ecoTraction Pro
“Being a community within Canada’s first and most famous national park, the Town of Banff has an obligation to encourage use of environmentally friendly products and services… EcoTraction is helping us ensure the safety of the public without damaging our staircases, pathways, and other infrastructure, saving time and money.” – Town of Banff, Alberta
ecoTraction PRO Products
20kg/44lb bag (40lb in USA)
1 ton bulk tote
BEST VALUE, HANDS-DOWN
Designed to provide high-traction rather than melting, ecoTraction PRO delivers the best value for the money because you need far less of it. One shovelful of ecoTraction PRO can cover as much as nine shovelfuls of salt.
WHY ECOTRACTION PRO?
ecoTraction PRO is made of larger granules compared to the original ecoTraction
Advantages of using ecoTraction PRO
Larger granules take longer to breakdown
Perfect for industrial spreading equipment
Ideal for high foot traffic & for vehicle traction
Increased traction during freeze/thaw cycles
Unlike salt, ecoTraction PRO is non-corrosive, safe for all surfaces, including new and old concrete, and safe for equipment. It provides traction in the coldest temperatures down to -50C/-58F. Why wait and hope for the ice and snow to melt when you can get instant traction for pedestrians and vehicles? Plus, this eco-friendly mineral is ideal for eco-sensitive areas because it is completely safe for groundwater and vegetation.
THE CASE FOR COMMERCIAL USE
| 44lb Bag | Approx. Price | Coverage per Bag (parking space) | Coverage per Bag (sq. ft) | Cost per Parking Space (144 sq. ft) | Cost per sq. ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Melter | $19.95 | 5 Parking Spaces | 733 | $3.89 | $0.027 |
| Rock Salt | $7.95 | 5 Parking Spaces | 733 | $1.58 | $0.011 |
| ecoTraction PRO | $39.95 | 77 Parking Spaces | 11,088 | $0.58 | $0.004 |
In this example, we use the size of a parking space of about 144 sq. feet to illustrate how ecoTraction PRO is the most cost-effective solution.
As per salt industry field tests demonstrate, 60lb of a blend of salt and calcium
chloride is required for 1000 sq. feet which translates to 1LB per 16.67 sq. feet (1000 / 60 = 16.67 sq. ft). This means that to cover a parking space of 144 sq. feet, one requires over 8LB of ice melt (144 / 16.67 = 8.6LB). If the parking lot has 14 parking spaces, each application requires over 112LB of salt (14 x 8lb). As the ice melts, the salt washes away contaminating the soil and the next time it snows, you have to reapply. Over the course of a few months, 8 applications of 112LB each mean you are using almost 900LB of salt!
ecoTraction PRO is a highly effective traction product. Rather than trying to melt, ecoTraction PRO is designed to create instant traction on the surface of ice and snow. As a result, 1LB of ecoTraction PRO can cover over 252 sq. feet. This means only 1LB covers over 1 and 3/4 parking spaces of 144 sq. feet! If the parking lot has 14 parking spaces (2,016 sq. feet) like the example above, each application only requires 8LB of ecoTraction PRO (8 x 252 = 2,016 sq. feet), rather than 112LB with rock salt. Over the course of a few months, 8 applications of 8LB each means you only require 64LB of ecoTraction PRO vs. 900LB of rock salt! This makes ecoTraction PRO the most effective winter safety product available due to its highly effective traction properties.
Over the years, based on recommended spread rate of salt, we have estimated that ecoTraction PRO covers 9X wider area. However, based on the salt industry test above, ecoTraction PRO can cover over 15x wider area than rock salt! (1LB ecoTraction PRO covers 252 sq. feet versus 1LB of ice melters covers 16.67 sq. feet).
BREAKS DOWN OVER THE WINTER
ecoTraction PRO’s pointy mineral granules don’t melt away and dissolve like salt. Depending on the volume of foot or vehicle traffic, the granules can breakdown over the winter.
When snow and ice melt away, if there are any granules leftover, simply sweep it onto flowerbeds and lawns because this mineral benefits the soil. You can also collect ecoTraction PRO and reuse it next winter!
GOOD FOR LAWNS & GARDENS
ecoTraction PRO isn’t just good for traction on ice and snow. This unique volcanic mineral has also been used for many years as a soil amendment product to enrich your lawn & garden. It has a high absorption capacity and retains water, keeps soil moist, also helps aerate the soil. It has a unique ability to help retain nutrient in top soil and slowly release potassium, calcium and magnesium to keep vegetation healthy. Kick the salt habit and say goodbye to brown lawns!
WON’T DAMAGE WALKWAYS & CARPETS
When salt gets tracked inside, it rots carpets and flooring. ecoTraction PRO is not corrosive so it won’t corrode carpet, tile, or other surfaces like salt does. Ice melters can damage concrete because they create a freeze-thaw cycle, a situation to avoid mostly with new concrete. As a traction product, ecoTraction PRO is safe for new or old concrete.
WHY IS ECOTRACTION PRO A SMARTER CHOICE?
We use 40 million tons of salt annually on roads in North America. Corrosive sodium chloride (salt) is destroying our bridges and roadbeds, not to mention cars.
In addition to sodium chloride, road salt contains trace heavy metals and anti-caking agents like potassium ferrocyanide. These toxins don’t break down—they persist in our waterways, our groundwater, and destroy plants and soil.
Help reduce the load on our infrastructure and our environment…with ecoTraction PRO!
The Top Six Problems with Deicing Salts & Ice Melters
A study by the National Research Council Transportation Research Board estimates that every ton of road salt can cause between $500 and $2,000 in downstream damages to infrastructure, vehicles, property and the environment. Yet we continue to dump nearly 40 million tons of salt and ice melters annually on our sidewalks and roads in Canada and the United States. Some of the major problems caused by road salt and chemical ice melters are as follows:
Contaminates Groundwater
When salt & ice melters dissolve into ice and snow, they usually end up draining their dangerous toxins into soils, ponds and lakes, and city sewer systems. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences have concluded that road salt contaminates drinking water supplies,
“…if salinity were to continue to increase at its present rate… many surface waters in the northeastern United States would not be potable for human consumption and would become toxic to freshwater life within the next century.”
-Taken from an abstract of “Increased salinization of fresh water in the northeastern United States”
Destroys Infrastructure & Property
Salt can damage concrete and corrode metals. The National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) states that,
“A number of factors contribute to bridge corrosion. One of the most common is the use of deicing salts on roads and bridges… The salts cause corrosion of the steel reinforcing bars and other steel components supporting the bridge. This form of corrosion is the main cause of concrete bridge deterioration.”
Ineffective In Very Cold Conditions
As per the Salt Institute, road salt stops melting ice or snow effectively below 15°F / -9°C.
Kills Lawns and Plant Life
In spring, homeowners are usually disappointed to find that the salt & ice melters they used in the winter have killed a section of their lawn and landscaping.
Harms Pets and Children
Ice melters can be harmful for pets and kids. Pets’ paws can be harmed and they can ingest large concentrations of these toxins when they lick their paws. Children can eat the chemically-dyed pellets that can sometimes look like candy.
Provides Inconsistent Traction
Ice melters are not traction agents. They can actually reduce traction by leaving behind a liquid brine solution that refreezes, making roads and sidewalks even more slippery than before.