SUCCESS STORIES
A Root Local Success Story
Collective Impact in Action
Collective impact is an approach to addressing complex social and environmental issues that involves collaboration among multiple stakeholders from various sectors, such as government, nonprofits, businesses, and communities. Root Local and two of its EMMA partner organizations, GreenBox Homes and re:loom, came together over the summer of 2024 to tackle a common agenda topic: keep plastic in any form out of the environment and ultimately the landfill.
This partnership’s immediate collective impact was 148 single-use plastic bags and 6 single-use, woven plastic stone bags diverted from landfill. Their continued partnership is set to divert many more woven bags and over 3,600 single-use plastic mulch bags from landfill each year.
Here’s how we did it:
Common Agenda: Keeping plastic in any form out of landfill is a pillar of living sustainably.
A Pollinator Network member found herself faced with the dilemma of adding a large amount of plastic debris to landfill from her summer landscaping project. When looking for alternatives, she contacted GreenBox Homes, a regenerative landscaping company in Tucker. They were able to provide bulk mulch, thus eliminating the need for pre-packaged bags.
Continuous Communication: Tres Crow, the owner of GreenBox Homes, wanted to offer bulk mulch to all his clients, but didn’t have a good solution for transporting it in smaller quantities from a neutral site.
Backbone Organization Support: The Pollinator Network member connected GreenBox Homes to Root Local, and in turn, re:loom, a partner organization found on the Eco-Map of Metro Atlanta (EMMA). This local organization “employs and empowers homeless and low-income individuals through weaving” and remaking “original products from upcycled materials.”
Action Integration: Using woven plastic stone transport bags that were destined for the landfill, re:loom was able to remake one large bag into two strong, reusable, mulch transport bags, specifically sized to carry the same amount of mulch found in one plastic bag at a big-box gardening center.
Shared Measurement: With the very first connection, 148 single-use plastic bags and 6 single-use, woven plastic stone bags were diverted from landfill. Once fully realized, this partnership will be responsible for diverting many plastic stone transport bags and more than 3,600 single-use plastic mulch bags from landfill each year.
Why Collective Impact?
Duplicating for the Canopy/Land Management Sector (GBH) what already existed in the Sustainable Fashion Sector (rL) would have been expensive, inefficient, and unnecessary.
By making this connection, Root Local, GreenBox Homes, and re:loom have made a collective impact on our environment in several ways:
- Decreasing GreenBox Homes’ reliance on plastic bagged mulch.
- Connecting a need to an existing resource, without duplicating efforts or depleting resources.
- Increasing opportunities for potential ongoing revenue for re:loom by creating a new product line for a completely different industry.
- Increasing opportunities for new or expanded service and product offerings for clients and potential clients for GreenBox.
- Helping reduce the future cost of a more sustainable option.
- Innovating a necessary component of landscaping to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Tres and GreenBox Homes are planning to scale this program quickly. He plans to continue to engage with re:loom to ensure a consistent supply of the reusable totes that will make mulch and compost available to his clients for take-home-&-return and/or delivery.
“I have always dreamed of doing this. I thought I was going to have to ‘invent’ a way to make it happen. Like hiring people who could sew, and buying materials, etc. I thought I would have to, you know, ‘invent’ something like re:loom. I didn’t know they already existed! Without Root Local, I would have never known. I don’t know how I would have ever found them.”– Tres Crow, Owner, GreenBox Homes (referring to “making” a bag that can be used repeatedly to deliver less expensive, bulk-mulch when smaller quantities are needed, as opposed to buying the more expensive, pre-bagged option.)
Ready to Make a Difference?
Make a Collective Impact
We understand that with so many options in the sustainability world, it’s hard to know where you can start making a meaningful impact. We are here to make it easier.
Grow the Map
Support us in growing the Eco-Map for Metro Atlanta, or EMMA, so individuals, communities, organizations, and businesses can connect, find solutions, and embrace environmental consciousness.
Get Involved
There are always ways to create impact. Root Local provides a one-stop resource that offers opportunities to connect. Volunteer, attend events, join committees: find the right fit on our Event Calendar.