Aerterra, a maker of sustainable residential air filters, has been named a winner of the 2025 Consider Corn Challenge. The award recognizes innovative uses of corn that create new markets and promote sustainability.
Aerterra developed high-performance HVAC filters made with polylactic acid (PLA) derived from American-grown field corn. This bio-based material offers a renewable alternative to traditional filter materials.
The Consider Corn Challenge encourages new products that add value to corn and support sustainable manufacturing. Aerterra’s filters do not use glass fibers. Instead, they feature a durable, self-supporting pleat structure and an optional NanoShield
layer. This media is engineered to maintain performance over the filter’s lifetime.
Aerterra’s products are USDA Certified Biobased and participate in the USDA BioPreferred® Program. This certification highlights their renewable content and eco-friendly design.
Curtis Firestone, CEO of Aerterra, said, “It’s an honor to be recognized alongside other innovators. Our ‘Clean Air, Healthy Planet’ approach shows how American corn can power better products for families and the environment. It also opens demand for rural communities.”
Sarah McKay of the National Corn Growers Association explained that the challenge aims to develop new value for corn and local communities. She added, “Aerterra’s bio-based filters demonstrate how corn-derived products can build markets while offering real benefits to consumers.”
Aerterra’s mission is to deliver clean, healthy air without harming the environment. Its direct-to-consumer subscription makes filter replacement simple, what the company calls “Conscientious Convenience.”
This innovation highlights how bio-based materials from corn can create sustainable, high-performance products for everyday use.
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