Frequently Asked Questions
Company Questions:
Where is Origin Sustainables located? Where are your warehouses?
Our head office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia. We proudly serve businesses across North America.
Origin Sustainables has six warehouse locations across North America:
- British Columbia (head distribution centre)
- Ontario
- Quebec
- Pennsylvania
- California
- Texas
Can your products be customized?
Yes, our compostable products can be customized and branded! We work closely with you to create customized solutions tailored to your specific needs, such as white labelling, custom pack size, and product specifications.
Are your eco-friendly products home compostable?
Our products are home and commercial facility compostable. The majority of our products will degrade in under 90 days in a home compost.
Where can I purchase Origin Sustainables products?
We are a wholesale company who cater to the foodservice and hospitality industry across North America. To work with us, please visit our Contact Us page.
How can I contact Origin Sustainables?
Have a few questions before you make the switch to sustainability? Visit our Contact Us page and fill out our short form. We look forward to hearing from you!
Are you hiring?
Origin Sustainables is proud to have a talented team of dedicated individuals. We’re always looking to grow and expand. Please visit our Careers page to view our open positions.
Environmental Questions:
Do compostable products decompose in landfills?
Yes, compostable products can decompose in landfills, but they take much longer to break down than if they were composted properly. For example, wood cutlery will take as little as 90 days to decompose in a home compost, but can take up to 6 months in a landfill.
What does it mean to be FSC certified?
The Forest Stewardship Council certification is the gold standard designation for wood, bamboo, and paper products. The FSC requires that forest management practices protect biodiversity, uphold workers’ rights, are environmentally conscious, economically viable, and respect the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.
Do products like wood cutlery impact our forests?
Wood products can impact our forests. But they don’t have to. Wood is a renewable resource, as trees can be replanted and regrown. The FSC makes sure that wood products come from responsibly managed forests, reducing deforestation while promoting biodiversity.
What is bioplastic? Is bioplastic eco-friendly?
Bioplastics are made from renewable materials such as corn, sugarcane, and potatoes. While this material is marketed as an eco-friendly replacement for conventional plastics, it isn’t as green as it seems.
Bioplastics contribute to our microplastic problem, have limited recycling options, and generate significant greenhouse gas emissions. They are not truly biodegradable or compostable.
Learn more about the dangers of bioplastics.
Does biodegradable mean compostable? Does compostable mean biodegradable?
Biodegradable and compostable are often used interchangeably, but they don’t mean the same thing.
All compostable products are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable products are compostable.
Biodegradable refers to materials that microorganisms, like bacteria and fungi, can naturally break down into smaller compounds like water, carbon dioxide, and biomass under the right conditions.
Compostable refers to materials that can break down into natural, non-toxic substances in a compost pile. They are broken down by microorganisms into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass without leaving toxic residue.
What is the single-use plastics ban?
In December 2021, Canada announced the single-use plastics ban. The ban covers cutlery, foodservice ware, straws, bags, stir sticks, and ring carriers.
It defines single-use plastic as a product made from polyethylene or polystyrene that is discarded after one use. Other plastics must pass thorough testing and inspection before they can be manufactured.