WEST CHICAGO, IL – Ball Horticultural Company's plantable, bio-based container SoilWrap(r) has been awarded USDA BioPreferredsm designation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, falling within the USDA BioPreferred Landscaping and Agriculture – Plant and Flower Pots category. In addition, SoilWrap is also identified for Federal Procurement Preference by federal agencies and their contractors when making purchasing decisions.
Recognized by the USDA for having at least 85% biobased content, SoilWrap underwent third-party certification to assure the presence and amount of biobased ingredients, which is strictly monitored by the agency. SoilWrap packaging can now display the proper certification label mark to aid consumer decision-making on renewable, natural resource alternatives.
"We are extremely proud that SoilWrap meets the high standards of the USDA," says Bill Doeckel, General Manager of Ball Innovations. "Consumers trust the USDA as a source of information, and with this designation, growers and home gardeners can have confidence in SoilWrap as a bio-based packaging alternative."
According to the agency, USDA BioPreferred products spur the development of the biobased industrial industry through value-added agricultural processing and manufacturing in rural communities; enhances the nation's energy security by substituting biobased products for fossil energy-based products; and reduces the nation's environmental impact by promoting products more benign to the environment. For more information go to www.biopreferred.gov.
SoilWrap is a plantable and bottomless soil-biodegradable pot that encourages fast rooting with no transplant shock. Made from Mirel(r), a bio-plastic fueled by renewable feedstock, SoilWrap is available in a variety ofsizes and is printable in full color. SoilWrap is marketed in partnership with Summit Plastic Company.
To learn more about SoilWrap and Ball's other biopackaging innovations, visit www.ballhort.com/sustainable
Ball Horticultural Company is an internationally renowned breeder, producer and wholesale distributor of ornamental plants. A family-owned business since it was founded in 1905, Ball has introduced many innovative, award-winning varieties to the world of horticulture, including the Wave(r) petunia family and Super Elfin(r) impatiens. Ball is committed to sustainable practices and has highlighted its green accomplishments in its "Sustainability Report." The company has worldwide production, sales and marketing through its many subsidiaries on six continents. For further information, log on to ballhort.com.
Source: Ball Horticultural Company