Keilor business owners Rocco and Daniel Felice remember the day they hit on their latest big idea.
The father and son were mulling over their options for what to do with the mountain of cardboard waste generated by their thriving document-destruction business.
Their internet sleuthing led them to a creative solution – animal (especially horse) bedding.
Their hoard of useless cardboard waste is being turned into a new business venture, Eco Animal Bedding.
“Straight away we thought, this is a godsend,” son Daniel said.
The use of cardboard and paper as horse bedding is widespread in Europe but has yet to catch on in Australia.
Daniel sees it as an obvious move because of the environmental and health benefits.
“It’s got no dust, so it’s better for the respiration of the animal and the people cleaning the stables,” he said.
The racing industry has shown a keen interest in the product.
Daniel and Rocco have also teamed up with Werribee Equine Clinic to provide bedding for its injured horses.
The pair are happy they’ve got each other to rely on as orders from interstate begin to roll in.
“We’re mates – we’re father and son and we’ve become work buddies, too,” Rocco says.
By Ed Gardiner
