Green Companies To Love & Support!

(OK, this post is long overdue....but better late than never!)

By far the best event I attended while in NYC for BlogHer last month, was the Green Blogger Soiree.  It was a private party (not officially associated with BlogHer) that was hosted by Kathy of SafeMama (an amazing resource for info on child safety and eco-friendly products) and the (sadly now defunct) 3 Green Angels. 

The best part of the party was meeting up with my green blogging buds - both new friends and old.  But a very close second was the chance to meet and speak with the owners of a bunch of wonderful, small green businesses.  As you may have heard, BlogHer itself is mostly about big brands - the kinds that can pay many thousands of dollars in sponsorship fees.  The Green Blogger Soiree was an effort to highlight smaller, environmentally-friendly companies that could never afford BlogHer.  By all accounts, the Green Blogger Soiree was a huge success!! (even the food - which should not go unmentioned!)  I sincerely hope that someone (who will it be??) organizes one for next year!

I'd like to tell you about a few of the companies at the event that particularly stood out for me.  (For a full list of all the sponsors at the Green Blogger Soiree, read the recap post on SafeMama.)

Kinderville - A quest for toxin-free food storage was behind this company's beginning. Now they've got a whole line up of silicone-based products including cups, plates, Popsicle molds and my favorite...little bites storage jars! We've been using them for snacks but the silicone lids make an air-tight seal! (they are also micro, freezer & dishwasher safe!)

Zoe b Organic - I had the pleasure of meeting Valerie, the Mom behind this business, at the Green Soiree.  She was super excited to show off her prototype of the first ever biodegradable beach toys (available soon)!  She also sells Natursutten natural rubber pacifiers and the amazing, unbreakable kidishes.

Hopscotch Kids - A "kid-centric" line of water-based nail polish invented by a Phoenix Mom who wanted non-toxic play cosmetics for her kids.  Since I have a house full of boys, I passed on my free sample of Eenie Meenie Miney Moe (green) to my niece.  The cute packaging makes for a great gift!

Lunapads - This cool company which is all about "eco positive periods", was founded in 1993 by two women who wanted to provide better health for women and the planet. Their brightly colored pads and pantiliners almost make getting your monthly something to look forward to.

Global Green Pals - With names like Carbon Offset Chet and Clean Air Kate, these soft dolls are already hip.  Add to that the fact that they are made with Oeko-Tex certified organic cotton and stuffed with recycled PET bottle stuffing and these are the coolest dolls in town!  I'm thinking Christmas already....

I hope you will join me in supporting these and other small, green companies when ever you can.  Your dollars make a difference!!

Comments

[Green Bean]

What a great post! As important as it is to buy less, it is important to spend the dollars we do spend wisely - supporting burgeoning companies hoping to make a difference and offering quality products. Thanks!

[gc@hopscotchkids.com]

Thank you Micaela for highlighting Hopscotch Kids. It truly was a pleasure to meet you all at the Green Blogger Soiree. So nice to have moms like you out there researching and writing about the newest, latest, safest products out there for our lil ones. I'm like most moms - just trying to do the best I can. I love that I can refer to sites like yours to get the best information. Hope to see you again soon! Blessings, Ginny (Hopscotch Mom)

[Lindsey Marston]

We are a green company just starting out in Vancouver, BC, Canada. We specialize in bamboo and organic cotton clothing for children. We will be launching our website this weekend!

http://www.littlebambino.ca

http://www.littlebambinochildrenswear.blogspot.com