Paper Chain Pots Approved for Use on Organic Farms by WSDA

At long last, paper chain pots are officially approved for use on certified organic farms in the United States. It was a 6-year process from submitting a petition to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), to the NOSB unanimously passing recommendations on “paper based planting aides” to the USDA, to the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) drafting a rule and it then being enacted into law, to having a 3rd party review of paper chain pots to ensure they meet the requirements of the NOP rule. A complete timeline of events is below!

The Washington State Department of Agriculture completed the review late last week and we have their official certificate in hand should any growers or certifiers require it.

It’s been a long road and we are thrilled to have accomplished this on behalf of the many small scale growers who have come to rely on this ingenious system for transplanting crops effectively and efficiently. Our motto is that appropriate technology has a big role to play in making small farms profitable and enjoyable. We look forward to continuing to serve our customers and the small farm community by making this and other tools and supplies readily available.

Timeline of paper pots being accepted for use on organic farms in the U.S.:

Preamble: Many people assume that the big issue with paper pots is the glues or adhesives used to make them. While this is important, it is not the only or even the main issue! The most fundamental issue is that paper, by itself, is considered by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) to be a synthetic material. The reason for this is that paper, while being mainly comprised of natural cellulose pulp, is rarely a single ingredient product. Paper products may include inks, glossy coatings, strengtheners, softeners, dyes, toners, waxes, resins, rosins, binders, adhesives, etc. So, even before you start gluing paper together to make paper pots, the paper itself (even “recycled paper”) is “objectionable” as a synthetic material.

2005: John Hendrickson discovers the paper chain pot system while living in Japan in 2005, purchases a transplanter for his farm and tells the manufacturer, Nitten, that he is interested in selling the system in North America.

2006: John asks his organic certifier, Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA), if he can use paper chain pots on his certified organic farm. After a lengthy review, MOSA decides it is acceptable based on the two places in the NOP rule (in 2006) that mention paper: it can be used as a mulch or as a feedstock in making compost. In both cases, the paper, and any of the components therein, end up in the soil. So too with paper chain pots, reasoned MOSA.

2007: John begins selling the paper chain pot system to other farmers in the U.S. and Canada. Those farms that are organic ask their certifiers and most agree that it is acceptable, following the lead of MOSA.

2008-2018: Many organic farms adopt the paper chain pot system but some certifying agencies disagree with MOSA’s determination and opt to not allow paper pots.

2018: With some certifiers allowing paper pots and others NOT allowing them, the playing field is not level…so, the USDA NOP steps in and decides that paper pots should not be allowed.

2018: As many organic growers were using them in good faith for as long as 12 years, John concludes that suddenly not allowing them seems very unfair. He submits a petition to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) regarding the use of paper. He also mobilizes paper pot users across the country to request that the USDA continue to allow paper pots until the issue can be formally reviewed by the NOSB and an official recommendation regarding their use can be made.

November 5, 2018: The USDA NOP reverses their decision and decides that growers can continue using paper pots while the issue of allowable uses of paper and paper ingredients is officially investigated by the NOSB. Sincere thanks to Harriet Behar, then NOSB chair, for helping push for this resolution.

2019-2021: NOSB Crops Committee researches and deliberates on the issue of paper pots. John attends the NOSB annual meetings to testify and encourages paper pot users to submit their own comments and testimony.

April 30, 2021: NOSB votes unanimously (14-0) to recommend that the NOP adopt a rule regarding “paper-based planting aides” (including paper pots), laying out guidelines on the allowable ingredients/composition of the paper.

November 14, 2022: NOP publishes rule on the use of “paper-based planting aides” (including paper pots). This rule specifies the allowable contents of paper used on certified organic farms, stipulating that at least 60% of the paper must be natural cellulose pulp and 80% of the paper product must be “bio-based” ingredients (the remaining 10% can be “other synthetic ingredients” not already banned for use on organic farms).

March 7, 2024: The Washington State Department of Agriculture completes their 3rd party review of Nitten paper chain pots and finds them compatible with the USDA NOP rule.