GREEN PRODUCTS
Midwest Trading prides itself in the use and sale of green products. Raw materials, such as rice hulls, pine and hardwood bark, mushroom compost and landscape compost are all examples of waste products from other industries that are utilized in the production and sale of finished goods. Tens of thousands of cubic yards of these types of materials are utilized by Midwest Trading annually and passed along as quality products for our customers.

Midwest Trading is proud to be involved in erosion control, stormwater management, and shoreline restoration by providing ecologically sound solutions to these problems with the Envirolok™ vegetated retaining wall system. Used in conjunction with natives, this system is also effective in Rain Garden and Detention Basin applications. Once installed and established, the native plants improve water quality and help restore diminishing wildlife habitat.

As an authorized Aquascape Pro Distributor, Midwest Trading is able to provide the RainXchange™ System to contractors interested in helping their customers capture and reuse rainwater. Capturing and reusing rainwater helps reduce runoff as well as reducing demand on municipal systems. Additionally, rainwater is rich in nutrients and can be used onsite for irrigation even during periods when watering schedules have been imposed.

GREEN BUILDING SUPPLIER
Midwest Trading and Midwest Groundcovers are both actively involved in supplying and supporting the green roof and green wall markets. Midwest Trading also supports this market by supplying various specially blended soil media that include natural compost materials. Green roofs and roof gardens reduce runoff, lower ambient air temperatures, reduce air and ozone pollutions, provide a natural habitat for insects, birds, and small animals and improve site aesthetics.

ELECTRONIC CATALOG AND EMAIL
Over the past several years, in an effort to reduce the amount of paper consumed annually, Midwest Trading has steadily moved towards electronic versions of our annual catalog. Although printed catalogs are available, many of our customers have requested the electronic version of the catalog. Additionally, work has begun on implementing a CD version as well.

Midwest Trading also offers electronic billing services for our customers. Instead of printing invoices, statements, etc. on paper and mailing them, we can electronically email these documents saving paper and mailing expenses. Please take advantage of this service which directly impacts our usage of natural resources. Call 630-365-1990 for more information.

RECYCLING
Within the Midwest Trading and Midwest Groundcovers offices, reusable dishes and utensils are supplied in order to reduce the amount of waste produced from daily meetings and lunch hours. Both in the offices and in the production facilities, glass, plastic, newspapers, and aluminum are sorted and recycled. In 2009, Midwest Trading invested in a hydraulic bailing machine and bails and recycles plastic wrapping materials used in the delivery of raw materials (I.e. the plastic wrapping used for peat moss bales). Several full semi loads of compressed plastic has been recycled annually through this program – material that otherwise would have been dumped in landfills. Not only is the material recycled, the cost of dumpsters and dumping the material has been avoided.