- You make “100% compostable products that are fueled by regenerative agriculture and driven by sustainability innovations.” Could you please explain the meaning of these terms?
Regenerative agriculture and sustainability innovations are two important ways to help address the challenges of climate change, food security, and environmental degradation.
Regenerative agriculture is a comprehensive approach to farming that seeks to improve soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and climate resilience. This is most commonly accomplished by mimicking natural processes and working with the land as opposed to against it.
Regenerative agriculture practices include but are not limited to:
- Cover cropping: Planting cover crops, such as legumes and grasses, between cash crops to help improve soil health by adding organic matter and reducing erosion.
- No-till farming: Planting crops without disturbing the soil, which helps to reduce erosion and improve water infiltration.
- Rotational grazing: Rotating livestock through different pastures helps to improve soil health by reducing compaction and promoting the growth of different plant species.
- Integrated pest management: A system of pest control that uses a variety of methods, including crop rotation, cover cropping, and biological controls, to reduce the use of pesticides.
Sustainability innovations are new technologies and practices that help to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. These innovations include:
- Precision agriculture: The use of data and technology to help farmers make more informed decisions about crop production, such as when to plant, how much water to use, and what fertilizers to apply.
- Sustainable intensification: A method of increasing crop yields while reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. This can be done through practices such as no-till farming, cover cropping, and integrated pest management.
- Vertical farming: A type of agriculture that grows crops in vertically stacked layers, typically indoors. This can help to reduce the amount of land used for agriculture, as well as the use of water and pesticides.
2. Could you please tell us more about your partnership with Tennessee farmers?
Better Earth sources the raw materials to produce the Farmer’s Fiber collection, our domestically produced line of compostable food service packaging from farms in Tennessee. The company works with farmers to source the agricultural byproducts that are used to make the collection. In turn, this helps to support Tennessee’s agricultural economy and reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfills.
Farmer’s Fiber is a line of compostable food service packaging made from a blend of agricultural byproducts, including switchgrass, sorghum, and miscanthus. It is designed to be a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic and paper food service packaging.
All Farmer’s Fiber products are certified compostable, which means that they can be broken down into the soil in a commercial composting facility. This helps to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills and incinerators.
Some benefits of Better Earth working with farmers in Tennessee includes:
- Increased income: Farmers can earn additional income by selling agricultural byproducts to Better Earth for use in producing Farmer’s Fiber
- Reduced waste: Farmers can reduce the amount of waste they produce by supporting development of raw materials used in making Farmer’s Fiber packaging
- Improved soil health: The use of Farmer’s Fiber packaging can help to improve soil health by returning nutrients to the soil through composting the packaging
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions: The use of Farmer’s Fiber packaging can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the need for using fossil fuels to make foodservice packaging
Overall, Better Earth’s Farmer’s Fiber line is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional foodservice packaging. It helps to support Tennessee’s agricultural economy, reduce waste, and mitigate climate change.
3. I understand that items in the Eco-Bamboo Collection are crafted from unbleached bamboo fiber. Where does the bamboo come from, and what makes bamboo a better option than other materials, from the sustainability perspective?
Better Earth’s Eco-Bamboo Collection is made from unbleached bamboo fiber that is sourced from Asia. Bamboo is a fast-growing, renewable resource that is a good alternative to other materials, such as plastic and paper, from a sustainability perspective.
Better Earth’s taco clamshell packaging is crafted from unbleached bamboo fiber
Here are some of the reasons why bamboo is a good choice for sustainable products:
- It is a fast-growing plant. Bamboo can grow up to 3 feet in a day, so it can be harvested more frequently than other materials, such as trees. This helps to reduce the impact on forests and other ecosystems.
- It requires less water than other crops. Bamboo can grow in areas with low rainfall, which means that it does not require as much water as other crops, such as cotton. This helps to conserve water resources.
- It is a carbon sink. Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it grows, which helps to mitigate climate change.
- It is biodegradable. Bamboo can be broken down into water, CO2 and biomass through composting, which means that it does not contribute to landfills.
- It is versatile. Along with being a sustainable and environmentally friendly material, bamboo that can be used to make a variety of products, including Better Earth Eco-Bamboo.
- It is strong and durable. Bamboo, with its long fibers, allows for strength and durability at a lower gram weight and can be used to make a variety of products, including furniture, flooring, and packaging.
- It is affordable. Bamboo is a relatively affordable material, which makes it a good choice for sustainable products.
4. The products in the Eco-Bamboo Collection are commercially compostable. Where do consumers need to go to compost these items, in a commercial setting? Is https://findacomposter.com/ the website they should use?
Commercial composting is one of the best ways to reduce waste and help the environment. By composting their yard waste, food scraps, and food service packaging where accepted, consumers can help to create nutrient-rich soil that can be used in their community and own backyard.
Here are some of the benefits of commercial composting:
- Reduces waste: Commercial composting helps to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills and incinerators.
- Protects the environment: Commercial composting helps to protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air and water quality.
- Creates nutrient-rich soil: Commercial composting creates nutrient-rich soil that can be used to grow healthy plants.
- Supports local businesses: Commercial composting supports local businesses by providing them with a market for their compostable materials.
Overall, commercial composting is a sustainable and environmentally friendly practice that has many benefits. Consumers can find commercial composting facilities in their area by searching online or contacting their local waste management company. Some grocery stores and restaurants also have composting programs that allow customers to drop off their compostable materials.
Here are some websites that can help consumers find commercial composting facilities:
Find a Composter: This website allows users to search for composting facilities by zip code.
Compost Now: This website provides a directory of composting facilities in parts of the Southeast of the United States.
US Composting Council: This website provides a list of composting facilities that are certified by the Composting Council.
In addition to the websites listed above, consumers can also contact their local waste management company to inquire about commercial composting options. Many waste management companies offer composting programs that allow customers to drop off their compostable materials at a central location.
5. My understanding is that your certified-compostable products are not suitable for backyard composting. Are you currently working on products designed for backyard composting?
Most certified commercially compostable products are not suitable for backyard composting because they require high temperatures and specific conditions to break down. Backyard compost piles typically do not reach the high temperatures required for these products to break down, and they may not be turned frequently enough to ensure that the materials are evenly distributed. As a result, certified-compostable products may not break down completely in a backyard compost pile, and they may even contaminate the compost.
Products that are designed for backyard composting are typically made from materials that break down more easily, such as PHB bioplastic and folded or pressed multi-laminated paper. Better Earth is currently developing such products using alternative fibers like bamboo instead of virgin wood.
Leave a Reply