If you have ever purchased a new computer, TV or sound system you remember all of the Styrofoam that ultimately got thrown away. With millions of people purchasing items packed in Styrofoam, that’s a lot of used landfill space. Ecocradle serves the same purpose as Styrofoam but it is made from renewable resources and is biodegradable.
Ecocradle is made from agricultural waste like buckwheat hulls. In other words it uses renewable resources. According to its website they use “use a growing organism to transform agricultural byproducts like cotton seed hulls and buck wheat hulls into a beautiful protective package.” I don’t know how “beautiful” a packaging material can really be. Pictures of Ecocradle look remarkable like Styrofoam. It only takes seven days for Ecocradle to grow in the dark making it 10 times more energy efficient than producing petroleum based packaging.
Our [patented] production process harnesses the natural ability of our organism to self assemble lignin and cellulose into strong bio-composites. Because we grow materials without lots of heat, pressure, or petroleum, our process is extremely energy efficient.
Mushroom roots bind all the bio-composites together. Ecocradle has the assets of Styrofoam without the downsides. Styrofoam is made from petroleum which in this time of declining oil is a waste while ecocradle is made from renewable materials. Ecocradle works just like Styrofoam to keep your packages safe and it can also be molded to your product.
We strive to utilize agricultural wastes that have almost no value. We avoid crops that can be made into food, and because we focus on materials that are high in lignin, they typically can’t be used in a cellulosic ethanol processes.
This organic packaging is made locally so that appropriate regional agricultural waste is used in the process. This cuts down shipping costs and fuel use. It can be composted, mulched or thrown into a landfill. Unlike other forms of packaging, Ecocradle will biodegrade even in the absence of air so that it doesn’t linger for decades in a landfill making the environmental impact extremely low even when thrown away.
The company also carries its environmental consciousness into the office. Recycled furniture and energy efficient laptops and lighting make up most of the office. Everything that can be recycled is.
Some people complain that being environmentally conscious is a lot of work. Besides the environmental credentials of items purchased, you also have to look at the company and see if they are following good environmental principles. Once you’re finished with the item, you have to figure out how to dispose of it in the most ecofriendly way possible.
Ecocradle makes being environmentally astute easy. The product is made with renewable resources and doesn’t cost anymore than other packaging. Regardless of how it is handled after its useful life is over, it doesn’t hurt the environment or hang around forever in landfills. Finally, the company strives to utilize ecofriendly processes within its offices and infrastructure.
It looks to be an excellent choice for packing all of your Christmas gifts for shipping. It might even make the process less onerous.
