As global environmental concerns like greenhouse gas emissions, plastic pollution, and soil degradation continue to intensify, innovators are stepping up to address these challenges head-on. Better Earth, a company focused on sustainable foodservice packaging, is working to make a significant impact on the these issues through innovative products and commitment to regenerative practices.
I recently interviewed Joseph Bild, CEO of Better Earth about the company’s approach to sustainability. With nearly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions attributed to agriculture, Better Earth sees a profound opportunity to drive change within the foodservice industry by adopting compostable packaging and promoting composting programs. Bild explains that their compostable packaging serves as a regenerative, circular alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics.
One of the key advantages of compostable packaging he explains is its ability to divert organic waste from landfills, which reduces methane emissions—a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. By composting food waste alongside compostable packaging, Better Earth also helps sequester carbon, thus contributing to soil health and reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers.
Bild also explains that Better Earth’s pursuit of B Corp certification was driven by a desire to ensure that the company’s growth was guided by a clear mission and set of values from the outset.
To accomplish the certification, they worked with a student team from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, a collaborative effort that culminated in the formalization of several key initiatives that have helped push Better Earth’s sustainability mission further. Better Earth is now one of only 32 B Corps in the state of Georgia.
For more on Better Earth and its strategy and mission, please read my interview with Bild below.
Christopher Marquis: Let’s start with how Better Earth’s products contribute to environmental sustainability. Can you say more about how your
Joseph Bild, CEO of Better Earth
Joseph Bild: With approximately one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions attributed to agriculture, a looming plastic pollution crisis, and the threat of only 60 harvests remaining due to soil mismanagement, the urgency for transformative action is indisputable.
At Better Earth, we acknowledge the profound opportunity the foodservice industry has to make a difference for our environment. We aim to make sustainability accessible and regenerative circularity achievable within the foodservice industry through the adoption of compostable packaging and composting programs.
There are a number of environmental benefits of compostable packaging as a regenerative, circular alternative to petroleum-based single-use plastics: First is diverting organic waste from landfills. Food waste comprises one-third of U.S. municipal landfills, and packaging makes up another third. Compostable packaging allows for a single collection of waste, reducing the environmental impact of organic materials in landfills.
This also contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Organic waste in landfills emits methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. Composting food waste along with compostable packaging has a positive impact and helps combat climate change. Additionally, composting sequesters carbon from the atmosphere and locks it in the soil.
Better Earth packaging is made from rapidly renewable, plant-based materials that also sequester carbon and support the local economy. Finally, increased compost production can help divert waste from landfills, reduce methane emissions, decrease reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, strengthen soil structure, increase water retention, and replenish nutrients in our soil and food.
Marquis: What role does innovation play in Better Earth’s approach to sustainability and product development?
Bild: From the initial exploration phase to final delivery, innovation drives our process. We leverage cutting-edge design software and prototyping capabilities to bring products to life with precision and excellence. We constantly strive to create unique, consumer-centric packaging that aligns with our customers’ functional business needs and sustainability objectives. And we verify this happens through our partnerships.
We work closely with our customers, production partners, and composters to understand and address any challenges in bringing new products to market. The intent is to ensure each new product not only meets but exceeds our expectations and those of our business partners, composters, and ultimately satisfies consumers.
Beyond aesthetics and functionality, we’re committed to sustainability by utilizing rapidly renewable materials and environmentally friendly practices. Our team is bringing innovative solutions to the market that enable the foodservice industry’s transition away from fossil fuels for single-use packaging.
Marquis: How is Better Earth’s new compostable foodservice packaging different from first-generation compostable products?
Bild: The debut of Better Earth’s Climate Smart Packaging Program is unique in the industry for its active investigation and efforts to draw down the carbon footprint of packaging across its lifecycle—from sourcing to production, utilization, and disposal—and offset any remaining emissions.
The Program encompasses rigorous ISO-compliant life cycle assessments, development of a carbon reduction plan, and use of carbon offsets for remaining unavoidable emissions. In the case of our Farmer’s Fiber Collection, we discovered that the perennial grasses used in the product’s feedstock sequester up to one ton of carbon per acre per year.
Better Earth’s Climate Smart Farmer’s Fiber collection is made from a blend of renewable native perennial grasses including miscanthus, switchgrass, and sorghum. These grasses improve soil health, sequester carbon, and can grow on underused land to boost farmers’ income.
The Climate Smart Farmer’s Fiber collection supports more than 40 Southeastern U.S. farmers and landowners with long-term contracts, aiding rural economic growth and job creation. It also supports a closed-loop system that includes commercial compostability of used packaging and manufacturing byproducts as compost to enrich agricultural land.
Marquis: How does the innovative manufacturing process of this packaging utilize clean renewable energy?
Bild: Over 60% of the energy required to manufacture the Farmer’s Fiber Collection is sourced from clean and renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydro, through the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) electric grid system. Nonetheless, with manufacturing representing most of our molded fiber packaging’s carbon footprint, we work alongside our partners to drive decarbonization and operational efficiency.
We are working on a few key initiatives happening at the facility manufacturing level that supports our Farmer’s Fiber Collection. For instance, by sourcing the plant material locally and transporting it from nearby farms to the processing facility, our production partner minimizes energy consumption related to transportation, handling, and storage, builds resilience within our value chain, and supports the local community.
Our production partner’s fully integrated pulping and thermoforming operations mean they can directly convert pulped plant material into a final product, leading to significantly less processing, energy and water use. They are also upgrading existing lighting across campus with energy-efficient LED lighting and will introduce Level 2 charging stations for electric vehicles at the facility in 2024, supporting sustainable transportation options for the community.
Marquis: Can you say more about how your packaging contributes to soil health and carbon sequestration?
Bild: At Better Earth, we are in the business of supporting regenerating environmental systems and communities. Our compostable packaging leverages rapidly renewable natural materials, like native perennial grasses, and upcycled waste from other agricultural industries, like bamboo sugarcane bagasse.
In the case of the Farmer’s Fiber Collection, the feedstock is grown domestically from native perennial grasses that are regenerative in nature. These grasses have deep root systems – up to 10-12 feet deep – that are ideal for storing carbon and cycling nutrients into the soil. Thanks to minimalistic crop management, the Farmer’s Fiber agricultural process is carbon negative, meaning more than a ton of carbon is stored on every acre, every year.
Marquis: What motivated Better Earth to pursue B Corp Certification, and what does this achievement mean for the company?
Bild: As a young organization, we wanted to ensure our growth was driven by a clear mission and values. The B Corp certification process is rigorous and comprehensive, and it provides a framework for continuous improvement in social and environmental performance.
Achieving B Corp certification was a significant milestone for us, driven by our commitment to being a mission-driven organization from day one. The assessment requires information across all aspects of an organization, and immediately illuminates gaps and opportunities. There’s no way an effort of this magnitude could be relegated to one department.
As a nimble team, Better Earth took an approach of deep collaboration and brought in expertise across the organization. We also leveraged the expertise of a student team from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, guided by Profitable Purpose Consulting. The students meticulously reviewed hundreds of B Impact Assessment questions, verified every data point, helped source supporting documentation, and guided Better Earth in drafting policies.
Over the course of fifteen months, we formalized the following policies and initiatives: sixteen new policies to foster a regenerative workplace for our employees, including Volunteer Time Off and our Employee Equity Program; a comprehensive Environmental Management Plan and Policy to conserve resources across Better Earth operations; a Waste Management Policy, resulting in over 5,000 pounds of waste diverted from landfills this year to date; and the launch of our Climate Smart Packaging Collection.