About EcoSMART
EcoSMART’s technology is based on the natural
defenses that plants and trees have used for their
self protection against insects and pathogens for
centuries – essential oils.
After over a decade of research, EcoSMART developed
revolutionary combinations of efficacious
insecticidal plant essential oils that offer
botanical based alternatives to conventional
pesticides. The active ingredients in EcoSMART’s
products are unique, synergistic blends of essential
oils, many of which are classified as GRAS
(Generally Recognized As Safe) by the U.S. Food &
Drug Administration and approved as direct food
additives.
Company Overview
EcoSMART Technologies is a world leader in
patented pesticide products derived from natural
plant oils. EcoSMART’s field proven technology
provides natural pest control solutions to the
conventional and rapidly growing natural/organic
product markets.
EcoSMART’s headquarters is located in Alpharetta,
Georgia, and its labs in located in British
Columbia, Canada. The sales, technical and customer
support office for their Commercial Division is
located in Atlanta, Georgia.
EcoSMART Technologies began its
research efforts with botanicals in the early
1990’s:
Q: Are EcoSMART products only for use in
sensitive and/or organic accounts?
No. While EcoSMART products work great for
sensitive and organic accounts, they are designed to
work in virtually all accounts since they are
comparable to conventional pesticides in terms of
efficacy…but with the safety benefits of botanical
products.
Q: I understand 2-Phenethyl Propionate (PEP)
is derived from peanut oil. I’m allergic to peanuts
and peanut products. Will I react to PEP?
People who demonstrate allergies to peanuts and
peanut products will not be affected by PEP. Peanut
allergies result from certain amino acids found in
peanuts. PEP is derived from components of peanut
oil which do not contain those amino acids.
Q: Why is it recommended to use an adjuvant
with EcoEXEMPT® IC?
The adjuvant acts as an emulsifier allowing
EcoEXEMPT IC to completely mix with water and help
keep it in solution. Adjuvants are very easy to use
and generally inexpensive. A little bit goes a long
way.
Q: Botanical products have been around a
long time, are typically short-lived (no residual),
more expensive and more difficult to use. How do
EcoSMART’s botanical products differ from other
botanicals?
The major difference between EcoSMART’s botanical
products and other botanicals is that we use a
synergized blend of plant oils as our active
ingredient, not a single botanical oil. This
synergistic effect increases the insecticidal
activity of the plant oils, enabling our botanical
products to perform comparably to conventional
products in terms of effectiveness, residual,
ease-of-use, and treatment cost while maintaining
the lowest environmental and mammalian toxicity
possible. This difference is so unique to EcoSMART,
it is patented.
Q: What is the mode of action of your active
ingredient?
EcoPCO® and EcoEXEMPT® products have a unique
mode of action that targets and blocks a key
neurotransmitter receptor site called octopamine,
which is found in all invertebrates, but not
mammals. Octopamine regulates an insect’s heart
rate, movement and metabolism. Interrupting the
function of octopamine results in a total breakdown
of the insect’s nervous system.
EcoPCO® X products actually have a dual mode of
action with the synergized pyrethrin and plant oil
active ingredient. Not only is it an octopamine
blocker as described above, but the pyrethrin also
acts as a nerve toxin in insects.
Q: I noticed that EcoSMART is continuously
adding new products to their product offering. Are
you planning to introduce a bait?
There are no current plans to introduce a bait in
the near term; however, research has been conducted
on several formulations and a bait may be available
in the future.
Q: Do EcoSMART products require any special
equipment, mixing, or training to be used properly?
No, EcoPCO and EcoEXEMPT products can be used in
a similar manner to any other comparable formulation
on the market and requires no special equipment or
training.
Q: Do you offer products for both interior
and exterior service?
EcoSMART offers a complete line of professional
products to service residential or commercial
properties on the exterior or interior.
Q: Do you have a scope of service or service
protocols using only EcoSMART products?
Yes, click
here to access EcoSMART’s scopes of
service.
Q: What is the best way to incorporate
EcoSMART products into my service program?
You can simply substitute EcoSMART products in
place of the products you currently use. It is as
simple as that.
Click
here to access EcoSMART’s scopes of
service.
Q: Are EcoSMART products more expensive to
use when compared to conventional pesticides?
No, our products are very cost competitive when
compared to conventional products. In fact, several
of our products are actually more economical than
their conventional product counterparts (and just as
effective).
Q: Does EcoSMART offer any technical or
marketing support?
Yes, EcoSMART can provide you both technical and
marketing support. For technical support, you may
contact Dr. Harlan Feese, EcoSMART’s Technical
Director (toll-free at 1-877-667-0006 or e-mail at ). For marketing support,
contact Judy Hight, EcoSMART’s Customer Service
Director (toll free at 1-877-667-0006 or e-mail at ).
For additional information regarding EcoSMART’s
Marketing Support Program, click. (LINK TO MARKETING SUPPORT)
Q: The EcoPCO® “X” products use pyrethrin as
one of the botanical components. Pyrethrin has been
used for decades as an active. What makes EcoPCO®
“X” products different from other py-based products?
Py-based products only provide a contact kill.
That is, they have knockdown and kill properties,
but no residual activity. Pyrethrin also requires
the addition of a synergist, typically piperonyl
butoxide (PBO), to prevent the insect from
metabolizing the py.
The unique blend of EcoSMART’s plant oils and
pyrethrins eliminates the necessity PBO to synergize
the pyrethrins. These plant oils also have a
totally unique mode of action from pyrethrin thus
providing a “dual” mode of action by attacking
different portions of the insect’s nervous system
simultaneously.
But most importantly, the synergistic effect
realized when combining EcoSMART’s plant oils and
pyrethrin results in a technological breakthrough
unique to EcoPCO® “X” products. For the first time
ever, EcoSMART has developed a line of py-based
products that provide residual performance
comparable to conventional pesticides…and without
the fragrance commonly associated with botanicals.
