Sammy Davies’ Post

Are you being Greenwashed? Tons of food service items we use today labeled "compostable". But, are they truly compostable without causing contamination to our planet? The answer is NO! Majority of those items require to be processed in industrial composting facilities, which aren't widely available, and may not break down completely, leaving residues. Items labeled "HOME COMPOSTABLE” are generally safer, as they break down in typical backyard compost conditions without contamination. The company we represent, Lastic (Canada) Corporation, we only make food service items that are home compostable certified and safe to be mixed and processed with organic wastes without causing contamination. We would love to partner with the most ambitious companies that recognize the importance of leading your industry in making authentic changes to help clean up our planet.

Contamination by non-certified compostables is a growing and critical issue for compost producers. Our very own Frank Franciosi, Executive Director of the U.S. Composting Council, is quoted in a recent The Washington Post article discussing the challenges composters face as food scrap collection increases. "My idea of nirvana would be all the products that are compostable are one color. And no other products that touch food are that color," says Franciosi, stressing the need for better consumer education and national labeling standards to help reduce plastic in compost. Read more about how contamination is harming composting efforts and what’s being done to tackle this issue. https://lnkd.in/egjERShA

Ready to start #composting? It’s simpler than you think! Composting transforms food scraps into a nutrient-rich soil amendment, benefiting your garden and the planet. Here’s how to get started: 🌱Choose Your Method: Have a yard? Try a DIY pile, bury scraps, or use a compost bin. No space? Look for community drop-off options. 🌱Gather Your Materials: Balance “greens” (food scraps) and “browns” (dry leaves, cardboard) for a thriving compost. 🌱Maintain Your Pile: Turn it regularly to speed up decomposition. If it smells, add more browns. 🌱Be Patient: Finished compost can take anywhere from a few months to a year, depending on your method. 🌱Avoid Mistakes: Don’t add meat, dairy, pet waste, or plastic that is not certified to be home compostable. 🌍✨ BPI’s vision is to work toward a world without organic waste, and we support and encourage everyone to start composting, from municipal to home composting. Read this information-packed article to learn more about how to get started: https://nyti.ms/4ey6ccj . . . #FutureForward #Sustainability #EcoFriendly #ReduceWaste #ZeroWaste #SoilRegeneration #LearnMore

Why are more U.S. composters starting to accept food scraps and certified compostable packaging? The Composting Consortium, managed by Closed Loop Partners' Center for the Circular Economy, dives deep in an interview with two leading composters, SYED DONG of Black Earth Compost and Nathan Reinbold of Glacial Ridge Composting Facility, owned and operated by Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management, who share on-the-ground insights on how food scraps & compostable packaging collection is improving their business—and offer words of advice to fellow composters. Read on to learn more about what it takes to recover food scraps and compostable packaging in a way that brings value to the organics stream, and opportunities to increase acceptance at composting facilities: https://hubs.la/Q031hWRJ0 #circulareconomy #organics #compost #composting #compostablepackaging #packaging #interview #compostable #food #foodwaste

Fridays are always a good time to share some weekend reading, and this piece from Composting Consortium is a perfect way to expand your perspective on the role that local composters, like Black Earth Compost and Glacial Ridge Composting Facility, play in building communities that are dedicated to fighting food and packaging waste. Key takeaways:  🥗 Compostable packaging helps unlock opportunities to divert more food waste from landfills. 📗 Education is critical to reducing contamination and increasing organics composting. 🌱 Supporting programs like zero waste events can grow and engage communities committed to impact.    Better Earth is proud to offer BPI-certified compostable solutions that align with the needs of modern composting facilities, helping to close the loop and create healthier soil.   #BetterEarth #BeCompostable #Composting #CompostablePackaging #CircularEconomy #Sustainability

Getting up close and personal with large-scale commercial food waste at EcoStock was a stark reminder of why the Kai Commitment programme is so important and why we must not stop looking for ways to prevent waste from occurring in food manufacturing and retail, and keep pushing to ensure unavoidable waste stays out of landfill.   The reasons for food waste in manufacturing and retailing are many and complex, including batch errors, contamination issues, cancelled orders, failures in the cold chain, best-before and expiry dates and many more. But the simple fact remains that, while each operation has its reasons, the reality of these combined reasons means HUNDREDS OF TONNES of food is going to waste destinations EVERY DAY, and that is just a small part of the picture. We can and must find other solutions, starting with optimising processes to prevent food from becoming waste and ending with recovering its value.    What we saw at ECOSTOCK was a business committed to sustainability - every part of their operations is geared towards circular outcomes - for instance, they are currently doing testing on a gravel-like product called EcoRock, made from soft plastics of wasted food; they have meticulous sorting stations that mean that different types of packaging can be optimally recycled, it’s inspiring to see. While it would be great if there weren’t the need for a business to be processing the volumes of #foodwaste they do, the work they are doing is keeping food out of landfill, feeding stock and supporting recycling initiatives.   #foodwaste #circulareconomy #upcycling #foodwastesolutions ANDREW FISHER Abhinav Singh Rosy Herstell Mouna Neyogi Jessica Broun

Have you heard of biosorption? A process that researchers from MIT and Georgia Tech are using as a sustainable way to repurpose surplus yeast from breweries to remove lead from contaminated water. This bio-based and biodegradable method offers a way to recycle what was once considered waste and use it as a solution for both household and industrial water treatment, allowing for a more environmentally friendly solution. Dive into the full article to learn how this breakthrough could transform water purification! https://hubs.ly/Q02Gd09y0 #AnalytiChem #YourScienceEnabled #Sustainability #WaterTreatment

Have you heard of biosorption? A process that researchers from MIT and Georgia Tech are using as a sustainable way to repurpose surplus yeast from breweries to remove lead from contaminated water. This bio-based and biodegradable method offers a way to recycle what was once considered waste and use it as a solution for both household and industrial water treatment, allowing for a more environmentally friendly solution. Dive into the full article to learn how this breakthrough could transform water purification! https://hubs.ly/Q02GcGsL0 #AnalytiChem #YourScienceEnabled #Sustainability #WaterTreatment

Happy #EarthDay! Today, we're tipping our hats to our client Anderson Valley Brewing Company, a true pioneer in sustainable craft brewing. For over 30 years, they've been setting the standard with their eco-friendly initiatives. Here's a glimpse into their remarkable efforts: 1️⃣ Solar Power: Anderson Valley Brewing Company has been harnessing the sun's energy since 2005, making them the World's First Solar Powered Brewery. Their commitment to self-generated renewable energy is unparalleled. 2️⃣ Zero-Impact Water Program: With a unique Zero-Impact Water Program, they've completely revolutionized water usage. For over 25 years, they've sourced all their water from 10 on-site wells and treated all wastewater with their state-of-the-art system. Their dedication to maintaining a self-contained water cycle even attracts local wildlife! 3️⃣ Nitrogen Generator: Say goodbye to CO2 emissions! Anderson Valley Brewing Company has reduced their carbon footprint by over 70% with their innovative nitrogen generator. By harvesting nitrogen from the air, they've not only slashed greenhouse gas emissions, but also eliminated the need for dozens of CO2 delivery trucks. 4️⃣ Net-Zero Waste: Waste not, want not! Since the mid-1990s, Anderson Valley Brewing Company has embraced a sustainable brewing philosophy at every turn. None of their brewhouse waste ends up in landfills; instead, they repurpose spent grains and yeast to feed local cattle and recycle or upcycle their bourbon barrels. 5️⃣ Plastic-Free Packaging: Leading the charge for sustainable packaging, they made the switch to 100% plastic-free packaging in 2022. By exclusively using cans with cardboard wraps, they've embraced the most eco-friendly beer packaging available. Not only are cans lighter and more portable, but they're also endlessly recyclable, significantly reducing their environmental footprint. Cheers to Anderson Valley Brewing Company for their unwavering commitment to sustainability! If you're curious about how environmental practices can benefit your business and the planet, reach out to us today! Let's brew a brighter future together. #SustainableBrewing #EarthDay2024

Great read from Closed Loop Partners! There's about 5,000 commercial composting facilities in the US, and 90% of them don't accept food waste or packaging. This really limits access to composting systems as well as recovery of compostable resources. We need to increase the number of composters that accept food waste and compostable packaging.