Hello, FilterForGoodians. My name is Blake, and I have a problem. I’m addicted to Amazon. Now, before you get too concerned, the truth is that I’m not really addicted to Amazon. I just happen to have some disposable income, and I like spending it on Amazon.com. Plus, they make it so darn easy to order things (in 1-click) from my cell phone, iPod touch, computer and even my TV. It was only recently, however, that I realized just how many boxes were being used as a result of my Amazon Addiction. Well, I’ve found a company trying to offset the environmental impacts of all those shipping boxes.

The Life Box** company has invented a corrugated cardboard box that, when buried, sprouts seeds that our embedded into the cardboard. Imagine, getting something delivered from any online retailer, and to throw it away, you’d go out in the backyard and bury it. I suppose you could this with a cardboard box now, but you wouldn’t get the same payoff.
I understand that most of you aren’t going to be grabbing your shovels, and heading out to the backyard any time soon, but that’s still ok. When you throw something away, it more than likely ends up in a landfill where it will eventually get buried. Picture a landfill. Not too much going on. Just tons of dead garbage. But then, a few specs of green start to appear. Fast forward ten years, and that landfill is a forest. The Life Box product could make that happen.
I think retailers will be all over this one, especially if the government gives them an incentive to use these boxes. Retailers get a little green halo, and customers get a little green halo. It makes perfect sense to me.
I received one of these boxes from the company, and am going to start the process of germinating the seeds. It takes a while, so I’ll drop in little updates at the bottom of my future posts. I’m also interested in getting an interview with the company founders, so expect that in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I’m sure you have tons of questions about the product, so I’ve copied the FAQs from their site** below (enjoy and stay tuned!):
1) What about the potential problem that the Life Box™ could introduce non-native or invasive species?
The Tree Life Box™ is only for sale within the continental U.S. and Canada. This is because the tree seed mix consists of species that are native to the bioregions of the continental U.S. and Canada. The tree species have all been approved by the state Departments of Agriculture as non-invasive, and we have obtained the necessary permits and licenses in states where movement of tree seed is regulated. The Life Box™ has also been cleared for export to Canada by the USDA.
2) Will the tree species within the Life Box™ survive in my climate?
Most likely, except for extremely arid regions. As always, tree seedlings need care and adequate water for the first years. Once they become established (after 5 years), they will need little care aside from the occasional watering during extreme heat and/or drought. The species mix inside the Tree Life Box™ contains species that are native to the majority of bioregions in the continental U.S. and Canada. Because the Tree Life Box™ is embedded with approximately 1 seed per square inch, a 20+% survival rate is possible, given your seedlings receive proper care early on. The symbioses between the tree roots and mycorrhizal fungi (that is also embedded within the Life Box™) help your trees to survive rapid changes in temperature and during times of water scarcity. That being said, your loving care of the baby trees improves their probability of survival.
3) When will the Life Box™ be available internationally?
At this point in time, we are evaluating what it will take to create native tree seed mixes specific to various regions of the world. This is a very large project that we hope to tackle as we move along with Life Box™ development. Please keep checking our website as we are frequently updating it. You can also request to be a member of the Life Box™ email list and receive updates on the Life Box™ development by email. If you want to be notified of updates, tips for planting, etc., please send an email to info@lifeboxcompany.com** to enlist.
4) Can the Life Box™ be recycled?
Yes, it can. But before you recycle it, we recommend finding someone (a teacher, friend, family member, neighbor, etc.) who might be interested in planting it!
5) What is the maximum amount of time I can store my Life Box™?
Ideally it is best to plant your Life Box™ within the first 6–8 months, based on the planting directions. We recommend storing your Life Box™ in a cool, dry place for no more than 3 years after the seed collection dates. To find the seed information specific to your box, please look at the bottom of your box, go to our website, select the Seed Information Tab and enter in the lot code to find the species information specific to your Life Box™.
Send this post to your favorite online retailers and ask them to consider using this product!
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