Decrease YOUR carbon footprint

Everyday the decisions we make affect the environment. From the type of car we drive to the amount of water we use while brushing our teeth, our activities can help/harm the world around us.

Choosing to waste less, save more, recycle, and use recycled products are some of the easiest yet influential actions we as consumers can do to make the world a more sustainable place.

Rubber Bark™, made of recycled rubber tires, is one of the many products that reduces the user's carbon footprint because it is creating something useful from material that would otherwise go into a landfill.  Rubber Bark™ prevents 4 million tires from becoming waste each year!

Regardless of politics and religion, humans are the caretakers of the planet and should be responsible stewards. Too much is at stake not to be. So do your part, and we will do ours.

We want your photos!

Do you use Rubber Bark™ in your front yard, back yard, playground or community park? We want to know! Send us your photos and we will post them to this blog, Facebook and more. You will get the prestige, and we will get to see what creative things our customers are doing with Rubber Bark™.

Send the photos here or here.

Below is the first entry from Modesto, CA. See how Rubber Bark™ is used to outline the trees? Such a good way to keep the soil fresh and to beautify the yard!

Rubber Bark™ used in a rental property in Modesto, CA.

Rubber Bark™ and Water Conservation in California

Water conservation has been an ongoing struggle in California. The landscaping industry is in a unique position to offer alternatives to grass and organic mulch in yards, parks, golf courses and other community spots that waste thousands of gallons of water a day. Below is a press release about information regarding water conservation and inorganic mulches. Also, after the release, is some information about an agricultural bill that just passed California's Senate which prevents policies from banning artificial turf, in another effort to conserve California's depleting water resources.

California’s New Water Conservation Efforts Shine Light On Alternative Landscape Options

 BALLICO, CA (August 22, 2010) — Recently, California began implementing new water policies that will have broad-reaching effects on the state’s water resources. In order to save water from evaporation, whether it’s been in the agricultural fields of California’s 250 crops, or residential yards, alternatives to daily irrigation are imperative to making water resources viable in the future.

Beyond the old approaches of only watering on certain days or allowing runoff on fallow fields, new alternatives are saving California’s water while being environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

 Rubber Bark™ by Ag Link is landscape mulch made from millions of California’s recycled tires, which has become the preferred mulch to use in order to decrease evaporation and keep soil healthy year-round.

 “Rubber Bark™ is an environmentally friendly product. It takes a waste product (old tires) and turns them into a water saving opportunity while providing real positive characteristics and aesthetics to a landscape or playground of any size,” said Rob Nairn, Chief Financial Officer of Rubber Bark™.

 According to the California Agricultural Water Stewardship Initiative, mulching is seen as one of the best ways to minimize evaporation and improve soil structure.

 “It’s really effective,” said Julie Saare-Edmonds, Landscape Specialist at California’s Department of Water Resources, about mulching. “[It] keeps the soil cool, and blocks out weeds, creating less competition for water.”

 Reducing water demand is one of the main strategies proposed by California’s Department of Water Resources to help curb water depletion. Landscaping measures are an essential part of the conservation efforts.

 Rubber Bark™ is a long-term solution to drought management. It does not deteriorate like organic mulches, and stays in place during inclement weather and flooding. Rubber Bark™ is available at landscape and playground supply centers and online.

It happens everyday, Part 3

Either by accident or intentional for YouTube videos and entertainment purposes, kids of all ages fall off playgrounds everyday in America. While some are merely slight tumbles, many result in injuries due to the height of the fall and the hardness of the landing surface. Most of the videos show children falling on wood chips or sand, which have little flexibility to help pad the landing. A press release about playground safety and rubber mulch will be up on the blog in a couple of days, but for now check out the videos and cringe.

It happens everyday, Part 2

It happens everyday

"I'm alright, it's Rubber Bark™"

Here is a YouTube video that has been making its way through the interwebs. What is great about this video (like all the best videos on YouTube) is that it was NOT STAGED! Check it out:

Every Customer is a Happy Customer at Rubber Bark™ (but few write in to tell us so!)

A couple of days ago, Rubber Bark's CFO, Rob, got a letter from a customer, which was originally sent to The California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery, better known as CalRecycle. Here is what the letter said:

Dear Mr. Levenson,  

I just wanted to let you know about a positive experience I recently had with Rubber Bark™, one of the companies associated with CalRecycle. 

When I started working on my yard I knew that I wanted to use mulch to keep the weeds from recurring. I also wanted to use recycled products if at all possible. After contacting several companies to get bids on rubber bark/mulch I found that Rubber Bark™ (based in Ballico, California) offered the most competitive bid. This is also a plus because, as a lifelong California resident, I wanted to support a business based in my home state. I contacted Rubber Bark™ and bought three tons of rubber bark to landscape my backyard. 

The rubber bark was delivered on time and I started to spread it out on my backyard. However, I was concerned about how the product looked after I had applied about half a ton. I then stopped and called Rob Nairn. He told me he would make it right and do whatever it took to satisfy me as a customer. He gave me several options and did not pressure me to select any of the choices. As it turned out, the best option was to have more Rubber Bark™ delivered. Rob arranged everything and made sure that the materials would arrive when they were needed. The yard looks great and I have Rob to thank for it. 

After working with Rob I can fully support using recycled rubber in general and specifically on my landscaping projects. Thank you for partnering with a professional company that recycles "challenging" material and treats its customers with respect. 

Sincerely, 

Peter Goul

Great job Rob! Rubber Bark™ continues to support its customers by offering competitive prices and personal service with every order. Go to the website to check out the product!

Rubber Bark™ Joins the 21st Century!

Today, Rubber Bark™, the west coast's best rubber mulch recycled tire company, is launching its Facebook page, and now has Google ads that link to the website for easier promotion, information, and the ability to order online. Here is the press release for more details:

Leading Recycled Tire Products Company Launches Social Media Campaign

BALLICO, CA (August 5, 2010)— Rubber Bark™, one of the largest recycled rubber companies on the west coast, is launching its online social media campaign, in collaboration with Manex, a manufacturing consulting firm.

The campaign, funded by a grant from CalRecycle under its Tire Business Assistance Program (TBAP),  will include a Wikipedia page detailing the company’s progress and products, a Facebook profile with timely updates on events and product deals, and a LinkedIn account enabling Rubber Bark™ to network with other companies and expand its market base.

“It’s the next step for our company,” said Rubber Bark™ Chief Executive Officer Jana Nairn. “As far as marketing and exposure goes, we are trying to stay ahead of the pack.”

Many organizations, including mid-sized companies such as Rubber Bark™, are employing social media as part of their communication approaches.  According to an article on Mashable, one of the leading websites on social media, a study done by The University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business earlier this year concluded that one in five small businesses are integrating social media into their practices.

“It’s a way to reach more people faster,” said Robert Nairn, Chief Financial Officer of Rubber Bark™.  “We think it’s important to have a lot of information about Rubber Bark™ available in different mediums.”

The campaign will be ongoing and will include special promotions and information about Rubber Bark™ as well as give details on its efforts to remain an environmentally friendly product and cost effective landscape and playground covering.

About the company:

Rubber Bark™ is manufactured by Ag Link, Inc., a major recycled tire product manufacturer affiliated with tire recycler Golden By-Products, Inc. Established in 1994, Ag Link, Inc. is the largest producer of rubber products on the west coast.


Woohoo! Along with this shiny new blog, Rubber Bark™ is off to a great start!