StalkMarket signs third major organic retailer
StalkMarket products would now be available through Wild Oats stores.
26/10/05 StalkMarket, an Oregon-based company that offers disposable tableware and food packaging that is both biodegradable and 100 percent compostable, has announced that it has signed its third major organic retailer, Wild Oats. Wild Oats will now offer a variety of StalkMarket products in all of its stores.
StalkMarket's product line includes a wide array of plates, bowls, serving trays, pizza containers, sandwich boxes and cups made from fibers that come from sugar cane stalks recovered from the sugar refining process. StalkMarket products can withstand boiling liquids, are microwave safe, can be frozen and are oil-resistant. Unlike disposable paper, plastic and polystyrene (Styrofoam) products, StalkMarket products can be placed in a back yard composter and will break down completely in six to eight weeks. They will also disintegrate in six to nine months in a landfill.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, paper and paper board products, which include paper plates and food packaging, constitute the largest portion of municipal solid waste. The average individual discards about four pounds of waste material each day. Although recycling materials helps to alleviate this burden on our environment, the most preferred method of waste management is to reduce the generation of waste at the source through waste prevention. Waste prevention includes seeking products and packaging that are free of toxics and redesigning products to use fewer raw materials in production. StalkMarket products exemplify this approach.
StalkMarket products are intentionally priced to be competitive with paper products of similar quality and are often less expensive than products that use oil-based PVC and Styrofoam. In addition to retailers, StalkMarket makes its products directly available to food service companies. Any StalkMarket product can be embossed with a name or logo.
StalkMarket began its distribution in the United States in 2003 at New Seasons markets in the Portland, Ore. area. StalkMarket products are available to consumers at major natural food retailers including Market of Choice, New Seasons and Wild Oats. They are also available at select independent natural food stores and through online retailers.
StalkMarket distributes its products wholesale to industrial food service customers through distributor partners, Service Paper Company and Chins Imports. Products are also available through United Natural Foods Inc.
