Green Talk® » events and expos

Ecotensil Me. A Green Alternative to the Plastic Spoon Taster

Anna@Green Talk — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:26:41 +0000

Is this a familiar scene? You are at BJs, Sam’s Club, or Costco and someone is handing out free samples. Or maybe you want to try a soft yogurt that you never tried before. Think of how many times you have tasted something to just throw away the spoon after one bite? Probably enough to make your own personal tasting bridge. Let’s face it. Being a plastic spoon sucks. You love them and leave them. Plus, they ain’t good for the environment.

Move over plastic spoon, since Ecotensil is here. Enjoy your taste test and help the environment too. Let me tell you this Company gots you covered in the tasting and eating department with their paperstock Ecotensil and the EcoTaster Mini. How so? Read on.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Peggy Cross, the founder of Ecotensil as she gave me an up front and close look at how great her products are. Be sure to watch the video or listen to the podcast because Peggy really spoon-fed me on the benefits on her renewable and recyclable Ecotensil products with a lot of humor sprinkled into the mix.

So, what’s so bad about plastic, you say?

Before I dazzle you with this wonderful invention, let’s go over why plastic tasting spoon are the ultimate drag on the environment. Okay. Plastic in general.
According to a Scientific American article,

“Chemicals added to plastics are absorbed by human bodies. Some of these compounds have been found to alter hormones or have other potential human health effects.

• Plastic debris, laced with chemicals and often ingested by marine animals, can injure or poison wildlife.

• Floating plastic waste, which can survive for thousands of years in water, serves as mini transportation devices for invasive species, disrupting habitats.

• Plastic buried deep in landfills can leach harmful chemicals that spread into groundwater.

• Around 4 percent of world oil production is used as a feedstock to make plastics, and a similar amount is consumed as energy in the process.”

Plastic might be versatile, but it is definitely not your best friend. Nor is thousands and thousands of tasting spoon at events, ice cream shop, and buying clubs.

So, the alternative is…does anyone have the e-envelope?

The EcoTaster

The EcoTaster Mini (pictured above) is made out of silky smooth, renewable paper stock which is compostable recyclable, or biodegradable. Its silky smooth texture is due to a mineral and water based coating. Future spoons will be made out of FSC paper stock. Peggy explains that the spoons can only be made out of FDA approved paper, which does not included reycled paper at the moment.

The EcoTaster Mini can be used for bite size food such as yogurt, cereal, and rice. I thought as Peggy was explaining the EcoTaster that you could use it for hard ice cream. Peggy explained that the EcoTaster is only for softer foods, but they are working on a spoon that can be used for hard ice cream. She must know my kids who want to try every flavor in an ice cream store.

What about it being compostable? Everyone tauts their product as being compostable, Anna. Yeah, I know. I know. The Company states the product will bio-degrade in one to three weeks. In fact, they further state that the product bio-degrades faster than those other bio-products including corn and sugar based utensils. Check out this video comparing the EcoTaster and plastic spoon decomposition in one month. The video bring home how disastrous plastic is for our environment.

The Ecotensil

The Ecotensil is the larger spoon which you can easily use to accommodate larger chunkier items. It is long lasting and durable and also made out of renewable paper stock. It contains milk carton like skin so it may not be recyclable in everyone’s recycling cans. According to the Company, it does contain about 4% poly materials, which is the lowest amount available as required by the FDA for use in paperboard materials. They further stated via an email correspondence that at this point in time, “the technology does not yet exist to create paperboard materials or this size without poly, however EcoTensil is always searching for the most eco-friendly options available.”

The product is biodegradable, so it can be sent to a commercial composting facility.

I even got to see the spoon in action. Peggy scooped out pudding on the above video and proceeded to eat it like she was using a regular spoon. I can tell you not one drop fell on her desk! Got me thinking. Why don’t all ice cream stores offer this spoon in lieu of the plastic ones when they hand you a cup of soft ice cream or yogurt?

Space the final frontier.

During the video, Peggy dragged out a typical bag of your garden variety tasting spoons. Clunky and definitely takes up lots of space. Then she showed me a box of 5000 EcoTasters, which took up virtually no room at all. She explained that her 5000 EcoTasters fit in the same box as 1000 comparable spoons. So, add another green attribute to these green scoopers. Reduced carbon footprint. When you can ship more in a smaller box! And heavens to Betsey if the spoon ends up in a landfill, they would take up such little space. But, I believe in the goodness of mankind, and that no one would dare throw their EcoTaster in the garbage. Right? (Let me be naive. I live in my own green fantasy world.)

So what can you do?

So, people, here is the call to action. Let the Costco’s of the world know that there is a better alternative available. Or the companies who run your fairs and events. Or how about your favorite ice cream place? But don’t forget to tell them to do their part by providing recycling or biodegradable receptacles for easy disposal of the spoons.

Where can you buy them? For $129 you can buy a case of 5000 spoons. (includes shipping.) Or $236 for a case of Ecotensils. (Note, the price per case falls as you order more.)

Be the first on the block to offer an alternative. Just think you can use the Ecotaster to promote your newest flavor and the Ecotensil for eating. Branding of the EcoTaster and Ecotensil is available.

Down with the pink spoon! Ecotensil me instead.

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PSEG GreenFest 2009: New Jersey Green at its Best

Anna@Green Talk — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 05:23:50 +0000

This weekend (April 3-5) is the annual PSEG GreenFest at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, New Jersey. Instead of giving you an excerpt from the Expo’s press release, I can give you the skinny on the festival since I spent the WHOLE day there. With a new name (previously known as Global Green) and a larger exhibit hall, I was must more impressed with this year’s showing of exhibitors. Last year, it seemed that every HVAC contractor in New Jersey was at the show. (Not really, but it just seemed that way.) This year, there was a wide array of vendors ranging from of course your usual energy exhibitors to a soap maker. I will be honest, there is still a strong presence of energy efficient exhibitors, but this is to be expected since residential home and commercial buildings consume vast amounts of energy.

Despite the obvious energy conservation, there is still a variety of other vendors which will surely delight your green palate. I have several short podcasts that I will be posting individually highlighting some of my favorite exhibitors. However, to wet your appetite, here are some highlights of what I saw at the expo:

Thought solar is too expensive for your home? Visit PSEG (electric and gas utility) to hear their plans for incentives for solar for residential and commercial properties.
Stop your house or commercial building from wasting your hard earned money. Speak to the home and commercial energy auditors to put the green in your pocket instead of the utility companies. (If Ed Schwartz from Green Living Solutions is there, give him a big hug for me!)
See GM’s fuel cell car of the future.
Find out how you can replace your ink for your cartridges rather than buy new ones. See Cartridge World USA.
Want to green clean your office or home? Check out the corporate and residential green cleaning products companies.
Thinking about green energy solutions? Check out the plethora of solar, radiant, wind and geothermal exhibitors. (I am extremely impressed with the ARC Renewable Energy’s vertical turbine.)
Want to connect with like minded green moms. Visit the Holistic Moms Network.
Sick of plastic water bottles at your school? Visit Back2Tap to stop the plastic madness. Offering stainless steel re-usable water bottles. Great school fundraiser opportunity and corporate gifts.
Want a healthy green interior? Plenty of green designer, and building suppliers to talk to. (Say hello to one of my friend, Patrica Gaylor, whose work has been in many magazines.)
Tried of mowing your lawn and want to watch someone else mow the lawn? Check out PeggNet’s solar mover exhibit. (I am extremely interested in this product…)
Can’t see how your business can be viable and sustainable? Think again and speak to the folks at Padosa, a network for business owners. (I am a member!)

This is only a small sampling of the exhibitors at the show. For a partial list, see here. (I did notice that not all of the vendors are listed, so perhaps more were added at the last minute.)

The Kratt Brothers

I went on Friday since I knew the crowds would be slightly lighter, and I would not have to wait in line to interview many of the exhibitors. However, if I was merely a visitor, Saturday and Sunday offers the best entertainment.

“Among the notable and extraordinary keynote speakers is Ed Begley, Jr., an acclaimed actor and committed activist who sets a vivid example by living green at home, on the road, and on the job. In one of his appearances, Ed shares the podium with Bill Nye ‘The Science Guy,’a scientist, educator, and environmentalist who is currently engaged in a very public eco-competition with his friend Ed Begley. It’s a spirited but cordial smackdown that is not to be missed!

On Sunday, Daryl Hannah, accomplished actress and environmental devotee, offers a definition of ‘green’ that extends far beyond her exemplary lifestyle choices to include humanitarianism and conservationism as interconnected components of what it means to rescue and preserve the environment.

Also on Sunday, The Kratt Brothers, creators, producers, and stars of three successful wildlife education television series for families, take a walk on the wild side as they return to their Jersey roots. Their animated and family-focused re-enactment of their wildlife adventures will entertain and educate on matters of conservation.

I really, really wanted to see Bill Nye since I love his show on Planet Green. In addition, there are several conferences on different topics. See here for more information.

While I was there on Friday, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, the new CEO of Green For All, spoke on “green pathways out of poverty.” She is Van Jone’s replacement since he has a new role as the White House Special Advisor for Green Jobs. I am sorry that I missed her, but I was too wrapped up speaking to all the vendors. I am even missed quite a few vendors that I wanted to talk to.

Thinking it is the weekend and your kids won’t want to go? Think again since I am sure they will love Bill Nye. In addition, there is GECKO, the Green Environment Caring Kids Oasis, offers a variety of hands-on exhibits. See here for more information about the kid-friendly exhibits.

Judging by Friday’s attendance, parking is going to be tough so get there early. Consider taking the train and be delivered to the exhibit in green style via the hybrid shuttle. Look for the Greenfleet eco-vans. They run every 35 minutes from 10am to 5pm.

Tickets can be purchased ahead of time with a discounts for a two or three day pass. With Spring arriving, now is the time to make a commitment to go green! Remember, New Jersey is the Garden State. We are known for our greeness!

Photos courtesy of PSEC GreenFest.

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April’s NYC Go Green Expo is the Place to Be.

Anna@Green Talk — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:30:21 +0000

In2Green at last year’s Go Green Expo. Check out the discount below to attend the show.

Last year, I attended the Go Green Expo in NYC in April, 2008. To say it was spectacular is undervaluing how amazing the expo was. Three floors of green’ess in every imaginable product. Clothes, gardening, books, building products, coffee, and food. We could be here all night if I listed all the different products that were there. I am not kidding.

Did I have a blast at the Expo last year? You betcha, and I can’t wait to see all the new vendors that will be there. There were alot of vendors I missed to last year since I have a propensity of talking too much. (Anna, say that’s not so. True. Guilty as charged.)

What can I say? If you are vendor, where do you want to be to show off your wares. Did I hear, “New York” from the crowd? Sorry LA, Philly, and all the other cities that hosted the Go Green Expo, there is only one Big Apple. So, if you want to see a great expo, visit the Go Green Expo on April 17-19, 2009 at the following address:

The Hilton Hotel New York
1335 Ave of the Americas / 6th Ave at 53rd Street

Want to know what makes this Expo so special? Read on.

Yummy Earth at last year’s expo

Some of the highlights at the show:

Over 230 vendors. The show is sold out. (See I told you. NYC is the “it” place to be. I am such an east coast snob.)
Actress and Author Mariel Hemingway, TV Star and film maker Nigel Barker, and dozens of other best selling authors and industry leaders will be speaking on how to green your life and business.
The Food Network will be creating an urban garden to teach people how to grow their own food. (Darn it. I know I am going to get bogged down at that exhibit. Gardeners like to talk shop.)
The Sundance Channel will be showcasing their new “green” tv shows. (Do you think if I ask nicely, they will offer me a job?)
the latest hybrid cars from Honda & GM will be on display.
a Kid Zone sponsored by Disney Earth (maybe you can remind the Disney people while you are there start using green cleaning products at the park. Read my story here.)

Lani Dog products at last year’s Expo

Last year alot of the vendors were selling their wares at discounted prices. There was literally no elbow room at the show. The cost to attend for the weekend? A mere $10.00.

It gets better. Read on. The folks at the Go Green Expo love me so much because of my bang up last year’s post, they have offered all Green Talk readers 50% off the weekend pass. I know it is only $5.00, but in this economy everything counts. Use the code: GGE50 when you register. Registration must be done online before the show in order to receive the discount.

This Expo is worth seeing. I promise.

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Go Green Expo: The Big Apple Hosts a Spectacular Green Expo

Anna@Green Talk — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:36:05 +0000

In April, NYC was the host to Go Green Expo , which contained over 200 plus green vendors on three floors featuring organic chocolates, elephant poop paper, concentrated earth worm poop for your plants, vertical wind turbines, cars to everything in between.

It was so popular that there was hardly any room to walk through the aisles, let alone get pictures of the vendors. As everyone knows this Big Apple Expo was the “it” place to be, lined with vendors from all over the country selling their wares. (Do I sound like a New Yorker that only believes that there is no life outside of NY? Actually I was born in Ohio (a humble Midwesterner), but I know the power of this City).

I met vendors from my backyard (New Jersey) to all the way from California (Seaside Naturals.)

In addition, to the many vendors, there was a who’s who of speakers from Laura Turner Seydel, Chairman of the Captain Planet Foundation, Allen Hershkowitz, Ph. D., Senior Scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, Ana Paula Tavares, the Director of Development at the Rainforest Alliance, Mark Spellun, founder of the magazine, Plenty, and many other authorities.

I knew from the minute that I was given my impressive recycled lantern (see picture to the right which is doubling as a holder for my USB Flash drive) that hung my equally impressive press pass that this was going to be a spectacular show. (By the way, my press pass was handed to me the same time a reporter from the Wall Street Journal received his. I defineately felt special!)

This event was spectacular, but I felt like Cinderella at the ball hurrying before the clock struck 12 midnight. Since the show was only 2 days and New Jersey also was featuring a green expo that weekend (story to follow), I did my best to talk to as many vendors as I could. Believe me, I could have easily talked to everyone for hours. I was so awe struck by the passion of these vendors.

Realize that I only captured a fraction of the vendors because I have not learned the art of introducing myself, taking a brochure and a picture of the vendor, and moving on. At one point, my husband had to find me to get me to move my act along. I was only 200 feet from the entrance of the door a couple hours into the show.

At one point, I watched Rachel Ray’s production crew interview a vendor. I thought, I could do that and contemplated giving them my card, but on second thought was that being too pushy? I could say EVO (extra virgin oil) with a smile.

I did not stop to eat lunch and noshed on some of the organic chocolate being offered, which was very good I might add. At the end of the show I had a headache from not eating. But what is more exciting than the Big Apple and a Green expo?? (Yeah, you guessed it. My equally impressive press pass.)

So, over the next week, I will try and feature all of the vendors that I took pictures of to give you a feel for some of the great green companies out there. If I missed your company, blame it on my mouth which just does not know when to stop yapping. Every company at the show IMHO (in my humble opinion) was worth writing about. So, if you are reading this post AND you were at the show, please plug your company. Next time, I will have to have a stern talking to with my mouth about expo etiquette. Sheesh.

Here goes (sung to the tune of New York, New York, “if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere…”) Stop the music! I just had a brain storm (it does happen time to time.)

Instead of doing a long post with everyone’s picture with a short paragraph, I will feature them in their own blog post a few every day. (If you are one of my regular readers, you must be saying, “Oh come on, Anna, you are incapable of writing anything short… ” I guess my fingers have the same problem as my mouth. Is this a genetic thing??)

These are some of the companies that I will be featuring in separate posts so they can stand on their own with out my giddy NYC Green Expo post:

And that is only the A through the Ds… Stay tune.

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