Fiber containers biodegrade – the how and why

One of the benefits and popularity of fiber planting containers for both professional and do-it-yourself growers is their ability to biodegrade.

Not surprising when taking into account the 2019 Retail and Sustainability Survey by CGS, a global provider of business applications, enterprise learning and outsourcing services.

They found that more than two-thirds of those surveyed considered sustainability important when making a purchase and were even willing to pay a premium for such products.

If the younger generation is any indication, fiber planting containers are not going away any time soon, as 68% of Gen Z shoppers said they made an eco-friendly purchase in the last year.

Sustainability and biodegradable are environmental buzz words we’ve all heard about over the last few years. But do we really have a firm understanding of what they actually mean? More importantly, do we know why they can be so beneficial to humanity?

According to myclimate.org, “The ecological definition of sustainability originated with the Brundtland Report in 1987, which describes sustainable development as one that satisfies the needs of the present without adversely affecting the conditions for future generations.”

As for biodegradable, the “degradable” portion of the word means that a product is able to naturally break down into smaller compounds and eventually disintegrate all together into carbon dioxide, water or oxygen. The “bio” portion means that powerful biological organisms such as fungi and bacteria can digest the broken-down material.

The HC Companies is proud to offer a full line of sustainable, biodegradable fiber containers.

Sustainability
Our EcoGrow® products are molded using recycled newspaper and a plant-based binding agent in a closed-loop water recycling facility. This eliminates wastewater discharge, while utilizing materials created by nature.

Biodegradable
They breathe like clay, providing an optimal environment for root systems and biodegrade quickly when planted or worked into the soil. Generally speaking, it will take our EcoGrow containers about one season to fully biodegrade and crumble completely into the soil. The ultimate duration will vary depending on your environmental conditions.

Because our EcoGrow containers are produced with naturally occurring materials, they are ideal for biodegradability – certified for organic farming and gardening in both the US and Canada according to NOP Regulations.

For additional information on other HC environmentally friendly initiatives, click here.