Spring 2013

Eco-Choice Awards for Spring 2013 By Sue Marquette Poremba

Most Sensitive Use of Materials

Winner

Coffee Wood Utensils From Sobremesa Greenheart (Chicago, IL)
www.sobremesasales.org

Sobremesa by Greenheart is based on Greenheart’s social and environmental initiative for global change. “After years of retail experience, we realized there was a need for high-end, sustainable tableware that supports artisans with both a fair wage and healthy working conditions,” says Valerie Brod, marketing manager.

Sobremesa by Greenheart won the 2013 Eco-Choice Award for Most Sensitive Use of Materials for its Coffee Wood Utensils. “We created this particular product because we knew we wanted a collection of hand-carved utensils that would stand out from the competition and that could complement the whole tabletop collection,” Brod says.

In Guatemala the main agricultural export is coffee – when the coffee trees mature and no longer provide the coffee yields that are required by the farm owners they are replaced by new seedlings. The artisans then transform this raw material that would otherwise have been discarded, into beautifully sculpted hand-carved utensils.

Notables

Recycled Aluminum Salad Servers from Acacia Creations (York, PA)
www.acacia-designs.com

This collection of recycled aluminum pieces reuses discarded aluminum items, like pots, pans and car parts, which would otherwise be discarded in Nairobi’s overflowing landfills. This product is purchased from a workshop in Nairobi that trains and employs marginalized Kenyans. The supplier sets the price, and is paid in advance. Acacia Creations, a member of the Fair Trade Federation, makes regular visits to the workshop to ensure that no child labor is involved, and that working conditions are fair.

Hand Sanitizer from What’s Hot Inc. from Frais Luxury (Australia)
www.whatshotinc.com

This hand sanitizer is made without harming the environment by utilizing all-natural, plant-based products. It is made from sugar care alcohol, through a process that uses less energy than the usual process of making alcohol from corn. The packaging is recyclable.

This company’s headquarters sources green power, such as wind and solar. It donates to Just a Drop, an organization helping countries access clean water.

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.