Industrial straw fibers have a variety of uses such as mulching, erosion control and insulating buildings. Straw is becoming a popular material because it's renewable and biodegradable. Wheat, oats, rye, barley, rice, flax and pine needles all make excellent sources of straw.

Before purchasing straw bales, make sure they have been stored in a dry location. Inspect any bales thoroughly before committing to the sale to make sure they don't contain too much moisture. Bales should be tight, and should not sag when lifted. You can find straw at retail outlets, or you can buy directly from a farmer.

Before making a straw purchase, consider the following:

1. Use straw mulch to save time spent weeding your landscaping.

2. Prevent erosion on your property with straw fiber rolls.

3. Go green by insulating your buildings with straw.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Utilize straw fibers as inexpensive weed control for your company's landscaping

Straw fibers make ideal mulch material, as a single straw bale can cover a large area of ground. Straw mulch is made from many different materials, all of which provide excellent weed control. Straw mulch also helps to retain moisture in the soil, thereby decreasing your water bill.

I recommend: Pine Straw Direct bales pine straw for use as mulch. Receive a discount by purchasing multiple bales. Southern Pine Straw Mulch carries mulch bales. The company will deliver bales to your business, or you can pick them up to avoid shipping charges.

Purchase straw rolls to prevent erosion on your building site

Industrial straw rolls are used to prevent soil erosion on bare slopes. These rolls are lighter and easier to install than straw bales or cloth fences. Straw is also biodegradable, which means you don't have to take the rolls down.

I recommend: KriStar Enterprises produces rice straw fiber rolls to prevent hill slope erosion. The company offers rolls in a range of lengths and diameters. Enviroscape carries straw rolls in numerous sizes, made from different materials. Shop online, or contact them for specialized assistance.

Insulate your building with straw fibers to help make your business eco-friendly

Straw bales can be used as structural building insulation. This type of insulation is commonly finished with plaster, which provides excellent temperature regulation.

I recommend: StrawBale is a leader in straw insulation education. Contact the company to find out how they can help you with your project. Greenhomebuilding.com specializes in insulating buildings with straw. They offer training and certification for building with straw materials.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Straw fibers make excellent packing material for your packages. If you have a lot of extra straw that's not being put to use, consider using it to protect your products during transit.