(All photos by Zoe Jennings unless stated otherwise.)

’Tis the season for frantically buying your loved ones Amazon gifts. But what if your hard-earned money went back into the community and not toward a wealthy CEO’s second yacht? We’ve curated a shopping guide for the perfect holiday gifts from our favorite local brands. Our guide features gift ideas found on the shelves of locally owned shops in Boulder County or on the websites of local businesses. We hope you enjoy what the many makers of Colorado have to offer, but the real joy will be in purchasing a gift that you know will positively impact the community around you. From sustainability to LGBTQIA+ rights to bringing joy, each business in our guide has their own noble reasons for putting their craft out into the community. Each store owner had a wonderful story to share and was proud to point out their locally sourced merchandise.

Angie of Angie Star Jewelry poses in her Pearl Street store next to her jewelry.

Cozmo the bird hangs out in Angie Star Jewelry.

Angie Star Jewelry was just one of many stops I made to local stores, with Cozmo the bird, Penny the dog, and Angie the human greeting me as I walked in. Angie Star Jewelry, nestled within the many shops on Pearl Street in Boulder, sells silver handmade jewelry made with ethically sourced materials. Both sturdy and beautiful, the jewelry is displayed alongside delightful decorations like sand dollars, sea shells, and wonderful brass display vessels. Angie has a welcoming energy and told me that she’s lucky that she and her mom, a retired nurse, are so close. Together they run the Pearl Street store and an additional store in Fort Collins. Angie is glad that her mom can work with her and slow down from her busy days as a nurse.

Housegoods

Mugs from Longs Peak Ceramics, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Made by hand in Longmont, these unique mugs and bowls from Longs Peak Ceramics are microwave and dishwasher safe. Longs Peak Ceramics is honest about the fact that their pieces are not flawless but are all one of a kind and not mass produced.

Grizzly Bear Mercantile cozy blanket. Photo courtesy of Lynn Starkman.

Grizzly Bear Mercantile adult and baby blankets can take tough love and are made with soft, minky fabric and attention to detail. Blankets come in various sizes, with premade options.

A bird feeder from Beyond Nature Co. Photo courtesy of Kayla Eggemeyer.

Personal Care Products

Rooted with Ali 3-in-1 spray, dry shampoo, magnesium butter, magnesium spray, sugar scrubs, lotion bars, and lip balms sold at Local Goods Colorado in Lafayette.

Rooted with Ali is a women-owned business in Loveland creating conscious skincare products. Products are made with natural, organic, and wildcrafted ingredients and packaged sustainably. These products are safe for those with skin conditions, with therapeutic-grade essential oils and scents derived from wildcrafted herbs.

Bars of soap from Muddy Mint Soap Co., sold at Maker General in Longmont.

Soaps from Muddy Mint are handmade in Longmont using palm oil-free, all-natural ingredients.

Colorado Aromatics soap, lip balm, and face & body mist, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop.

Derived from ingredients grown on a Longmont farm, Colorado Aromatics skincare products are made to serve the skincare needs of people living in the Colorado climate. With antioxidant-rich herbs, these products help heal the damaging effects from the sun.

Bee-Och Organics body oil, body butter, sugar scrub, sun sticks, and deodorant, sold at Local Goods Colorado.

Headquartered in Fort Lupton, Bee-Och Organics is a woman-owned business specializing in small batch-crafted, cruelty-free, gluten-free, vegan products. There are zero-waste and refillable options for products at their main store.

Yarrow Field and Farm bars of soap, sold at Local Goods Colorado.

Yarrow Field and Farm encourages a soft lifestyle with small batch, natural, botanical skincare products, crafts, and vintage finds.

Magic Fairy Candles bath bombs. Photo taken at Canova Home in Boulder.

With their main store in Longmont, Magic Fairy Candles has a fun, witchy vibe. Selling all-natural soy candles and body products, they sell small batch goods crafted with the intention of unifying love for the journey of every human experience.

Candles

Candelaria candles at Vintrey Honest Goods in Lafayette.

These handmade candles are crafted in the Santa Fe District of Denver. Candelaria’s owner has worked in the candle industry for 15 years and shares that knowledge through educational experiences offered at their store.

Fleetwood Candle Co. candles at Local Goods Colorado in Lafayette.

Fleetwood Candle Co. of Denver is a relatively new business started by a former special education teacher who used art as an outlet when teaching went remote during the pandemic. The candles are bright, fun, and inspired by nature.

Spruced Hen candles, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Spruced Hen Candle Co. draws inspiration from the owner’s Longmont farm. The hand-poured candles and melts are 100 percent soy wax, additive-free, phthalate-free fragrances, and have cotton wicks.

Light Provisions candles, sold at Vintrey Honest Goods in Lafayette.

Inspired by a deep appreciation of cocktails and earthy scents, Light Provisions specializes in artisanal candles to set a peaceful tone in your house. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, the candles are hand poured into reusable vessels.

Clothing

Moore shirts, sweat shirts, and bags, sold at Vintrey Honest Goods in Lafayette.

Inspired by the Colorado landscape, Moore is a family-owned business selling high-quality clothing with hand-drawn designs.

Topo Designs beanies, sold at Vintrey Honest Goods in Lafayette.

Topo Designs began in a Fort Collins basement and has grown into a well-known company creating well-made gear for outdoor adventures.

Food and Drinks

Backyard Bev Co cocktail syrups, sold at Vintrey Honest Goods.

Backyard Bev Co offers a natural, handcrafted option for your cocktails. With Colorado-sourced, full-spectrum CBD, this mixer may actually help you feel refreshed the next day.

Conscious Coffees whole coffee beans, sold at Vintrey Honest Goods.

Based in Boulder, Conscious Coffees lives up to its name by paying above fair trade prices to support farmer cooperatives.

Fatworks premium cooking oil, ghee clarified butter, and chicken fat organic cooking oil, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Out of Longmont, Fatworks is tackling the narrative that fat is bad for you. Made from pasture-raised, non-GMO animals without antibiotics or hormones, Fatworks’ cooking fats are designed to help create a healthy, balanced diet.

Yummy Lotus blackberry serrano lime jam, strawberry grapefruit jam, kiwi poblano jam, strawberry ghost pepper jam, mango habanero jam, and blueberry reaper jam, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Headquartered in Denver, Yummy Lotus offers locally crafted vegan and gluten-free jams made with fresh ingredients in small batches.

Green Belly Foods yellow, red, and green hot sauces, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Inspired by his mom’s traditional Guatemalan hot sauces, Green Belly Foods’ Juan Ignacio Stewart went from selling hot sauces from a tent at the local market to a larger-scale operation.

Whole bean coffees from Traction Coffee Roasters, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

The founders of Traction Coffee Roasters thought up the idea for their coffee roasting company after a mountain bike ride. Their main goal is to make real, authentic coffee.

Venus Spice Co. za’atar premium spice blend, hawaij warming spice blend, shawarma seasoning and rub, sold by Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Noga, the name of the planet Venus in Hebrew, and partner, Kyle, created Venus Spice Co., a Boulder-based spice company specializing in the Middle Eastern flavors of Noga’s family’s recipes and traditions.

Bee Grateful Farm salted honey caramels and lavender honey caramels, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Bee Grateful Farm caramels are handcrafted at a natural vegetable farm in Steamboat Springs.

Stores selling local goods

Vintrey Honest Goods in Lafayette.

Vintrey Honest Goods is inspired by travel and socially conscious consumerism. Through strategic partnership, they aim to abolish human trafficking and uplift oppressed people. The store sells consciously curated household, fashion, and jewelry options. They sell several Colorado brands.

Wolf & Wren Press in Longmont.

Owned by best friends, Wolf & Wren Press combines the traditional art of letterpressing to meet your modern design and printing needs. A portion of their profits goes toward supporting organizations that are creating positive change for the environment.

Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Shop over 100 Colorado brands at Bricks Local Gift Shop for gifts, souvenirs, food, home goods, and more.

Local Goods Colorado in Lafayette.

Local Goods Colorado sells all local merchandise and aims to build relationships with all makers while also promoting community with customers.

Canova Home in Boulder.

Working with local artists and international fair trade groups to bring unique pieces, Canova Home brings unique home, art, jewelry, and more to Pearl Street.

Lula Faye Fiber in Boulder.

Fighting against the fast-moving cycle of fast fashion, Lula Faye Fiber offers handmade textiles that makers can use and then will be returned back to the earth. The store sells locally produced textiles.

Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Created in 1993, Two Hands Paperie is a family-owned business selling journals, paper, notebooks, books, cards, art supplies, decorations, and more. The store makes products in house and sells local brands.

Maker General in Longmont.

Maker General is intended to be a “general store” for creatives and makers who work with textiles and fibers. They sell gifts and supplies and offer a variety of maker workshops and classes meant to encourage the creative spirit in the community.

Art

Daniele Gold of Mountainside Acrylics holding one of her psychedelic watercolor paintings. Photo courtesy of Daniele Gold.

Daniele Gold of Denver-based Mountainside Acrylics is an acrylic and graphic artist specializing in feminine, psychedelic, and traveling-inspired art. Selling prints, paintings, and custom designs, each piece combines abstract concepts with the beauty of nature.

Uptripping art, sold at Local Goods Colorado in Lafayette.

Located in Winter Park, Uptripping reflects the global and adventurous lifestyle of its creators.

Chalkboard painting by Grey Grimm, sold at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Specializing in oil, charcoal, watercolor chalkboard design, digital illustration, and murals, Grey Grimm sells art and is available for commissions.

Stickers and prints from Geranium Studio Shop, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop.

Created by two friends hoping to bring joy to others, Geranium Studio Shop sells watercolor art inspired by Colorado landscapes.

Engraved decorative sign by Vicki Riedel, who has three businesses: Green Hen Designs, Rock N Creations, and Riedel Enterprises. Photo courtesy of Vicki Riedel.

Green Hen Designs, Rock-N-Creations, and Riedel Enterprises, operating out of Erie, provide engraving needs for both commercial and personal purposes.

Nisha Fine Art painting. Photo courtesy of Nisha Ghela.

Landscape paintings, both small and large, along with little printed notecards from Nisha Fine Art turn Colorado’s natural beauty into art, perfect for gift giving.

Bird house made by Peter Buwalda of Buwalda Fine Art Studio. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Buwalda.

Art Supplies

Art supplies sold at the Art Parts Creative Reuse Center in Boulder.

The Art Parts Creative Reuse Center in Boulder was founded to help reduce waste. Art Parts has helped keep over 188,000 pounds of creative materials out of landfills. With any art supplies you might need, you can make a local gift at a cheap price without adding more waste to the world.

Paper Cuts Press pencils, sold at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Upcycling and repurposing is the motto at Papercuts Press, which makes fun gifts out of repurposed material.

Coy Ink Studio water coloring and postcards kits, sold at Maker General in Longmont.

Longmont artist Amanda Maldonado of Coy Ink Studio is not only passionate about community and accessibility to art but sells handcrafted pen, ink, and watercolor art.

Wools from High Country Wool, sold at Lula Faye Fiber in Boulder.

Dedicated to connecting people to the land, High Country Wool dyes and handles the wool in a way that makes the wool light, airy, and full of life.

Nanci Hill Feeney Roll-up Caddy, sold at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Nanci Hill Feeney’s roll-up caddies hold pencils, pens, and brushes in fun roll-up containers. For online orders, email nancihillfeeney@gmail.com. Nanci doesn’t have a dedicated website, but can receive order requests through email.

Handmade paper sold and made at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Two Hands Paperie makes paper from recycled t-shirts for your stationery needs.

Cards and Stickers

Sweet & Snarky Greetings cards, sold at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Want a sweet card, a snarky card, or maybe both? Longmont-based, eco-friendly greeting card company has you covered. Sweet & Snarky Greetings creates the fun content and art on their cards.

New parents and gender confirmation cards from Ladyfingers Letterpress, sold at Maker General on Longmont.

Lady Fingers Letterpress is a queer, trans-owned and operated business selling stationery, cards, and gifts out of Colorado Springs. Award winning, Lady Fingers uses their platform to support and create cards promoting women’s, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and immigrant rights.

Customizable cards at Wolf & Wren Press in Longmont.

Wolf & Wren Press designs holiday cards in house at their Longmont shop.

Stickers made and sold by Wolf & Wren Press in Longmont.

Shop the many fun and colorful stickers made by Wolf & Wren Press in Longmont. The stickers are designed in the shop.

Holiday cards made and sold by Wolf & Wren Press in Longmont.

Holiday cards sold and made at Wolf & Wren Press in Longmont.

Decorations

arubymoon wood block print prayer flags, sold at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder.

Inspired by Tibetan prayer flags, arubymoon makes gratitude and grief flags, cards, and prints with the intention to inspire people to connect, create, and honor life.

Decorative banners, made and sold at Two Hands Paperie.

Made from upcycled saris, tassel banners sold and made at Two Hands Paperie can be strung up, worn, and adored.

Plants

Plants sold at Green Pony Houseplants & Vintage in Louisville.

Furniture

Custom-made table and chairs built in Dancing Grains Woodworks in Boulder.

Dancing Grains Woodworks handcrafts custom-made products out of high-quality wood. The store features already made products and slabs of wood that can be chosen for custom pieces.

Vanier Contour chair. Photo courtesy of Blake Vanier.

A locally run startup, Vanier Contour chairs are handbuilt. The floating slat provides a perfectly contouring sitting experience no matter what position.

Jewelry

Fleetwood Candle Co. earrings, sold at Local Goods Colorado in Lafayette.

Born out of the dark times of Covid, Fleetwood Candle Co. makes fun and colorful earrings too.

Turquoise and silver jewelry sold at Angie Star Jewelry in Boulder.

Jewelry at Angie Star Jewelry includes both silver jewelry and beaded jewelry and malas.

Earrings from Ammonite Swirls, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop.

The husband and wife duo of Ammonite Swirls sell their handmade jewelry to pay for rent, car payments, and food for their cats. They run their ecologically friendly business in addition to their jobs working as a musician and conservationist.

Rubarb Jewelry earrings, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Friends Ruth and Barb became friends and quickly started making jewelry together. Rubarb Jewelry handmakes simple but elegant jewelry.

Pets

Winnie Lou the Canine Co. Berry Boost Bones and Carrot Doggie Treat, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Winnie Lou started as a food truck and now brings dog products made from Colorado farms to fur families all over the state. Only real, whole foods are used in their products.

Suzie’s CBD Treats Original, Apple, and Pumpkin Bites, sold at Bricks Local Gift Shop in Longmont.

Does your dog deserve to chill out? Suzie’s CBD Treats offers many yummy products for your animals containing CBD grown on their Fort Collins farm.

Local Shops Online

Holiday Markets & Fundraisers

Memberships to Makerspaces

The artists and makers in your life may appreciate memberships to local makerspaces as gifts.

Tools and warehouse space are available to members of The Gizmo Dojo makerspace in Northglenn.

The Gizmo Dojo: A makerspace located in Northglenn. Memberships start at hobbyist level at $50 a month for those looking to do personal projects enthusiast level at $100 for those who will be more involved at the dojo, and small business level for $250 for those wanting to sell products out of the dojo. All levels include 24/7 access to the building.

TinkerMill warehouse for makers is open 24/7 to members.

TinkerMill: Located in Longmont, members get full access to the workshop space, discounted classes, 24/7 access, voting rights, and reservations. Memberships available for $30 dollars a month for people with limited income, $60 for individuals, $90 for a bundle good for five people, and $120 for a corporate bundle of five employees.

Small businesses donate 250 percent more than large business counterparts to community causes. Over $9.3 billion would be returned to our economy if every U.S. family spent just $10 a month at a local business. Maybe this year our holiday season can mean more than convenience. Purchases from local businesses can pay for the lives of those around you and go toward causes that make our community better.

The post Community over CEOs: Local Retail Guide 2022 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Photo: The Tea Spot

Boulder County food producers are taking the lead in a new line of attack against waste. Their approach will be new as they’re looking at pollution reduction through packaging that will be supported, in part, by a $100,000 Boulder County grant.

“As far as I know, this is the first EPS Pollution Prevention grant program that focuses on addressing issues in the supply chain for food and beverage industries,” said Tim Broderick, Senior Sustainability Strategist for Boulder County. “We’re looking beyond the end-of-life diversion to the landfill. We want to collaborate with companies and look at how products are designed.”

The hospitality business responded with enthusiasm. “We received more than 30 applicants from eligible companies. They had so many great ideas that we enlarged our participant spots from 3 to 5,” said Broderick. Even the county contributed an extra $5,000 to accommodate the larger capacity.

Future Fit Foods (FIF) of Longmont and Boulder is one of these eager participants. Co-founder Paloma Lopes, formerly the Sustainability Director for Kellogg, said her company is focused on creating a new generation of nutrient-dense, affordable, and plant-based convenience foods for consumers. Their products aim to be even better-made than the food has been in the past. 

Lopes shared that the company is using the grant money to evolve packaging for its Suppas line of products. These nutrition-packed, wholesome soups are made for people to pack and take with them on the road, or to cook in their own kitchens. While the product is top line, company management felt the packaging could be improved by making it easier to compost.

“We’re looking really hard at the best possible packaging. We want something that’s easier to compost so we’re looking at replacing the corrugated box with a reusable sleeve,” said Lopes. The new sleeve is reusable more than once, and Lopes claims it can be used as many as 20 times. With that usage, it’s been shown to reduce carbon emissions by 80% versus using cardboard. 

Suppas Re-Pack. Photo: Future Fit Foods

Confirming the packaging that works best and determining how to implement the change takes research, planning, and time. The same research is also used by The Tea Spot, an online tea retailer with a Louisville warehouse. The retailer has been in business since 2004. 

Anna Brumbaugh, sourcing and customs project manager, discussed the company’s status as a B Corp and the fact that it donates 10 percent of revenue to wellness initiatives. “It was a natural transition for us to focus on our impact,” said Brumbaugh. She explained that management was already looking to improve its packaging but had to consider how their tea is shipped and that some of it is meant to be aged, but still needed to retain its flavor profile.

“We needed something with good integrity,” Brumbaugh said. “Ultimately, we chose a compostable stand-up pouch that has our tea sachets in it. We’re now looking for material to overwrap the tea satchel.” She is particularly grateful to participate because of her roots. “I grew up in Boulder. I was born and raised here, I was an ‘Eco Elf’ in first grade. I know this community provides the perfect environment to have an initiative like this.”

Lopes agreed, “We could have founded our business anywhere, but we chose Boulder County because the collaborative nature of this food ecosystem in Boulder is hard to beat. This area has led a movement in natural foods and recycling. It’s great to see that we’re not just stopping there and that there is an appetite in our community to pursue superior, long-term, circular packaging solutions like reusability and compostability.”

Ideally, this program will do more than reduce waste as it deters trash from entering the landfill. Its carbon-positive behavioral footprint will be bigger, setting a pattern for other innovative endeavors going forward. “In the end, we’d even like to make a replicable program that goes beyond packaging,” said Broderick. “We’d love to see what this community can do.”

The post Packaging with Promise: Food businesses look at sustainable packaging with the help of a grant from Boulder County | Foodie appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

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Let’s be Clear: We’re in a bad way. Mother Earth gave us a home and we trashed it. These local businesses are trying to clean up.

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It took us a little while to realize that humanity’s glorious inventions of the past created cataclysmic climate change for the future. The consequences, now, are obvious and worsening. As water levels rise, temperatures spike to new highs or plummet to new lows, and more animal species go extinct or become endangered, one thing is clear: the damage is done, and everyone on earth is paying the price. Generations to come are doomed. Or…are they?

.On a positive note, there absolutely is hope for the earth’s future and – if the local business community has a say – we’re going to save the earth. With the awareness that we need to pitch in to avert disaster, people are stepping up. Boulder’s fame as an environmentally friendly city is widespread, so it’s no surprise that startups focusing on combating climate change are founded here. The folks who found these eco-friendly companies are driven by a passion to lend Mother Nature a helping hand. Some create products made to reduce the impact we have on the environment. Some tweak commonplace items to make them eco-friendly. These businesses incorporate efficient and low impact ideas in every way, from offering employees bus passes to creating an office space with bamboo floors.

.These companies are B Corporation certified, or aiming to be. B Corporations “meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.” There are currently 2,788 companies with the coveted certification. Startups, large and public companies, and related entities can apply online, and they must meet certain legal requirements and complete an assessment. It is a serious process with high standards. Some environmentally friendly companies in Colorado are B Corp certified, and rightfully proud to be..

Ocean First.

Let’s dive in with Ocean First (pun intended), the place to get dive certified! Boulder seems like the last place you’d learn to scuba dive, considering Colorado is landlocked. Like most sports, Colorado is an amazing place for this sport for endurance training, especially for lungs. Ocean First, located off South Broadway, provides dive certifications and swimming lessons to children and adults. While their B-certified building appears small, Ocean First’s commitment to the environment is anything but. The solar panels outside are the first eco-friendly indication, followed by the interior bamboo floors, low VOC painted walls, and LED lights. “We did a retrofit of our pool, so it filters out more contaminants allowing us to use a lot less chemicals” pointed out Marlee Glasgow, marketing director of Ocean First. “We use bromine instead of chlorine, which is less harsh on skin and the environment.”

Ocean First knows the importance of educating kids about marine conservation and environmentalism. “We have a big emphasis as a company on youth education so kids can become ocean stewards early on,’ Glasgow said. When they organize group trips, they minimize their carbon footprint by working with companies in other countries that embrace the same environmentally friendly principles.  Events at Ocean First feature cuisine served with compostable products. The company adopted a section of the diagonal highway, where they host cleanups. Employees receive a subsidized eco pass, and many participate in bike to work day. Ocean First supports other environmentally friendly companies in the community, like Refill Revolution, to get supplies for events..

Speaking of Refill Revolution….

Brittney LaGesse founded Refill Revolution, which sells sustainably packaged household items, clothing, pet accessories, body care products, and more. LaGesse is passionat about reducing waste and embracing business tactics that enable others to do the same. Some of the products are delivered in pouches that consumers can send back after use..

A pioneer in eco-friendly product innovation is Eco Products. The Boulder based company, founded in 1990, creates food service disposable products including cups, plates, and silverware. All of their products are made from recycled materials, and many are compostable. The company’s founders saw the enormous potential in the oxymoronic-sounding industry of “sustainable disposables.” They now supply products to local restaurants, coffee shops, and other companies throughout Boulder..

The Sink Boulder.

Did I just hear myself mention restaurants and pioneers in eco-friendly innovation in Boulder? Why yes, yes I did. One of the establishments without which Boulder would not be Boulder is The Sink. This local gethering spot has been around for over 90 years and offers food and drink while embracing sustainable economic practices. Since 2006, The Sink has used wind power exclusively, and in so doing has reduced its power consumption drastically. The establishment cuts back on water consumption by using low-flow fixtures, low flow sprayers, water efficient dishwashers and 100% waterless urinals. But there’s more: as a part of their standard business model each department uses only compostable or recyclable disposables. They actively recycle and they use high efficiency lighting throughout our restaurant. Lastly, The Sink is cooled in the summer by an evaporative cooling system. Feel better about your burger and beer when you enjoy it at The Sink!.

I and Love and you.

Pets can reduce their carbon pawprint when their owners buy food from “I and Love and You.” The young company conducts business from an office committed to using 100% environmentally friendly cleaning and office supplies. Employees participate in bike to work day. The ingredients found in their cat and dog food are locally sourced as often as possible. Betsy Vajtay, a member of the sustainability committee at “I and Love and You,” pointed out the limitations that come with selling food-based products. “We need to provide packaging to protect the product, but we are looking at improvements and ways to lower our carbon footprint.” They continuously make strides to be more environmentally friendly, and already offer products with non-GMO ingredients and meat from free-range, grass-fed animals.

A founder of “I and Love and You” went on to build The Pet Sustainability Coalition, a Boulder-based company that helps the pet industry become more environmentally friendly. This startup tracks progress of member companies and ensures they follow sustainable practices.

Pellman’s

Although driving doesn’t come to mind as the first way to be eco-friendly (and in fact, we have to get more cars off the road *cough RTD cough*), there are great, green choices. Pellman’s Auto in Boulder can make your car ownership a more environmentally conscious choice. Pellman’s auto is a conscientious choice when it comes to maintaining your vehicle. They’re passionate about caring for the environment and are proud to be a leader in the automotive repair industry for operating a “Green Auto Repair” shop. They have a 194 solar panel array to power their 100% solar powered green facility. They’re certified zero-waste, and they utilize paperless inspection processes while being leaders in recycling and composting. We’re all for reducing cars on the roads, but if you still need yours, this is the spot to go for a positive earth impacy mechanic.

The Tea Spot

The Tea Spot is, appropriately, an ideal place for a spot of tea, and another local business embracing environmentally friendly practices. The Tea Spot is a certified B Corp, rightfully so as they use biodegradable tea sachets that they make in house to reduce their carbon footprint. Abigayle Metcalf, a customer service representative for the Tea Spot, mentioned that their Steepware line is “lead and cadmium free” and an “environmentally friendly choice for tea consumers considering the lack of unnecessary packaging and extra labor needed for normal pre-packaged teas.”

John’s Cleaners

Many consider environmental impact when deciding where to drop off their dry cleaning. The environment gives its stamp of approval to John’s Cleaners, a dry cleaner entirely powered by solar. While there are multiple locations throughout Boulder County to drop off clothes, they are all cleaned at the first and main store in Lafayette. A little over a year ago, the company installed 140 solar panels to decrease its environmental impact even more.

This barely scratches the surface of the iceberg of companies in BOCO that embrace sustainable practices. Though they differ in the products they make and services they offer, these companies all have one thing in common. The founders and employees are driven by a passion to protect our environment. This passion is a fire that the proper education can stoke, and not surprisingly, universities in Colorado do just that.

University of Colorado

The University of Colorado’s School of Environmental design is a perfect breeding ground for future green entrepreneurs. The most recent statistics from the university show that annually, it diverted 2,900 tons of recycling and compost from landfills. In November of 2004, the school committed to the Zero Waste International Alliance principles. These principles include implementing eliminating “all discharges to land, water, or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.” Events throughout the year inform and encourage potential and current students on environmental information, often regarding ways to land a career in sustainability. One way is to enroll in the university’s Energy & Climate Justice program, which employs “peer-to-peer education about climate change, climate justice, water, air, food justice, agricultural practices and how to efficiently conserve energy on and off-campus.” According to Danny Birel, an employee of the University of Colorado’s recycling services, the school relies “on the student/administrative partnership to make recycling happen on campus.”

Through the innovative minds and hearts of green entrepreneurs, the world may not be doomed after all. Supporting environmentally conscious businesses means doing your part to combat climate change and say thanks to the planet we call home.

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