75,000 Organic Acres

Since 1968 the foundation of Eden's environmental commitment has been its sustainable relationships with organic farmers and traditional food makers at home and beyond. Continuing to build and maintain these relationships, today Eden works directly with more than 350 family farms nurturing over 75,000 acres of certified organic farmland.

Local Focus

Believing in local first whenever it makes sense, most Eden foods are grown from a few miles to a few hundred miles of Eden's Clinton, Michigan headquarters. Over 75 percent of these foods are prepared at, or within 250 miles of Clinton as well. EDENSOY® is made 12 miles east of Eden headquarters, the Eden Organic Pasta Company is in Detroit, EdenSprings® Artesian Water is upstate Michigan, Eden's cannery for organic beans is in north central Indiana, Eden Organic Tomatoes are grown and canned in Ontario, etc.

Sustainable Operations

Each Eden facility works consciously to minimize its environmental footprint, through investments in equipment and infrastructure, staff education, sustainable maintenance, pest control, cleaning practices, recycling, etc.

Eden's fleet of tractor-trailers has the latest fuel-efficient technologies, idle limits, and pollution controls. Each truck is cleaned and maintained on site, using synthetic oil and recycling all liquids and hardware associated with their upkeep.

The 10-bay receiving area at Eden's main warehouse is a no idle zone.

Eden is a member of the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Coalition, whose goal is "to advance the nation's economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local decisions to adopt practices that contribute to the reduction of petroleum consumption."

In 1999 Eden cut total landfill waste at headquarters by 50 percent by investing in a compactor that can recycle all plastic pallet wrap used and received at its warehouses.

Eden's Shipping Department uses 100 percent post consumer recycled kraft paper, and re-uses cardboard boxes whenever possible.

Currently Eden is phasing in high bay fluorescent lighting in its warehouses. This new technology uses 50 percent less energy and generates 50 percent less heat than the older metal halide lighting.

In 2006 Eden invested in new packaging lines at its two pasta companies, converting all EDEN pasta packages from non-renewable plastic bags to 100 percent recycled paperboard boxes.

Eden Organic Beans are packed in lead free tin covered steel cans coated with a baked on oleoresinous c-enamel lining that does not contain bisphenol-A (BPA). (Oleoresin is a natural mixture of an oil and a resin extracted from various plants, such as pine or balsam fir). These cans cost 14 percent more than the industry standard cans that do contain BPA. This costs Eden $300,000 more a year. To our knowledge Eden is the only U.S. company that uses this custom made BPA-free can.

Organic Pest Management

In 1981 Eden contracted with L. Ernest Otter's family business, EcoPest, to design and implement the world's first organic structural pest management program. Mr. Otter says "Eden's priority for the organic method in food handling is unmatched. When faced with a potential problem their reaction is not (as many do) to simply move organic product aside, and then spray with unapproved pesticides. Their commitment is to truly understand the conditions and ecology of each situation." Eden and EcoPest have created a model for organic pest management methods that are not only safer, but also more effective than toxic chemical based pest control methods.

Full Circle Recycling

Eden recycles glass, plastics, metals, aseptic containers, paper, catalogs, magazines, cardboard, printer cartridges, old computers, electronics, and used wood pallets. Eden has a company wide policy of purchasing recycled materials whenever possible. All offices use recycled paper. The carpet in Eden's trade show booth is made of recycled PET plastic bottles. Product labels, brochures, fliers, catalogs, and other sales materials are printed on recycled paper using biodegradable soy based inks.

Organic "Home"

Eden uses no pesticides, fertilizers, or weed killers anywhere. Cleaning products used are 100 percent biodegradable and contain no phosphates or petrochemical ingredients.

Eden's headquarters rest on 26-plus contiguous acres including native hardwoods, wetlands, and fields. Compost generated from Eden's kitchens is used to enrich the on site organic vegetable garden and flower beds. In 1999 Eden began restoring native greenery and wildflowers to the grounds. It is a haven for bees, migrating birds, fish, butterflies, turtles, frogs, woodchucks, etc.

EDENSOY and the Environment

EDENSOY is packaged in lightweight aseptic cartons made from non-toxic recyclable materials. Their most valuable environmental benefit is requiring no refrigeration in transport or storage. Our packaging partner, Tetra Pak invented aseptic technology with the goal of delivering safe food to people everywhere using a minimum amount of materials and energy.

Eden does not make a refrigerated EDENSOY. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions from refrigerated transport have increased exponentially since the 1990s. EDENSOY is not part of this problem.

Buying all soybeans, grain, dry beans, and vegetables from USA family farms results in lower fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions in several ways. Most U.S. soymilks are made from soybeans that come from China, Brazil, Argentina, and other far away places because 'organic' beans from these countries are cheaper even with the higher shipping cost. American demand for organically labeled crops in these countries has spurred epidemic deforestation as people rush to clear land that can be quickly certified organic. Deforestation is often done by burning, releasing more CO2, etc. Eden is resolved not to participate in this unsustainable cycle.

Positive Circles

Every year brings new research confirming the benefits of organic farming, from improving personal health, to preserving rural landscapes, to cleansing the environment. A recent Rodale Institute study found that organic farming might be the most effective tool we have to fight global warming, as organically managed soils show a remarkable ability to mitigate greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

With a little innovation and a lot of dedication, the positive cycles that organic farming creates can be carried over into food processing. For example, after making EDENSOY, the hulls and mash are sent to organic farmers for feed. What's left over — composted manure — goes back to the bean grower to be used as organic fertilizer.

As Eden supports organic farms and asks others to do so as well, we strive to 'walk the talk' and hope that our activities result in a positive net impact on Planet Earth.