FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., June 26, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- What's made out of recycled plastic grocery bags, looks like flagstone, wins environmental awards and is making significant market inroads for its Arkansas-based manufacturer? Smart Stone(tm) stepping stones made by Greenland Composites.
Smart Stone(tm) is an innovative lawn and garden stepping stone made entirely of recycled and recyclable materials - roughly 80 plastic shopping bags per stone and sawdust. Smart Stone(tm) looks and performs like concrete and natural paving stones at a fraction of the weight, with each stone weighing less than 5 pounds. Compared to their concrete counterpart's weight of more than 30 pounds per stone, Smart Stone(tm) can easily be handled by anyone and transported much more economically and sustainably than concrete or natural stone.
Smart Stone(tm) has a number of unique and distinguishing value features to offer. Consumers like that they are easy to transport and install, have a uniform size and shape and won't break if dropped. Retailers find they display easily and attractively, and of course, offer customers an environmentally friendly option for their landscaping needs.
Fayetteville-based branding agency jimbob, inc. has been working closely with Greenland Composites to brand, position and market Smart Stone(tm). As a result of their combined efforts, the product is gaining new markets across the country and has recently been awarded category-exclusive distribution by Home Depot of Canada.
The product also won a Gold Award in the first annual Innovative Green Awards presented at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas on May 9. Retailers were asked to judge the best "green, eco-friendly products" that address current environmental and sustainability concerns.
Greenland Composites CEO Burt Hanna stated, "We're extremely excited about the direction in which this product is headed. We believe we've positioned Smart Stone(tm) to be on the crest of a dominant wave as energy prices continue to rise and the need to be environmentally sustainable becomes more urgent. It's a sweet spot in the market that gives consumers a great product at a value price, all the while benefiting the environment."
About Greenland Composites
Founded in 2002, Greenland Composites is based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and is a subsidiary of Hanna's Candle Company, the nation's largest privately held candle manufacturer. Greenland Composites produces 10 million linear feet of custom wood-plastic composites each year providing environmentally friendly product alternatives for home improvement and landscaping needs. With their 40+ employees and state of the art facilities, Greenland Composites recycles over 8 million pounds of materials annually. For more information contact Burt Hanna at, 479-718-7753.