Spring 2010
Second Annual Eco-Choice Awards By Poornima Apte

Most Sellable

WINNER: Cotton socks from Marianne’s Solmate Socks

Based in central Vermont, Sol Mate Socks uses yarn made by recovering recycled materials and scraps, mainly T-shirts. This practice reduces virgin cotton production and helps eliminate landfill waste. The yarns are certified by “Made in Green” and Oeko-Tex to be free from harmful substances. The company donates product to charities, that in turn, sell them to raise funds.

Founder and owner, Marianne Wakerlin started the company after knitting over 100 pairs of socks for family and friends. Later, she decided to find a way to knit them on a knitting machine so she could start a business selling socks.

“We are seriously committed to the environment and how we affect the land and the people and everything from the beginning to the end,” said Wakerlin. “We are very socially conscious of not only the impact our product has but our ability to use creatively what we do have to help others.”

SockLady.com

NOTABLES

Dinnerware Settings by Fire & Light

Using post-consumer recycled glass, craftspeople individually create these pieces of glassware, thus preserving the rich tradition of American hand-pressed glass. Fire & Light has recycled tons of glass including over six million bottles and jars purchased from their local community recycling center. Recycled glass uses 30% less energy than virgin glass, and can be recycled repeatedly. Recycled cardboard is used as packing material.

FireandLight.com

Therapy Treats from Harry Barker

These “therapy dog approved” gourmet treats are baked using all natural ingredients grown in the USA, free of genetically-modified organisms. The containers are made from recycled tin-plated steel. Therapy dogs assist senior citizens and the visually impaired. Many come from shelters and rescue groups. A portion of the proceeds supports the Medical University of South Carolina’s therapy dogs and MUSC Children’s Hospital’s Medically Fragile Children’s Program.

HarryBarker.com

Drawer Liners from elizabethW.
800.781.6126
elizabethw.com