascension – Tastes Like Heaven.

Here’s a bit more about Jelloware from the designers:

Jelloware re-imagines the concept of drinking, and imparts a new experience in the way it feels, tastes, smells, moves, and is even disposed of. The cups are made entirely out of agar agar and cast in different flavors, such as lemon-basil, ginger-mint, or rosemary-beet, each specifically designed to compliment a corresponding drink. Jelloware is meant to be thrown into the grass after it is used, as agar agar is a seaweed extract and actually nurtures the growth of plants.

Okay, so I’d be more likely to imbibe a summertime cocktail out of a standard reusable glass than out of a rosemary-beet flavored cup (I’d be afraid to attract ants and other critters) but you can’t really get more fun than this. What do you think? A great idea or potentially too messy/melty?