Customer Support

FAQs


Ordering & Account Information


Q: Do I need to set up an account before I can order online?
No. When you register and place your first order, an account is automatically set up for you.


Q: How do I place an order?
Orders are placed through our online store with a credit card or through PayPal.


Q: Where can I check on my orders, billing , or update my account profile?
Log in to your account by selecting "Log In" on the top right of your screen, then select the view cart icon, also located top right. Once you do this a new icon will appear titled “My Account”. Click here and you will have access to all orders, current and past. You can also update passwords, profile, etc. To track an order:

  • Under the ORDERS column select: See all Transactions
  • Click on the sales order number
  • Scroll down the page to the shipping box. Your UPS tracking number will be listed there, generally, the day after the shipment has left our warehouse.

Q: What if a product is listed as “Out of Stock”?
If an item is listed as "Out of Stock" please contact us or call 707-241-9190 to speak to customer service for an estimated date of availability and/or to see if we can suggest a comparable item instead.


Q: Are World Centric’s products available in stores?
Our products are available in many retail stores and markets nationwide including Whole Foods, Costco, Albertson's, Kroger, Sprouts and Publix. Click here for our Store Locator.


Custom Designs & Printing


Q: Do you do custom printing?
Yes! For more information, please visit our Custom Printing page.


Q: What if I don’t want any writing on the cup?
If you do not want any writing on our products you can special order them with a minimum production of 100,000 units and 2 months lead time.


NOTE: We encourage our purchasers to leave the compostable symbol on the cup. It helps end-users identify the cup as compostable and encourages them to disposable of the item in a compost system.


Q: Can I design my own product?
Yes! For more information, please visit our Custom Design page.


Pricing & Discounts


Q: How do World Centric prices compare to non-compostable alternatives like plastic and Styrofoam?
Our prices are comparable to prices for high-quality plastics and paper.


Q: Do schools qualify for discounts?
We offer discounts to K-12 schools and for nonprofit organizations on university campuses on purchases through our website.

For more information, please visit our Discounts page.


Q: Can all products be discounted?
We are not able to discount certain items such as clearance/sale items, retail items, and samples. For more information please visit our discounts page or call Customer Service at 707-241-9190.


Shipping & Handling


Q: When will my order ship?
Orders received before 3:00 p.m. weekdays during business hours will ship out within the next two business days. Normal business hours for World Centric are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Please see our shipping & handling page for our holiday schedule.


Q: Why did I only get part of my order?
Orders may ship from multiple locations as we have warehouses on the west and east coasts. For more information on shipping, handling, and processing, please visit our Shipping page. Please contact customer service at 707-241-9190, option 0 for any questions about placing, processing or tracking your order, or on our Contact Us page.


Q: Can I track my order?
You can track your package on UPS.com with the tracking number sent via email on the day your order shipped. If over a business week has passed since you received your order confirmation and you still have not received your order, please call Customer Service at 707-241-9190, option 0.


Q: What if I need my order by a certain date?
If you need your order by a certain date, please include this information in the Special Instructions box during the ordering process and we will do everything we can to accommodate your request.


Q: Do you ship outside the U.S.?
Due to high freight and customs costs, World Centric® is limited in its ability to ship internationally at this time. Please contact our Customer Service Department for more information at 707-241-9190 (option 0) or through our Contact Us page.


Q: When does my order qualify for free shipping?
As part of World Centric®’s continuing efforts to provide superior products and services, we are happy to provide free ground shipping for online orders over $75 in the continental United States.


Q: Why do you use plastic wrap to package your products?
Because our products are food grade, it is necessary to package them in a hygienic way and HDPE plastic is approved by the FDA for this purpose and is easily obtainable. Our retail hot and cold cups are packaged in a bio-based plastic that is compostable, however it is currently cost prohibitive to package our bulk items this way. Also, compostable bags have a short shelf life and will begin to break down after a certain amount of time. To avoid any problems for our customers, it is not feasible to use these bags for our bulk items. We are always looking for better ways to package our products and will continue to evaluate new packaging ideas as they become available.


Returns & Cancellations


Q: Do you accept returns?
Please call the administrative office at 707-241-9190 before returning goods so that you can receive an authorization number for your return. Returns sent to our warehouse without an authorization number will not be eligible for a refund.

For more information, please visit our Returns/Cancellations page.


Q: What if I want to cancel my order?
Please submit all cancellation requests via our "Contact Us" page or by phone at 707-241-9190, as soon as possible and include all the information you received in your order confirmation. Every effort will be made to accommodate the cancellation of your order, providing your order has not been shipped. Orders ship about 2 business days after they are placed.

For more information, please visit our Returns/Cancellations page.


Product Materials and Compostability


Q: What are your compostable products made from?
We have 3 main product material categories: plant fiber, paper, and PLA (Polylactic Acid). Each of these categories offers a unique way to replace traditional items.

  • Plant Fiber: Hundreds of different fibrous plants can be manufactured into alternatives to tree-based paper products. Our main sources of rapidly renewable plant fiber are bamboo, wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse. Using unbleached plant fiber protects forests, uses fewer chemicals than paper alternatives, provides a new revenue for farmers, and is a renewable and sustainable resource.
  • Paper: We produce a line of hot cups and bowls made from sustainably certified paper. While we believe that the best way to protect the world’s forests is to reduce consumption of tree-based products, many of our customers want products which cannot yet be replicated by plant fiber. Our paper products are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) guaranteeing the responsible management of the forests. Our NoTree® line of cups, bowls and containers are made from renewable bamboo paper and we hope to expand our offerings with this material.
  • Polylactic Acid (PLA): PLA is a bio-based plastic derived from renewable resources such as corn starch, tapioca roots or sugarcane. World Centric® products are made from PLA (cups and containers), TPLA (PLA + Talc) (Cutlery and Zeroware) or CPLA (Crystallized PLA) (Hot Cup Lids). To make PLA, sugar from plants is turned into lactic acid through fermentation which is converted into a polymer. At this stage, it is shaped into pellets which can be transformed into a wide variety of products. Manufacturing PLA produces 75% fewer greenhouse gasses and uses 50% less non-renewable energy than traditional polymers like PET & polystyrene.


Q: What is the difference between compostable plastic and biodegradable plastic?
“Biodegradable” means that an object is capable of disintegrating by biological means. Technically, these items could be composed of almost any material since with enough time microorganisms can decompose almost anything. For example, aluminum cans will biodegrade in the ocean in about 200 years and hard plastic bottle caps will biodegrade in about 400 years.

“Compostable” means that a product breaks down to carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass which leaves no toxic residue. According to D6400 composting standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), compostable products must break down at a rate similar to paper or disintegrate into small pieces within 90 days so that the original product is not visually distinguishable in the compost.


Q: How are your products better than traditional alternatives?
World Centric® products meet ASTM D6400/D6868 standards for compostability and certified for plant-based content by the USDA BioBased program. Our products not only break down into compost, but - through their production and disposal - use less energy and water, and release less harmful pollutants than their conventional counterparts. For example, we can make 2 compostable forks with the same amount of energy it takes to make 1 polystyrene fork and 3 compostable plates with the same amount as 1 polystyrene plate. That’s a 66% saving in energy. Using less energy means producing less greenhouse gas and emitting less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Conventional plastics are manufactured from 20 different petroleum-based resins with 20 different levels of recyclability and toxicity. As a fossil fuel, petroleum in a non-renewable resource and its extraction process degrades the environment. Due to complexity in recycling, over 20 million tons of plastic are sent to landfill each year.


Q: What is Ingeo™?
Ingeo™ is the trademarked brand name for PLA made by NatureWorks.

Read more about PLA.

Q: How should PLA products be stored?
Products made of PLA should be stored at a temperature below 110°F and out of direct sunlight.


Q: What is the shelf life of your products?

Product Shelf Life
PLA cold cups, deli containers 2 years
TPLA Utensils 3 years
Bamboo utensils 3 years
Paper straws 2 years
PLA food scraps bags, kitchen and yard waste bags 12 months
Heat-resistant PLA lids for paper cups & paper bowls 12 months
Plant fiber plates, take-out containers, bowls, cups, & trays 3 years
Paper hot cups, bowls, lids, paper cold cups, take out containers 2 years

Products should be stored in a cool dry area to achieve maximum life expectancy.


Q: How long will these products take to break down?

Product Home Composting Commercial Composting
PLA cold cups, deli containers, clamshell containers, utensils
Not recommended 2-4 months
Bamboo utensils Not recommended 2-4 months
PBAT food scraps, kitchen and yard waste bags Up to 1 year 2-3 months
Plant fiber plates, take-out containers, bowls, cups, and trays Not recommended 2-3 months
Paper cups, bowls, lids, take-out containers, paper straws Not recommended 2-3 months
PLA lids for hot cups, bowls and containers Not recommended 2-4 months


Q: Which products have the least environmental impact?
Our plant fiber products are made from renewable plant fiber like bamboo fiber, sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw. Here are some benefits of using plant fiber:

  • Protects forests by replacing the need for traditional paper from trees
  • Annually renewable and sustainable: Sugarcane bagasse is a leftover product from the harvesting of sugarcane; Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that can be harvested annually
  • Require less energy. A wood pulp mill uses 10 times the energy required to create wheat straw pulp.
  • New revenue for farmers: directing agricultural waste into paper manufacturing provides an additional income stream for farmers, without impacting food production or increasing energy inputs, and without putting new land into production.


Q: Isn’t using corn for disposable products wasting a valuable food source?

Our Ingeo™ products are made from No. 2 yellow dent field corn, the most abundant and cheapest source of fermentable sugar in the U.S. We use very little of available U.S. corn crop.


Q:
Have your items been tested for compostability by reliable sources?
Our products are certified compostable by either the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) to meet ASTM D6400 and ASTM D6868 standards for compostability or through testing by Composting Manufacturing Alliance (CMA). Our bags also have the TUV certification for compostability.

New products are not always certified immediately as the process takes time to complete.


Q:
Where are your products manufactured?
Most of our products are manufactured in Asia. We currently manufacture some of our PLA lids in the U.S. and are exploring more manufacturing options here.


Q:
Why are you manufacturing in Asia? Doesn’t that increase the carbon footprint?
We currently manufacture our products in Asia so that we can provide an affordable alternative to plastic. Since transporting products from Asia to the U.S. is not ideal, we are currently exploring options to manufacture more in the U.S. We do our best to minimize the impact on the environment and people. We offset all our carbon from raw materials to delivery (including manufacturing, transportation) and do regular fair labor audits overseas to ensure that workers are paid well and have decent working conditions.


Q:
Where do your materials come from?
Our raw materials come from a variety of plant-based sources including bamboo, sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw, corn and paper from sustainably harvested trees.


Q:
How are your materials grown?
Whenever available, we seek supplies that are grown without GMOs and with organic farming practices. Unfortunately, there does not exist a reliable supply for some of our materials that are certified non-GMO.


PLA Products


Q: What is PLA?
PLA (polylactic acid) is a bio-based plastic derived from renewable resources such as corn starch, tapioca roots, or sugarcane. To make PLA, sugar from plants is turned into lactic acid through fermentation which is converted into a polymer. At this stage, it is shaped into pellets which can be transformed into a wide variety of products. Manufacturing PLA produces 75% fewer greenhouse gasses and uses 50% less non-renewable energy than traditional polymers like PET & polystyrene.

  • TPLA - PLA mixed with talc. We use tPLA for our utensils and reusables to increase the strength and heat resistance
  • CPLA - Crystallized PLA. This PLA has gone through a process to increase the heat tolerance. We use CPLA for our hot cup and bowl lids.


Q: What is NatureWorks Ingeo™?
NatureWorks, headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, is the manufacturer of Ingeo. Ingeo is a type of PLA, which is a bio-based plastic derived from renewable resources such as corn, cassava, sugar cane or beets. To make Ingeo, sugar from plants is turned into lactic acid through fermentation which is converted into a polymer. World Centric uses Ingeo PLA as well as PLA from other sources.


Q: How are compostable bioplastic products different from conventional plastics?
Conventional plastics are manufactured from 20 different petroleum-based resins with 20 different levels of recyclability and toxicity. As a fossil fuel, petroleum is a non-renewable resource and its extraction process degrades the environment. When discarded, plastic products can be recycled, but only if they are first sorted by resin type. This sorting is an imperfect and labor-intensive process. In 2012, plastics made up 13% of the waste sent to U.S. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) facilities. Of that amount, only 2.7% was recovered for recycling. PLA is a bio-based plastic derived from renewable resources such as corn, cassava, sugar cane or beets. Many World Centric® products are made from a type of PLA called Ingeo.™ To make Ingeo, sugar from plants is turned into lactic acid through fermentation which is converted into a polymer. At this stage, it is shaped into pellets which can be transformed into a wide variety of products. Manufacturing Ingeo produces 75% less greenhouse gases and uses 50% less non-renewable energy than conventional plastics.


Q: How can I tell the difference between compostable and traditional products?
Currently, symbols #1-6 are reserved for plastic products. Bio-plastics and all other plasticized products, fall under the #7 symbol as "Other" although they are not always labeled as such. Be sure to look for the word “compostable” or the BPI Certified logo.


Q: Will compostable products break down faster in the landfill than traditional items?
Our products are designed to be composted using a process which does not occur in landfills. Microorganisms, carbon, water, oxygen, and nitrogen are all necessary elements of the composting process. If sent to an open landfill or dump where oxygen is available, compostables will degrade at a rate similar to other biodegradable materials in the same setting. If compostable products are placed in the more common air-tight landfill and deprived of oxygen and microorganisms, they will not be able to biodegrade. This is true of all biodegradable materials in landfills, including paper, yard waste, and food waste.


Q: Can I put hot food/liquid in the PLA products?

  • PLA products (all clear items) are ideal for cold foods and liquids and should be stored at temperatures under 110°F.
  • CPLA hot cup lids are suitable for liquids up to 200°F.
  • Paper cups and bowls that are lined with PLA are suitable for temperatures up to 220°F.
  • Plant fiber products are suitable for temperatures up to 200°F.
  • TPLA Cutlery and ZeroWare® dinnerware is suitable for temperatures up to 200°F.

Q: How should Clear PLA products be stored?
Products made of PLA should be stored at a temperature below 110°F and out of direct sunlight.


Q: Is TPLA Cutlery Reusable?
Our TPLA cutlery is sturdy and reusable and dishwasher compatible.


Q: Are ZeroWare® Reusables dishwasher and microwave safe?
ZeroWare is dishwasher safe. We do not recommend reheating food on ZeroWare plates and bowls in the microwave.


Q: How many times can ZeroWare Reusable be washed?
ZeroWare has been tested up to 300 cycles in a commercial dishwasher.


Plant Fiber Products


Q: What are your plant fiber products made from?
Our main source of plant fibers is bamboo and we also use sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw. For World Centric®, these are valuable resources that can be fashioned into disposable products like plates, take-out containers, bowls, etc. Using plant fiber protects forests, uses less energy and fewer toxic chemicals than paper alternatives, provides a new revenue for farmers, and is a renewable and sustainable resource.


Q: How well do the plant fiber products handle heat?
Our molded plant fiber products will handle hot food and beverages up to 450° F. They are microwaveable up to 2-3/4 minutes for unlined products and 5-3/4 minutes for lined products. We recommend testing our products in your operations to ensure they meet your specific conditions.


Q: What are the paper towels and napkins made from?
Our paper towels and napkins are made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper. This ensures that no forests were cut down to make them.



Paper Products


Q: What kind of paper do you use?

  • Our paper hot cups and bowls are made from sustainably harvested paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®). This certification verifies that a forest is responsibly managed to mitigate the common destructive consequences of logging: habitat destruction, water pollution and displacement of indigenous peoples.
  • Our NoTree® hot cups, bowls and lids are made from 100% plant fiber paper.
  • Our paper napkins are made from 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper.
  • Hot Cup Sleeves are made from 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper.
  • In our office and in all marketing materials, we use 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper.

Q: Are your hot cups, bowls and lids microwavable?
While paper hot cups, bowls and lids are designed to hold hot foods, certain microwaves may generate extremely high heat that could damage the seams or in some situations burn or ignite the paper. World Centric does not make any claims of our paper cups, paper bowls or lids being microwave safe. For any World Centric product, we recommend testing our products in your own operations using your preferred ovens, microwaves and other heating appliances. Samples of our products are available by request for testing.


Composting Information


Q: What is composting?
Composting is breaking down organic material by bacteria, yeasts, and fungi into healthy, fertile compost that can be added to soil.


Q: How do I find my nearest composting facility?
The best way to find a commercial composting facility in your area is to contact your local waste management service. To ensure that your products are properly composted, ask if the site accepts compostable foodservice ware. You can also check out Find a Composter.


Q: How do I properly dispose of my compostable products?
Compostable products should be sent to a commercial composting facility. Unfortunately, not every city has a nearby composting site. You can contact your city’s waste management and/or recycling programs for further information on your composting options. Your city or county website will often have information on composting and free composting classes available.

Create your own compost.

If you do not have commercial composting available in your city, consider advocating for it by contacting your city officials. Compostable products are not recyclable and will contaminate the recycling line. In the trash, they will most likely end up in a landfill. Use our composting advocacy letter to petition your city for commercial composting options.


Q: Why should I use compostable products if they aren't accepted at my local composting facility?
Even though not all commercial composting facilities accept compostable products, there are many other reasons to use our products. World Centric products are made from sustainable materials like plant fiber, plant-based plastic and responsibly harvested paper as opposed to petroleum based plastics and polystyrene (Styrofoam). Our products also take less energy to make and contain no harmful toxins. Besides this, when you choose World Centric compostables, you are contributing to our mission of giving 25% of profits to social and environmental groups working to make the world a better place.


Q: Can I recycle compostable products?
Compostable products should not be sent to recycling facilities as they contaminate the recycling lines, which are sorted by material. Compostables have the ability to be recycled but facilities are limited.

To learn more about composting, please visit our Compostable Materials page.


Q: Will compostables break down faster in the landfill?
No. Our products are designed to be composted using a process which does not occur in landfills. Microorganisms, carbon, water, oxygen, and nitrogen are all necessary elements of the composting process. If sent to an open landfill or dump where oxygen is available, compostables will degrade at a rate similar to other biodegradable materials in the same setting. If compostable products are placed in the more common air-tight landfill and deprived of oxygen and microorganisms, they will not be able to biodegrade. This is true of all biodegradable materials in landfills, including paper, yard waste, and food waste.


Health Related


Still have questions?

Our Customer Service Representatives can be reached at 707-241-9190 or through our Contact Us page.