Compostable Dinnerware

Fallen leaves from coconut palms are typically gathered and burned, but VerTerra (meaning true to the earth) saw an opportunity to create something both practical and beautiful. Now the leaves are steam-pressed into bowls, dinner plates, trays, and condiment containers sturdy enough for a BBQ and lovely enough for receptions. VerTerra can be microwaved or take oven heat of 350 degrees for as long as it takes to bake a pie. If hand-washed, it can also be reused. In the compost pile, its high nitrogen content makes the garden greener. The dinnerware degrades naturally in two months. Fair trade wages and sustainable production methods are used to harvest and process the fallen leaves. (verterra.com)

Better Ramen from Seaweed

Japanese Delight has come up with a healthful alternative to instant ramen: seaweed. Kombu seaweed is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It’s also low in calories and high in taste. Kombu is actually responsible for adding a fifth taste to the Japanese palate, that of umami, or savoriness. Japanese Delight cooks up in 10 minutes and comes in spicy, ginger, and garlic flavors. Some varieties combine the kombu with rice or glass noodles. All of these products have all-natural flavorings and no MSG. (japangoldusa.com)

Compostable Diapers

Annually, Americans use 18 billion disposable diapers, which translates into 82,000 tons of plastic and 1.3 million tons of wood pulp, or 250,000 trees. In landfills, disposable diapers remain intact for several hundred years.

Here’s an alternative: gDiapers, available in a colorful selection of washable cotton outer pants with waterproof, breathable liners. The diaper itself contains no chlorine, perfumes, or plastic and fits snuggly into the liner. These diapers can be flushed, composted, or tossed with good conscience in the trash, as they break down and return to the earth in 50 to 150 days. (gdiapers.com)

Family Farmed Teas

Grown in the Himalayas, ineeka organic tea is made using only the top two leaves plus the bud — the most nutritious and flavorful part of the tea plant. To preserve the freshness and enhance the experience, ineeka has developed a unique open tea bag that hooks to the sides of the cup so that petals and leaves unfurl, unrestricted, before your eyes and nose.

A variety of iced tea selections are also available, packaged in biodegradable sachets suitable for brewing a whole pot. This tea product supports 25,000 people on family farms, and ineeka gives away 10 percent of its profits to organizations both at home and abroad. (ineeka.com)

Waste less Spice

Smart Spice was started as a second career by two women who were concerned about two things: cooking, and the health and well-being of the earth. Together, they got the counterintuitive notion that buying in bulk isn’t always best. Spices, even when stored in cool, dark places, will rarely retain their potency beyond six months. So why buy ten times more spice than you can use in a six-month period?
The Smart Spice solution is to package spices in one-teaspoon packets. All the spices are organic and freshly ground. The individual packets are sold in tins of 12 teaspoons each, and there are lovely and affordable gift collections, perfect for foodies, newlyweds, and hosts. (tspspices.com)

Popsicle-like treats for grown-ups

Jim Picariello of Wise Acre developed Frosteas. “It’s not a Popsicle,” he stresses, because that’s a trademarked product. It’s a frozen tea treat for adults. But guess what? Kids love them, too. They are all organic teas, sweetened only with unrefined sweeteners such as wild honey and organic maple syrup. Try the Yerba Maté for a grown-up pick-me-up and the Cool Your Jets Herbal with chamomile, lemon balm, and spearmint for a cool and soothing kiddie snack. (wise-acre.com)