It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Dick Freeman, one of the founders of EcoSafe Zero Waste.

Dick was foundational to the EcoSafe story. More than 25 years ago, he was part of a small group of people willing to experiment with an emerging idea: could we rethink the plastics we use every day and create better options for their end of life? 

Dick is presented with a star blanket by Robert and Lynelle from the Lake Traverse Reservation, an honour recognizing his generosity and lasting contributions to Dakota Western Corp.

Our story began in 1999, when Dick Freeman, Jim Brownlee, and Scott Hean founded Plastic Solutions Canada Inc. One of their first projects was an ambitious one, a biodegradable diaper. The project ultimately ran into patent challenges and had to be abandoned, but the lessons, technology, and determination behind it helped lay the groundwork for what would eventually become EcoSafe Zero Waste. 

Like many entrepreneurial stories, ours wasn't a straight line. 

By 2004, Dick was working alongside Phil Ragan and had teamed up with Ric Mallett to accelerate sales of a new product: a compostable dog waste bag. With strong relationships developing with BASF, our compostable resin supplier, and Dakota Western, our manufacturing partner, the company began evolving into the EcoSafe Zero Waste we know today. 

Those early years required experimentation, resilience, relationships, and a willingness to keep going when an idea didn't work the first time. Dick was an important part of building that foundation. 

More than two decades later, EcoSafe has grown far beyond those first products. Today, our products and programs help communities, businesses, institutions, haulers, and composters across North America collect food scraps and divert organics from landfill. 

That work exists because people like Dick were willing to start. 

We are deeply grateful for Dick's contribution to EcoSafe. He helped shape the company in its earliest days and guided it through growth and succession. His impact lives on in the company he helped create and the relationships he built, and the work that continues today. 

His friendly demeanour, captivating storytelling, ability to bring levity to any situation and endless use of funny idioms will be missed by all here at EcoSafe.  

Our thoughts are with Dick's family, friends, colleagues, and everyone who had the opportunity to know and work alongside him. 

Thank you, Dick, for helping start this journey. Your legacy will always be part of EcoSafe.