Here are examples of companies that combine green values with green revenues. Read on to learn about Terracycle (NJ), Green Toys (CA), Watson Furniture Group (WA), Acorn Designs (NY), Maple XO jewelry (OR), Stack and Stick (IN.) I thank them for their initial support of ecobly.com!

www.terracycle.net
Trenton, New Jersey
Press contact: James Artis, 302-858-8448

Tom Szaky, a 25-year old entrepreneur and Princeton University dropout, founded TerraCycle his freshman year. The company debuted its revolutionary worm poop plant food packages in reused soda bottles in 2005. TerraCycle products are the first consumer products to earn the right to carry the Zerofootprint™ seal. The seal signifies that the materials and manufacturing process used to produce its products have virtually no negative environmental repercussions. Terracycle is committed to local production, making most of its products in Trenton, New Jersey, supporting underserved communities with good jobs and reinvestments

"Can any product be made entirely from waste? I think yes," said Tom Szaky, founder-CEO of Terracycle, the start-up that ingeniously found a way to market worm poo in reused plastic bottles. After all, "what is garbage? Garbage is a man-made idea. It doesn't exist in nature." Here are the facts: According to the EPA, using recycled materials instead of virgin materials to make new products yields a 40 percent to 60 percent savings in energy use.

Terracycle embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of the new generation of green manufacturers. They look an unconventional waste streams – like unrecyclable waste – and dream up ways to make new products, keeping them out of the waste stream and giving consumers alternatives to virgin products. Their offerings are as varied as a product line with Office Max to worm poop to rainbarrels.

www.greentoys.com
San Francisco, California
Press contact: Kirk Green, 949-292-1331  

Green Toys Inc. provides consumers with an environmentally friendly and safe alternative to traditional plastic toys while making an effort to improve and preserve the world around us. Green Toys Inc. offers fun, classic toys for kids that are derived from 100% recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. Green Toys’ innovative products promote recycling, reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions, save energy, and increase the overall health and happiness of the planet.

The recycled plastic used to create Green Toys brand toys has a direct, positive impact on the environment. Green Toys Inc. strives to bring environmental practices to all aspects of its business. As such, Green Toys’ products are made in the USA. In fact, all aspects of its toy production, including material sourcing, manufacturing, package printing, product assembly, and fulfillment, occur in California. The close proximity of Green Toys’ vendors and operations eliminate unnecessary transportation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Green Toys uses plastic milk containers that are collected curbside from consumer recycling bins in California. These milk containers are reprocessed into super clean fresh plastic.

www.watsonfurniture.com
Poulsbo, Washington
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Watson Furniture Group is an innovative manufacturer and distributor of advanced furniture for businesses, educational and government facilities, and 24/7 emergency response centers. The company’s three operating divisions – Watson Desking, Watson Dispatch, and Activewerks – are recognized leaders in their distinct markets. As a Northwest manufacturer since 1960, Watson’s heritage embodies unwavering commitment to quality manufacturing, customer service, and responsibility – toward its employees, neighbors, and the environment

Located in Poulsbo, Washington, Watson Furniture Group boasts an impressive track record of resource conservation. From its “green facilities” to local suppliers and sustainable materials, the company’s owners and employees have taken an active approach to environmental stewardship, and a leading role in reducing workplace waste and toxins. As part of its low-impact manufacturing practices, Watson uses textiles made from 100% recycled materials, packages its shipments with reusable blankets, and uses sugar for sandblasting. Watson notes that its reputation as a green manufacturer has had a dramatically positive effect on its sales.

Surprisingly, Watson manufactures its European-inspired office furnishings with waste material collected from the floors of regional mills and lumber facilities. “We haven’t shied away from this material or pursued fads like agri-boards or bamboo,” said Clif McKenzie, President of Watson Furniture Group, “which come with their own environmental issues. We’re proud to continue crafting recycled materials, which would otherwise end up in landfills, into beautiful, useful products that last for the long haul.”

www.acorndesigns.org
Trumansburg, New York
Press contact:  Steve Sierigk, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Acorn Designs was started in 1981 by wildlfe artist/ecologist Steve Sierigk embracing the principles of sustainability wherever possible. Acorn currently works with over 30 artists to offer a diverse array of styles inspired by nature. They produce notecards, journals, stationery and more using the most eco-friendly papers they can find. They currently use high post-consumer recycled papers and our printing is done with vegetable-based inks.

Acorn Designs sells products across the country to stores that appreciate their commitment to the environment and high standards for designs – National Parks, Nature Centers, Natural Food Stores, Book Stores and more. All of their notecard and journal imagery is accompanied by natural history stories. Find products at their website, www.acorndesigns.org. The company recently began offering products to groups looking for eco-friendly fundraising idea. 

www.maplexo.com
Portland, OR
Press contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Lindsay Jo, the artist behind MapleXO jewelry, is a pioneer in making treasure from trash! She crafts gorgeous, hip bracelets and earrings from recycled skateboards. Each piece is unique as no two used skateboards are the same. With the motto, “Save landfill space in style” you know MapleXO is an exemplary ecobly business! Each piece is handcrafted with many color variations from subtle and sweet to loud and crazy. These earrings hang freely from sterling silver ear wires so they can spin around to reveal both sides. Styles vary from edgy hoops, to rounded hoops, to wavy hoops. The original skateboard graphic covers the backside of these earrings along with the grind marks and scratches from the previous life of the skateboard. The front side of these earrings reveal the layers in the middle of the board with amazing color and tones.

www.stackandstick.com
Goshen, IN
Press contact: Andy Peters, 574-536-9759

For three generations, the Peters family has produced skilled woodsmen and, now, produce safe and durable Stack & Stick block sets. Proudly manufactured in the United States, Stack & Stick blocks are manufactured from the scrap wood of large furniture and cabinet manufacturers, preventing it from going into landfills. Stack & Stick blocks are small in size so the waste from these works perfectly. They use and collect from only two companies who use premium white hard maple. This is a grade of select and better, the best grade you can buy.

All Stack and Stick materials and supplies come from USA suppliers. They use premium lumber and manufacture a high end quality product – safety tested, award winner, and chemical free. No dyes, stains, or chemicals.