Eco-Choice Awards for Spring 2014
Most Innovative
Winner: Rubellery Jewelry
from Delight London (London, UK)
www.delightlondon.com
Designer Ros Weaver’s impressive line of rubber band jewelry took the Eco Choice Award as Most Innovative. The London-based Weaver says she has always enjoyed finding new uses for “humble things” and was especially inspired by a trip to Southern India with family where they stayed at a village surrounded by sustainable rubber tree plantations. As it turns out, the small plantations provided natural latex rubber for a nearby factory where 90% of the workforce was made up of local women. “These things are important to me as there’s no room in my life for exploitation of people – or our planet,” says Weaver, who is also the director of Delight London.
Particularly taken by the vibrant colors in India, including those on the rubber bands used in this village, Weaver came up with ”Rubellery”- a range of colorful fashion jewelry. Weaver says the jewelry appeals to all – “young people like the affordable bracelets, while the necklaces provide a bold and eye-catching uplift for outfits from casual to elegant.”
Notables
(Re)Bottled Oversized Glass from The Green Glass Company (Weston, WI)
www.greenglass.com
The oversized tumbler comes with a punt that proudly displays its origins: repurposed bottles saves from the North American waste stream, says Severine Zaslavski, co-owner of The Green Glass Company. The bottles are transformed instead of melted so the process uses a lot less energy. The tumblers offer a greener alternative to plastic bottles used at the desk or workstations. “In a field of great new designs, we are thrilled to receive recognition,” Zaslavski says.
Biodegradable Moso dinnerware from Zak Designs (Spokane, WA)
www.zak.com
“While we understand that many of our customers prefer environmentally friendly products, we also know that those products have to maintain a quality, functionality, and style that consumers demand,” says Irv Zakheim, Chairman and CEO of Zak Designs. The company’s new Moso line of dinnerware and serveware does just that. It is made from a patented process that combines 75 percent bamboo fiber to create a product that is durable and yet is also 100 percent biodegradable.