This page has a rather unique purpose. It's my take on the rubber mulch industry. Most websites you visit don't talk about their competition, but in the world of rubber mulch, all things are not created equal, yet when you look at other products, they don't show close-ups of their product, or they don't explain the differences. As I tell my customers, it's like buying a Ford or a Mercedes. Both do the job, just one does it a lot nicer! Compare ground beef to filet mignon, or a $2000 mattress against a piece of foam rubber. We can go on and on. So, what's the difference, and why does it matter? I'm glad you asked...Our premium product is made from 100% 'tire buffings'. These are the premium by-products of recycled tire mulch and come from truck tires. The importance of this is the tread of truck tires has no metal or fiber and is the most natural looking wood mulch replacement. Compare the un-retouched photos below and you can see what I'm talking about very clearly: Obviously, you don't need me to tell you what you're looking at. It's quite obvious which is the better looking product. And Future Mulch® Premium is the way to go. But why is it more expensive? Very simple. Most companies use 'crumb rubber', which is made from car tires and has fiber, that can mold or mildew, and even has traces of sharp steel threads. This material is much cheaper than buffings for several reasons. First, buffings are in short supply, and there is an abundance of crumb rubber. The desireable look of buffings makes it the choice of many homes and businesses. If the allure, appeal and gorgeous results you want in your landscaping is important to you, the choice is clear. Remember, rubber mulch lasts many years, so the savings you get from buying cheaper product is really quite minimal over the 15-20 years it will last with almost zero additional cost! In the above photos, you can clearly see the difference. There are no photo tricks, nothing's up my sleeve and I didn't go out and paint gravel blue. In the left photo, you can see what the cheap stuff looks like. The main question you need to ask yourself is if saving a few bucks is the best option in purchasing rubber mulch. Marty, what about my playground? Even more critical in my opinion, is what you do for your home, daycare, church, and school playground! This now becomes a safety concern for the kids well-being. I admit most crumb products pass their own 'safety tests'. And for the legal eagles out there, it's considered safe to be used in a playground. But, lets be real folks. You don't need to be a rubber scientist to see that buffings are going to be a softer fall surface than "JAGGED CHUNKS OF RUBBER' !! Maybe this webpage isn't politically correct. But when it comes to kids safety, I simply don't care. The health and safety of my customers kids is perhaps the most important thing I do. And almost daily, I am AMAZED by the parents who call me and want product for their backyard playgrounds and tell me our product is "TOO EXPENSIVE". I've even had people get a quote and hang up on me. Maybe people don't want to hear it, but this your children's safety we're talking about, folks. NOTHING is more important in this world than your kids. The bottom line is simple. If you don't want to spend it on our product, the cheaper crumb products meet most safety standards, go for it. But I'd suggest you get samples of both products, and decide for yourself if the extra $ is worth it or not. And if you simply can't afford it, crumb is still better than wood. Of course, if spending a few extra bucks isn't going to bankrupt you (you could afford that $1000-5000 playset) you'll feel safer with our Premium shred under your kids feet. For 99% of my customers, Future Mulch® Premium Shred is the best value out there. It's not ever going to be the 'cheapest', but it's the best looking, and the safest product available for your kids. As is always the case, you're welcome to call to discuss anything about rubber mulch with me. You'll get straight-forward, honest answers. Even if we end up being 'too expensive' for you, I'll still try to recommend alternatives and some may not even be our product. --Marty