299 - EarthKind is a truly sustainable company from the farm, doing no harm

People of Packaging · 30 Dec 2024 · 35m

What this episode covers

Kari Warberg Block, founder of EarthKind, explains how she pioneered a new category of humane, non-toxic pest control products like Fresh Cab and Stay Away, driven by her experiences on a North Dakota farm. She details the 3-year R&D process to identify balsam fir oil as an effective rodent repellent and the challenge of securing EPA certification for a non-lethal protocol. Block emphasizes EarthKind's decision to keep all manufacturing in-house to ensure quality and trust, while her son helped design innovative, biodegradable packaging solutions like the non-woven sachets and flax-based pouch pods.

Mentioned

Companies
EarthKind, John Deere, Procter and Gamble, Lowe's, Walmart, Amazon, Grove, North Dakota State University
Products
Fresh Cab, Stay Away
Also
USDA, CDC, Martha Stewart Living, Good Housekeeping

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