Specialty fertilizer producer Progressive Planet (PLAN), Kamloops, B.C., on Feb. 27 announced that it has received a 40 mt order for swelling bentonite from a major North American fertilizer manufacturer. PLAN did not identify the manufacturer. The product is used in sulfur bentonite.
The company said the bentonite passed a rigorous series of quality control tests by the customer. It said the product is a direct byproduct from its production of Wundercat® cat litter, another product that comes from the company’s volcanic ash fields in southern B.C.
“I am delighted to see Progressive Planet continue to improve efficiencies by converting a mineral powder byproduct directly into a high-value end product without further processing,” said Progressive Planet CEO Steve Harpur.
“Historically, we would convert mineral powder byproducts back into granular products using costly incremental water, electricity, natural gas, and labor to wet, dry, extrude, and crush this material a second time,” he added. “Now, this valuable byproduct is simply bulk packaged and shipped. This increases our gross margins and creates a more sustainable manufacturing process from our volcanic ash and mineral supply chain.”
Harpur said the company is highly confident this initial fertilizer sale will be one of many, based on the company’s historic customer-retention record. “When customers order from Progressive Planet, our records show that over 90% reorder,” said Harpur. “That’s why Progressive Planet products are in 10,000 plus North American stores and outlets – and counting.”
The company announced earlier this month that it has inked an agreement with one of North America’s three largest big box stores to be a distribution partner for Wundercat.
PLAN, which calls itself a “disruptive innovator for cement and agricultural tech,” reported last year an expansion into custom-blended regenerative fertilizers and soil amendments using new specialty-blending equipment (GM July 8, 2022). It also announced the first commercial production of Hydr8™, a blend of biochar, zeolite, and humates, in partnership with Eco Health Industries Ltd., Maple Ridge, B.C., which developed the product.
PLAN also has joint development agreements with Eco Health, along with High Brix Manufacturing Inc., Leduc County, Alberta, to develop three regenerative fertilizers (GM Dec. 16, 2022).