Page 409 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach

EXEMPLARY PERFORMERS—RECYCLING PAPER WASTE AND PAPER BY-PRODUCTS 387

within the laminate to deliver to both the soil and plant root system; allows for flexi-
bility in the manufacturing process in terms of roll and square sizes/and useful life as
a result of the laminate thickness, and much more. EcoCover biodegradable paper
mulch mats are manufactured from up to 87 percent (by weight) waste paper. The
company’s manufacturing processes create zero waste. The products are organically
certified and are used to improve plant growth, conserve soil moisture and suppress
weed growth until they biodegrade into soil humus and food for earthworms and soil
microorganisms that help to create natural soil fertility.
Zero waste is a goal that is both pragmatic and visionary, to guide people to emu-
late sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are resources for others
to use. Zero waste means designing and managing products and processes to reduce
the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources,
and not burn or bury them. Implementing Zero waste will eliminate all discharges to
land, water, or air that may be a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.
The Zero Waste International Alliance adopted the following Zero Waste Business
Principles in 2005 to evaluate current and future zero waste policies and programs estab-
lished by businesses and as the basis for evaluating the commitment of companies to
achieve zero waste as well as to enable workers, investors, customers, suppliers, policy-
makers, and the public in general to better evaluate the resource efficiency of companies.

1 Commitment to the triple bottom line—The invention of EcoCover is based on the
idea that social, environmental, and economic performance standards are met
together. Read EcoCover’s Principles of Sustainability.
2 Use precautionary principle—EcoCover’s products and processes are organically
certified (or in the case of several new products, certifiable). Their products have
been subjected to extensive independent university research as well as the
International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) interna-
tional certification standards. The claims that they make about product perform-
ance are based on independently conducted research and trials.
3 Zero waste to landfill or incineration—This is a very lofty and worthy goal for
manufacturers. In the case of EcoCover, they take waste paper from the waste
stream going to landfill and manufacture 100 percent biodegradable products
that benefit agriculture, forestry, horticulture, landscaping, and other plant-
growing endeavors. Read about the impact of unsustainable plastic film mulch by
comparison.
4 Responsibility: take back products and packaging—Most EcoCover products are
shipped unpackaged, tied or bundled with natural fiber twine. Cardboard cartons
used to package are biodegradable. EcoPins are recyclable.
5 Buy reused, recycled or composted—EcoCover uses recycled content up to 87 percent
by weight in its mulch mats.
6 Prevent pollution and reduce waste—EcoCover’s supply, production, and distri-
bution systems are destined to reduce the use of natural resources and eliminate
waste. The EcoCover manufacturing process emit no toxins or volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). Their processes emit a little water vapor and modest amounts
of CO from their drying ovens.
2