Headquartered in Steamboat Springs, Grass Sticks produces custom-made bamboo ski poles.
Grass Sticks / Photo courtesy
Dear Eartha, The waste that often comes with the holidays puts a brake on my festive spirit. How can I mitigate waste but still make the holidays more special for green-minded loved ones?
Beyond the heavy consumption and the myriad of plastic-based gifts that will inevitably spend the next thousand years in a landfill somewhere, there are many holiday gifts that put sustainability at the forefront. Here are some ideas.
Organic Image
Sold in some local stores, Picture Organics is a leader in the sustainable clothing and coat revolution. Each piece in the brand’s Expedition collection is made from organic shell fabric from sugar cane waste. Their jackets and snow pants are made of a recycled membrane without PFC comparable to GORE-TEX in terms of technical and waterproof protection. The key mission of Company B Corp is to fight climate change, noting that 7% of the world’s carbon emissions come from the textile industry. Thus, it uses sustainable and recycled materials in each of its products.
Cotopaxi
Another B Corp brand, Cotopaxi, has led the charge, producing 90% of its outerwear, backpacks and bags with recycled, reused or environmentally responsible material. The company has announced that next year, 100% of its products will meet one or all of these organic standards. One of its most useful items has met this criterion since day 1: the Bataan Del Dia waistband is lightweight and adapts to all the items needed for a quick Nordic or morning ski skin, including the phone, handkerchiefs , snack and some water. ampoule.
Eddie Bauer Astrolite Jacket
Designed for a highly aerobic, pocket-sized winter activity, the Astrolite is made from recycled materials. Eddie Bauer also certifies his feather jackets, which guarantee humane treatment to feather-producing animals, and recently announced a new sustainability roadmap with big green goals to achieve in the coming years. It aims to build all relevant products with materials approved 50% by Bluesign, ie a safe and sustainable textile production, organic or recycled cotton and recycled nylon or polyester by 2025 and 100% by 2030.
Sitka salmon stocks
Whether you’re skipping the traditional holiday turkey or hosting a crowd of fishermen, you’ll find it harder to find tastier seafood or harvest it more sustainably. Sitka is a small, community-supported group of small-scale fishermen who offer Alaskan seafood caught in the wild in biodegradable containers that include protective foam of frozen food made from cornstarch that dissolves completely in the ‘water. Each box of fish is labeled with the boat and the fisherman who caught it.
Miraflora Naturals
With all the cannabis products on the market, it’s hard to know where the sources come from. One of the few fully integrated CBD farms in Colorado, the Miraflora operations team oversees every step of the CBD extraction process from the seed planting phase. Boulder Farm grows organic hemp with fertilizer from 10 resident alpacas. Hemp flowers are harvested by hand and extracted into full-spectrum CBD oil, and then used to formulate pain-relieving ointments rich in CBD, sparkling water, dog chews, and relaxing bath pumps. , all excellent for stuffing socks.
Saola shoes
Saola is a pioneer in sustainable footwear and has recently added a pair of waterproof models to its collection (Women’s Mindo and Men’s Cannon). Soft, comfortable and easy to slide, you would never guess that these stitches are made from recycled plastic bottles (there are three to seven PET bottles that are used to create each pair). Other materials include cords of organic cotton, natural cork, and insoles / soles made of toxic algae foam harvested from lakes and rivers.
Grass sticks
Based in Steamboat Springs, Grass Sticks produces custom-made ski poles made of bamboo, which is much more sustainable than carbon fiber or aluminum, as well as being lightweight and strong. Per acre harvested, bamboo produces more oxygen and three times more material than trees and absorbs more CO2. Grass Sticks are also made from 100% recycled polyester straps and have an unlimited two-year warranty.
Chariteas
Working with sustainable tea farmers and Rainforest Alliance certified farms, Chariteas creates personalized and comforting winter tea blends and plants a tree with every purchase.
March
Regardless of the gifts you buy, this affordable wrapping paper is beautiful, durable, and 100% carbon neutral, as it is made entirely of post-consumer recyclable materials and is 100% recyclable.
Shauna Farnell
“Ask Eartha Steward” is written by the staff of the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation. Send questions to Eartha at info@highcountryconservation.org.
