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| Method's Chicago factory rooftop garden |
Urban agriculture company Gotham Greens has teamed up with Method, the eco-friendly producers of personal care products, soaps, and household cleaners, to create the world's largest
rooftop greenhouse garden! The 75,000 sq. ft. rooftop garden is being incorporated into the design of Method's new Chicago soap factory and "will be the world's first LEED-Platinum certified manufacturing plant in its industry" (Method, Environmental Leader). Set to open in the Spring of 2015, the produce that will be grown and harvested by Gotham Greens will be distributed to Chicago's local community. Greens and veggies will be made available through farmer's markets, restaurants, and retailers. Furthermore, the opportunity to set a ripe example for nutrition standards and provide healthy meal choices to kids will become achievable as Gotham Greens looks into "[collaborating] with [Chicago's] local school systems" (Marketing & Partnerships Manager, Gotham Greens).
"Gotham Greens will produce up to 1 million pounds of sustainably grown, pesticide-free produce annually." - Environmental Leader
In addition to societal benefits, Gotham Greens' greenhouse gardens yield many environmental advantages. Their irrigation method uses 20 times less land and 10 times less water than conventional agriculture models and excludes fertilizer runoff, "one of the leading causes of global water pollution" (Marketing & Partnerships Manager, Gotham Greens). They also foster healthy ecosystems by introducing beneficial insects into their greenhouses, eliminating the harmful option of pesticide use. Gotham Greens will focus on making accessible a specialized variety of fresh produce that would otherwise only be available by being shipped across the country when harsh seasons hit. This effort will therefore not contribute to the greenhouse gas emissions emitted from transportation.
We think this partnership sets a wonderful example of how two environmentally conscious companies can work together to create a positive impact in the communities they serve while continuing to be mindful of the power and influence of their sustainable choices.
Sources:
Greens On Our Roof - Method Home, Soap Dish Blog
Method, Gotham Greens to Build World's Largest Rooftop Farm - Environmental Leader
