Environmental Philosophy

Innovative products for the home - born of a passion for the environment.

History of Earth Day		 Recycling products reduces strip mining of pumice

From Strip Mining to Recycled Products

It was a distressing sight to watch the rugged Jemez Mountains of New Mexico being whittled down and permanently disfigured by strip mining. Not only were the mountains being maimed, but the heavy silt runoff created serious problems for the region's precious rivers and fresh water. The ugly aftermath was a jarring contrast to the breathtaking, almost spiritual landscapes that inspired such great literary and visual artists as D.H. Lawrence and Georgia O'Keefe. These mountains have the unfortunate blessing of being a treasure trove of pumice. This gritty volcanic substance has unique abrasive qualities that make it the prime ingredient in a variety of cleaning agents. The demand is constant. And so, it seems, is the strip mining. Andrew Ungerleider knew something had to be done. He was realistic enough to know that economic forces would fuel the mining, unless…

The Solution Becomes Clear

Ungerleider understood that the best solution would be to find a superior alternative to pumice products. This could take the pressure off the demand and slow the mining. But his concern for the environment went beyond the New Mexico mountains that he loved. The environment is his passion and he believed this problem might present an opportunity for recycled products on a massive scale.

Working with an artist/scientist in Santa Fe, he found the answer. They created a way for recycled glass bottles and jars to be ground into an incredible powdery substance, then molded into - White Foam Glass - products that begin feeling like flour and evolve to have all the abrasive qualities of pumice. These proprietary products are non-toxic and chemical free. Meaning, they're safe for kids, pets and the environment. And best of all, they're made almost entirely from recycled glass.

Recycling: The Ultimate Good Business Environment

And so Earthstone International was born. By applying this recycled glass to existing foamed glass technology, Ungerleider's team began creating a series of household cleaning and sanding products that worked better than the old pumice products. They are cleaner, easier to use and actually make household chores go faster. Very quickly, Earthstone recycled products began appearing on the shelves of retail outlets across the country.

Currently Earthstone uses more than 1,300 tons of recycled glass each year. That's the equivalent of 5.3 million 8 oz. glass bottles. It's a mountain of glass that otherwise would be filling America's already crammed landfills.

And of course, every ton of recycled products also means one less ton of pumice need be stripped from the sun-baked mountains of New Mexico.

As more and more people discover the benefits of Earthstone recycled products less strip mining will be required.

We Support These Earth-Conscious Organizations
   Plastics Recycling of Kansas    New Mexico Recycling Coalition



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