GreenDepot

We completely understand the appeal of bubble wrap on those high stress days… the satisfying pop… that feeling of accomplishment… but have you ever really considered what happens to that bubble wrap when it hits the waste stream? Bubble wrap is manufactured from low density polyethylene (LDPE), a thermoplastic made from oil, also commonly used to make plastic shopping bags, six-pack soda can rings, and many other moldable, flexible plastic products. As you may know from all the recent media attention paid to plastic shopping bags, LDPE products take about 1,000 years to biodegrade – hmmm.

But when it comes to packaging material, bubble wrap isn’t the only culprit – traditional packaging peanuts are made from polystyrene, a material that is considered to be utterly indestructible! And did you know that traditional packing tape is made with solvent-based adhesives that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – so that roll of tape is outgassing into your environment even when it’s just sitting on a shelf or in a drawer.

Add to that the countless boxes that are used once and then thrown away, and you’ll understand how our friends at Ideal Bite reported that “packaging constitutes as much as 1/3 of the non-industrial waste stream, which is why 28 countries have laws designed to minimize that waste (but not the US, unfortunately).”

Welcome to the newly-redesigned Green Depot website! We've been working hard to add content and reorganize to help make the information you need easier to find. Take a look around, and be sure to check back frequently, as we'll be regularly updating this blog, Ask the Expert questions, Certifications FAQ, and a whole lot more, to help our customers keep up with the latest in enviromental living and building.

Now that spring is here, many homeowners turn their attention to their home’s exterior. New to Green Depot – but a tried and true product for many years – is the Weather-Bos line of waterproofing sealers. Weather-Bos is a proven superior product that penetrates into wood to preserve and seal with a “monolithic bond,” using natural oils and resins that are safe for the environment. Weather-Bos is a very versatile product, and is offered in an all-purpose formulation, as well as five specialized formulations: Deck Boss, Log Boss, Roof Boss, Marine Boss and Masonry Boss.