The Daily Valet. - 3/12/21, Friday

✔️ Sustainable Solutions

Friday, March 12th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Suddenly, I feel better about my Shake Shack lunch I’ll be eating later today.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

Smart, Sustainable Packaging

The first natural foodware brand will wrap burgers and restore the oceans

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues we face today—as rapidly increasing disposable plastic products overwhelms the world’s ability to deal with them. According to National Geographic, plastic trash has become so ubiquitous it has prompted efforts to write a global treaty negotiated by the United Nations.

Until that happens, everyone and every company has to do their part. Because every little bit adds up. Think about the last time you got a burger and fries. Now consider the waste that is generated by the packaging, straws and cutlery. Then, multiply that by the 85 million Americans who consume fast food on any given day, according to a recent survey.

The good news is that more and more fast food chains are embracing sustainable alternatives. One of my favorite burger joints, Shake Shack, just announced that it will introduce sustainable AirCarbon cutlery and straws from Restore Foodware at select restaurants across the country.

What’s AirCarbon? (I'm glad you asked.) It’s produced by replicating what already happens naturally in the ocean. Microorganisms consume air and greenhouse gas dissolved in saltwater to produce something called PHB—and Restore found a way to make it sustainably on land.

The material is meltable and moldable. It’s smooth and adaptable just like plastic. It’s even dishwasher safe. But, and here's the key, it degrades naturally if it ends up in the environment or in the ocean.

Certified carbon-negative by Carbon Trust and SCS Global, AirCarbon is currently produced in Southern California, but Newlight is planning on expanding their operations to Europe, reports Forbes. I have to say, I’m so impressed by this. It's seems like the perfect solution—and way better than the limp paper straws or scratchy bamboo cutlery that's full of good intentions but never performs the way you’d hope.

↦ FYI: Every day, approximately 8 million pieces of plastic pollution find their way into our oceans.

Biden Outlines Path to Normalcy

In his first prime-time address, he says all adults will be eligible for vaccinations by May 1

President Joe Biden announced Thursday night that he's directing states to make all adults eligible for vaccinations no later than May 1—a move that he said could help the United States return to some sense of normalcy by the 4th of July.

He warned that getting there would take work by all Americans, continuing social distancing, wearing masks and getting vaccinated. “I need you,” Biden stressed, describing his approach as a putting the country on a “war footing to get the job done.”

NPR reports the White House is also expected to increase the number of vaccinators, broadening the pool of those qualified to give shots to include dentists, paramedics, veterinarians, medical students and others.

Speaking on the anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring a pandemic, Biden laced his somber script with references to Hemingway and personal ruminations on loss as he reflected on a “collective suffering, a collective sacrifice, a year filled with the loss of life, and the loss of living, for all of us.”

↦ FYI: Biden spoke after he officially signed into law the COVID-19 relief package that will deliver $1,400 stimulus payments to bank accounts as early as this weekend.

What to Expect From the Grammys

This year will, of course, be very different

After a year when essentially all concerts were cancelled, the Grammy Awards offers the rare chance to experience a night of live performances. After all, the show could most concisely be described as back-to-back performances with awards sprinkled throughout.

According to Rolling Stone, the night will be a multi-stage, audience-free show that highlights the year's creative triumphs, social justice movements, as well as COVID-19's impact on the arts. Host Trevor Noah said he was drawn to the setup, likening it “to the feel of a music festival but designed for an audience at home.”

As for who should (and who will) win, Vulture puts it this way: It's pretty much understood that the winners won't represent the best music of a 12-month period but rather the music that best appealed to an enigmatic, picky group of voters. That being said, the performances promise to entertain and there plenty of worthy songs and artists nominated.

But not everyone's looking forward to them. On Thursday, the Weeknd announced that he's boycotting the awards after getting snubbed. The After Hours artist told the New York Times, “I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys.” And he's not the only one: Justin Bieber said he's sitting out this year too.

↦ Eye Candy: GQ offers a look back at the greatest outfits in Grammy history.

Ready to Spring Forward?

Daylight Saving Time is upon us ...

Don't forget that Daylight Saving Time kicks off this weekend. That means an hour of lost sleep that can lead to an entire week of recovery. Jumping the clocks forward one hour can really mess with our bodies and our heads. And the disruption to wake and sleep cycles goes beyond feeling tired for one day.

Studies have shown that during the week after the annual spring forward, there are more fatal car accidents and heart attacks. Less fatal consequences are an uptick in cyber-loafing and loss of productivity.

Which is perhaps why the conversation of ending this tradition comes up every year. This week, a bipartisan bill was introduced in the Senate to keep DST so that come November, Americans don't have to “fall back” and adjust their clocks again.

Sixteen states already have initiatives to keep DST year-round and more than two dozen other states are looking into doing the same, but a federal statue is required for the state to enact the change.

↦ FYI: The European Union was set to stop changing its clocks in 2021, but things got complicated.

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Cheap thrills

This incredibly thin house

The new Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Your Weekend Pairing

Cherry + a Cherry Bomb Cocktail

I had been meaning to read the c ritically-acclaimed novel that inspired this film, but it eventually dropped off my radar. Now, I'm excited to see it play out onscreen. True, some critics weren't terribly impressed but overall, audiences seem to like it. And I hear it's a beautifully-shot and stylish film. That's enough to sell me.

Cherry follows the wild journey of a disenfranchised young man from Ohio (Tom Holland) who becomes an Army medic, only to later become addicted to OxyContin as well heroin. He meets the love of his life, only to risk losing her through a series of bad decisions—like robbing banks to get his hands on easy cash. RoberEbert.com calls it a blistering critique of the Iraq war, not to mention the disgraceful treatment of veterans upon their return home.

↦ Your Pairing:I had to choose something with cherries to pair with the film, right? The Cherry Bomb is play on the classic whiskey smash that incorporates spicy, dark rum with fresh cherries. But I think it would work just as well with preserved cherries from the jar.

What We’re Buying

Flint and Tinder Flannel Lined Waxed Hudson Jacket

This rugged jacket is a stylish mix of heritage and modern design. Cut from British Millerain canvas (waxed with weather-resistant coconut wax), the exterior will only get softer and better looking with age. It's lined with a soft, cozy flannel from Abraham Moons, one of the UK's oldest woolen mills, but the fit has been updated and the pockets designed especially for the modern man's EDC. And now through the weekend, you can get it for 35% off with this special code, HUDSON35.

↦ Get It $258 / $167.70 by Flint and Tinder