Certifications
Product Certifications, Documents and Labels
SunShine Paper Company
EcoMulch, GeoMulch & Original WeedGuard Certifications
Made in the USA.
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification [PEFC] is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization which promotes sustainable forest management through independent third party certification. It is considered the certification system of choice for small forest owners.
Headquarters location: Geneva, Switzerland Founded: 1999
FSC will promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. As the original pioneers of forest certification, FSC has 25 years of experience in sustainable forest management. We use our expertise to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests, bringing together experts from the environmental, economic, and social spheres.
FSC RECYCLED
Products that bear this label have been verified as being made from 100% recycled content (either post-consumer or pre-consumer reclaimed materials). The use of FSC Recycled products can help to alleviate the pressure of demand on sources of virgin material, thereby helping to protect the world’s forests. Headquarters location: Bonn, Germany Founded: 1993
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At the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® Inc., we believe that sustainable forests are critical to our collective future. SFI® is a sustainability leader through our work in standards, conservation, community, and education.
As an independent, non-profit organization, we collaborate with our diverse network to provide solutions to local and global sustainability challenges. SFI works with the forest sector, brand owners, conservation groups, resource professionals, landowners, educators, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, governments, and universities.
Headquarters location: Washington D.C. Founded: 1994
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The USDA Certified Biobased Product Label USDA’s goal is to make it easy for consumers to identify biobased products. The USDA Certified Biobased Product label provides useful information to consumers about the verified amount of renewable biological ingredients contained within a product and / or its packaging. Consumers can trust the USDA Certified Biobased Product label because the biobased content claims are third-party certified and monitored by USDA. EcoMulch, GeoMulch and WeedGuard Original products are 100% Bio-Based
Biobased Test Method - we use ASTM D6866 which is the standard test method developed by ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) to determine the biobased carbon/biogenic carbon content of solid, liquid, and gaseous samples using radiocarbon analysis.
BIOBASED PRODUCTS
The term "biobased product" means a product determined by the Secretary to be a commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed) that is- (A) composed, in whole or in significant part, of biological products, including renewable domestic agricultural materials, renewable chemicals, and forestry materials; or (B) an intermediate ingredient or feedstock. Biobased Products are derived from raw materials such as plants and other renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materials. Biobased products do not contain petroleum and generally provide an alternative to conventional petroleum derived products and include a diverse range of offerings such as lubricants, detergents, inks, fertilizers, and bioplastics. Biobased products do not include food, feed, or fuel.
Help address climate change by offering renewable alternatives to petroleum-based products
Sequester carbon dioxide, lowering the concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere that contribute to climate change
Our EcoMulch is OMRI listed and can be used by growers who are "certified growers"
OMRI's mission is to support the growth and trust of the global organic community through expert, independent and transparent verification of input materials, and through education and technical assistance.
All of our mulch products are made with environmental circularity – trees are planted (at least 2 for every one that is harvested) and used for raw material chips and made into paper mulch. After the mulch has naturally decomposed into the soil (it provides valuable organic matter to your soil) it brings new life in the form of hummus to the soil, microbes - great for growing more trees, shrubs, vegetables…
Circularity - is a way to design, make, and use things within planetary boundaries. It is based on three key principles:
1. Designing out waste and pollution
2. Keeping products and materials in use
3. Regenerating natural systems