6000+
TONS OF PLASTIC MULCH
NC State Horticulture Research recently determined that approximately 6,000 tons of plastic mulch is sent by NC farms to local landfills every year. This same plastic mulch is used across our country and overseas.
$10.5mil
SPENT ON LABOR & LANDFILL DISPOSAL
In North Carolina alone, 564,000 labor hours were needed in the last year to gather and dispose of plastic mulch.
Save on labor and disposal costs by switching to PaperMulch
PaperMulch is an all-natural, biodegradable solution to plastic that easily integrates into the soil where it will continue to decompose, essentially eliminating the labor cost associated with gathering and disposing of agricultural plastics. It suppresses weeds, repels water, holds in moisture, and absorbs heat from the sun to help young plants grow faster and healthier toward the end of the growing season.
Our Mission
We were alarmed by the amount of plastic mulch that the farming community was sending to landfills each year. We decided it was time to develop an alternative, biodegradable product from sustainable components to perform the same function as traditional plastic mulch.
The Research
AS OUR COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC, THE TIME IS RIPE FOR ANOTHER CHOICE
Farmers across our globe have been using plastic mulch (plastic row covers) to help new plants grow and prosper. While this is an effective weed suppression technique, plastic mulch generates thousands of tons of plastic that end up in our landfills every year.
“Over three years of in-the-field research has shown this PaperMulch product performs above our growers expectations. I believe it’s a great sustainable alternative for plastic mulch.”
- CRAIG MAUNEY (NC STATE HORTICULTURE RESEARCH)
Our Supporters
NC State Extension faculty and staff work throughout the spectrum of innovation to deliver research-based solutions to local issues, like ours
NC State Extension transforms science into everyday solutions for North Carolinians through programs and partnerships focused on agriculture and food, health and nutrition, and 4-H youth development.
PaperMulch receives NC IDEA grant to further its research and product development
NC IDEA, a private foundation committed to supporting entrepreneurial ambition and economic empowerment in North Carolina, has awarded $150,000 to fifteen North Carolina startups in its third-ever grant cycle of NC IDEA MICRO.
Venture Asheville was an instrumental supporter in helping to create value for our clients
Venture Asheville is the high-growth entrepreneurship initiative of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County and the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. Our work centers on catalyzing Asheville’s high-growth entrepreneurial ecosystem and connecting entrepreneurs with startup funding, mentors and talent to scale their ventures.