Fall 2010

2nd Annual Eco-Choice Awards By Sue Marquette Poremba

Most Sensitive Use of Materials

WINNER: On The Rocks by Sea Stones LLC

Lets customers have their drinks on the rocks—literally. Sea Stone’s On the Rocks keeps Scotch, whiskey, and other sipping liquors cold without diluting the drink like traditional ice cubes. The granite chillers, crafted from stone found on New England beaches, keep drinks at a cool and constant 59 degrees. The rocks need to be chilled in the freezer for a few hours before use. Only one rock needed per drink, but new beverages will require a new chiller.

The idea for On the Rocks came as a way to eliminate waste created from another Sea Stone product. “We saw On the Rocks as an opportunity to use the stone cores from drilling our Stone Napkin Rings and as a way to cool fine spirits without altering the taste,” says the Windham-NH company’s Arra David.

www.sea-stones.com

NOTABLES

Organic Teas by Teatulia

This certified organic tea is grown on an organic farm in Bangladesh. Only natural rainwater is used to irrigate the tea plants. All teas are processed in a biogas facility. All packaging, tea bags and tea are biodegradable and compostable. The package can be recycled or composted. Garden-direct tea requires less transport because there are no middlemen, no extra shipping burdens and no extra packaging or handling. Teatulia is a cooperative with a robust cattle-lending program and crop-share program that has lifted thousands of women, men and children out of poverty, and provides them with a living wage and a health and hygiene program.

www.teatulia.com

Natural Child Toddler Pillow and Just Peachy Damask Sleep Sack by Woolly Boo, LLC

The production process has virtually no waste. All the organic wool, which is sourced from local farmers, is carded and used as filler, and cotton remnants are either used as inlet material, or sewn into packaging bags. The wool and cotton are washed in tubs of standing cold water and vinegar. This is later used for the cleaning of workspaces and watering of plants. Recycling, reuse and repurposing is as easy as removing the thread from the seams. Donations are made to Voice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Inc.

www.woollyboo.com

Sue Marquette Poremba

Sue Marquette Poremba is a freelance writer based in State College, PA. She specializes in technology, engineering, energy, and IT security topics. She has also published over a dozen essays and is the author of a book about the Philadelphia Phillies.