2 SMALL BUSINESSES RECOGNIZED FOR PLASTIC PRODUCT ALTERNATIVES

“No Plastics”: Vermont & California Companies in Business to Reduce Waste Win the People and Planet Award.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—June 20, 2019—Green America’s People & Planet Award recognized two small businesses offering innovative plastic-alternative products to help reduce plastic pollution, a growing problem globally. “No Plastics” was the theme of this award cycle, and the winners of the award and $5000 were Bee’s Wrap of Middlebury, Vermont, andbioDOGradable Bags of Lake Forest, California.

“This award highlights how businesses are responding to consumer demand to move away from single-use plastics and toward non-plastic options that are better for human and environmental health,” said Fran Teplitz, Green America’s executive co-director. “States and municipalities across the country have responded with new policies in response to the tectonic shift in consumer sentiment on plastic waste that remains in the environment for the long term.  These award winners demonstrate how businesses can play an important role in solving the ‘plastics problem’ through innovative products.”

The winning companies:

• Bee’s Wrap (Middlebury, VT). https://www.beeswrap.com/. Bee’s Wrap makes washable, reusable—and ultimately, fully biodegradable—food storage wraps, handcrafted in Vermont from just four natural ingredients: Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)-certified organic cotton, sustainably harvested beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin.
• bioDOGradable Bags (Lake Forest, CA). https://biodogradablebags.com/. bioDOGradable Bags makes compostable pet waste bags, which are USDA-certified, bio-based and 100% natural, using a patented vegetable blend to minimize pollution from single-use plastic products.

“Green America has been part of our business since the early days, and we’re honored to be winners,” said Sarah Kaeck, Bee’s Wrap founder and president. “We’ll be donating the entirety of our prize to 5 Gyres, our nonprofit partner dedicated to fighting plastic pollution in the ocean. As Bee’s Wrap grows, we’re excited to continue to introduce consumers to plastic-free alternatives in their homes, and simultaneously support nonprofit partners in advocacy and education to address the crisis of plastic pollution.”

 “We will be using the $5000 prize awarded by Green America to create a video advertisement with educational material on the greenwashing currently going on in the market,” said Veejay Patell, founder and CEO of bioDOGradable Bags. “It’s important to educate consumers on how to properly purchase an authentic environmentally-friendly product without being misled by brands and manufacturers.”

The next and final round of Green America’s award will be a celebration of the award’s history and will be open to any of the past People and Planet Award themes. The judges will pick the best of the best across every category and the public will vote to identify the top two winners.

The People & Planet Award recognizes innovative US small businesses that integrate environmental and social considerations into their strategies and operations. The winners were selected by the public during a month-long online voting period.

The businesses that the public vote on are determined by public nominations and an expert panel of judges:  Justin Conway, Calvert Impact Capital; Tess O’Brien, Clean Power Perks, Erlene Howard, Collective Resource, Inc., Dale Luckwitz, Happsy.com; Jonathan Reinbold, Organic Valley; Martin Wolf, Seventh Generation; and  Beth Porter, Scott Kitson and Fran Teplitz of Green America.

ABOUT GREEN AMERICA

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems. www.GreenAmerica.org and www.greenbusinessnetwork.org