Spring 2011
Third Annual Eco-Choice Awards By Haley Shapley

Most Sensitive Use of Materials

Winner: Organic Teas by Teatulia

What farm-to-table is to food and bean-to-bar is to coffee, Teatulia is to tea, providing certified-organic tea directly from one garden. The 10 varieties include Black Tea, Bengal Breakfast Tea, and Ginger Herbal Infusion, and they all come from a cooperative garden in the north of Bangladesh, which provides locals a living wage and facilitates a number of community programs. “Most people have not enjoyed single-garden teas,” says Linda Appel Lipsius, co-founder and CEO at Teatulia. “There’s a freshness factor; it’s a different experience knowing exactly the farm or garden where your product comes from.” In keeping with socially responsible practices, all packaging from the Denver-based company is compostable and made from post-consumer paper and cardboard.

teatulia.com

NOTABLES

Old School Journals by Handmade Expressions

These journals and gift bags are manufactured of post-consumer recycled paper. Gathered from old notebooks, the paper is dipped in tea dye, giving each sheet its own aged look. All natural, they can be recycled and composted. This product line is made by an artisan cooperative in Jaipur, India, and represents the traditional art form of the region. Handmade Expressions is a member of the Fair Trade Federation.

handmadeexpressions.net

Floor pillows by Melange Collection

These pillows are produced from recycled materials—inner tubes, flour and coffee sacks—by an artisan group in Guatemala City. They are created under fair trade guidelines, creating sustainable income. The artisans set the price for their work. Working conditions are inspected to ensure that they are clean, well-ventilated, and lit. The group teaches young adults upholstery skills in order for them to develop working skills.