Is the vermiculite in your sachets safe?Updated 3 hours ago
Yes. All of the vermiculite in our products is safely sourced and rigorously tested.
What is Vermiculite?
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that is extracted from soil. It's commonly used in gardening as a soil conditioner and in our scented sachets to hold fragrance.
The Libby, Montana Mine History
The Scale of Operations
Before closing in 1990, a mine in Libby, Montana produced approximately 80% of the world's supply of vermiculite. The Zonolite Company began mining vermiculite at the site in the 1920s, and the mine was purchased by W.R. Grace & Company in 1963.
Vermiculite from this mine was used extensively in building insulation and as a soil conditioner throughout the United States.
The Contamination
Tragically, the vermiculite from the Libby mine was contaminated with a toxic and highly friable form of asbestos called tremolite-actinolite asbestos, also known as Libby Amphibole asbestos. This naturally occurring asbestos was present at contamination levels as high as 26%.
The Cleanup
In 1999, the EPA began investigating the site in response to public concerns. The mine was identified as a US EPA Superfund site in 2002.
In 2009, the EPA took the unprecedented step of declaring Libby a Public Health Emergency, the first time in the agency's history it had done so. This allowed affected residents to receive federal health care assistance.
The cleanup has been extensive:
- Over 7,800 properties investigated
- More than 2,600 properties cleaned up in Libby and nearby Troy
- Over one million cubic yards of contaminated soil removed
- Estimated cost to taxpayers: approximately $600 million
Cleanup of most residential, commercial, and public areas was completed in 2018, though the actual mine site continues to undergo remediation today. This is considered the largest and longest-running asbestos cleanup project in American history.
We do not use any vermiculite from this site.
Our Vermiculite Source
South Carolina Sourcing
All of the vermiculite in our products is mined in South Carolina, right here in our home state.
Rigorous Testing
Our suppliers use stringent testing to identify contaminants such as asbestos. This ensures that only safe, clean vermiculite is used in our products.
The Bottom Line
You can be assured that a consistent and safe supply of vermiculite is used in our scented sachets. We source locally, test thoroughly, and never use materials from contaminated sites.
Questions about our sachets or ingredients? Call 1-877-GREENLEAF (1-877-473-3653) or email [email protected].