I’ve compiled a list of my top 5 favorite green businesses for 2008. Its based on companies I found to be environmentally minded, innovative, and possessing the all important “cool” factor. I have written about some of these companies here and others are first timers to Buddhalabs.com
1) Terracycle - They use worm poop to create an effective certified organic fertilizer. Additionally, they use recycled soda bottles to package their fertilizer. They use society’s “garbage” to make a wonderful and useful product.
2) Repurposed material - There are a number of companies that take materials that would normally go into a landfill and create amazing products from them. These companies are producing cool things like clothing accessories, art, and office supplies. I have listed some of the discovered companies below. If I’ve left out any others let me know.
Ecoist - Makes chic purses and handbags from old candy wrappers and soda can tabs.
Passchal - Designs stylish eco-luxury bags from recycled tractor inner tubes
Alchemy Goods - Uses recycled bicycle inner tubes to make hipster cool messenger bags.
Resource Revival - Designs cool products like bottle openers, picture frames, clocks, and functional art from recycled bicycle parts.
Terracycle - Our top pick in this list also makes cool products like bags and binders out of used candy wrappers and CapriSun pouches.
3) Eco taxis - Pedal powered taxis, once mainstream, will be a boon to the environment. These colorful taxis are receiving growing consumer support in Europe and Asia. Its only a matter of time they appear in busy cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. In a number of cities, the taxis are either free or have a small fee. The taxis are mostly advertiser supported. Two pioneers are, Velotaxi and Eco Cab.
4) Natural Materials - Using naturally based materials/methods to replace traditional environmentally hazardous materials. Two really cool companies are pioneers in this area and there work could have a huge impact on the reduction of non-biodegradable material found in dumps.
Zelfo - Has a created a high performance plant based material to replace plastic.
Ecovative Designs - They use renewable agricultural waste resources to create a biodegradable replacement for Styrofoam applications. They call this Greensulate.
5) MyFarm - Having started an organic home delivery business, I was naturally curious and interested by this new San Francisco based startup. MyFarm uses crowdsourcing to create a network of “mini farmers” whose crops they harvest and then deliver to customers in their area. Its a decentralized form of community supported agriculture (CSA). The San Francisco Chronicle recently wrote an article about MyFarm.
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on Aug 27th, 2008 at 8:54 am
I have purchased purses from Ecoist and am in love with their products and their purpose. Any one who starts companies like any of these are doing a huge thing for us and our planet. I did not know about Terracycle until i clicked on this link on the Ecoist site. I work for an Orthodontist in Huntersville, NC and our office gives Capri Suns to our patients. WE have a fridge full of them at all times in our waiting room . I just signed up to start collecting them to recycle through the Terracycle site!!!! I am so thrilled to do my part. Keep it up everybody!!!
Sherry Smith
on Aug 29th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Sherry. I agree that Ecoist is one innovative company. Who would have thought you could make fashionable, chic, usable bags from candy wrappers and soda tabs? I’m glad you discovered Terracycle on my site and I hope you continue to find out about cool new companies and products. See you around!
-Ash