December Newsletter: Giving and Giving Back

By LoriL on Dec 20, 2011 in Featured, Newsletters

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First of all, happy holidays everyone.

Being in the shopping frenzy last weekend was a not-so-gentle reminder of how distracting the consumerism can be from the actual spirit of the holiday. Bah-Humbug. You can have that parking spot. Here at AGR, we prefer to focus on the positive, and the companies that are making a positive impact. If you are like me, you’ve become more discerning about how you spend your limited disposable income. And more importantly, with whom. So as you are making your choices of what to give (not just now, but any time of year), I hope you make a mental note of these folks who are doing what they can to give back.

Charitable Contribution

Hydration specialist Nuun is the official product partner of Team in Training, and launched a special TNT-edition electrolyte drink tab in a purple-capped tube. Nuun is donating 15% of all sales from these grape-flavored drink tabs to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Nuun delivers superb performance support during your workouts (and, off the record, an amazing elixir effect on a holiday hangover).

Nuun Electrolyte-Enhanced Drink Tabs Review

You may know Teva, but you may not know their cause: Pair for a Foot. For every pair of Teva shoes and sandals sold, this program will help protect one linear foot of global waterways through donations to clean water non-profits, including the Ocean Conservancy and longtime partner Waterkeeper Alliance. Teva is striving to preserve 4.3 million feet of waterways in 2011.

Teva Mush Frio Lace Canvas Review

Newton, a small running shoe company with big vision, is working hard to make sure everyone in the world has shoes. Since 2008, Newton Running has donated over 5,000 pairs of shoes to One World Running – shoes that would have otherwise ended up in landfill. One World Running collects gently used shoes and distributes them to needy children and adults around the world. Newton Running has dedicated warehouse space and a washing machine for OWR use, and Newton employees volunteer their time to help with the process of cleaning and sorting shoes as they are dropped off.

Newton Momentum All-Terrain Guidance Trainer Review

Sustainability

Solio designs hand-held solar charging, lighting, and energy storage devices. The company stands for ‘energy equality’, the belief that all people – regardless of geography or economic standing – are entitled to clean energy and light. Beyond providing sustainable solar energy, Solio also contributes by supporting easily-repayable microfinance loans to impoverished people around the world.

Solio Bolt Review

Tern Bicycles is a newcomer to the cycling world, not even a year old. But instead of wanting to race in the Tour de France, Tern just wants to be part of your daily commuting life. Every Tern bike is “highly portable, folding to integrate seamlessly with mass transit systems and tighter urban spaces”. The company dreams of revolutionizing urban transportation with its folding-bike concept, and is committed to donating a minimum of 1% of profits back to social and environmental causes.

Tern Verge Review not yet possible – check back with us

Eco-Friendly Material Use

A little eco-trivia for you: Mountainsmith was actually the first outdoor company to incorporate recycled post-consumer materials into modern pack design (2006). Together with their factory partners, they developed ReForge, a fabric made from 100% post-consumer PET bottles. Even their components, such as zippers, webbing, mesh and buckles, embody their innovation in sustainable manufacturing practices and materials.

Mountainsmith Swift FX Review

We all love the chill-busting, sweat-wicking, bad-hair-taming Buff Headwear, right? However you use it, however you wear it, you may appreciate its recent experimentation with more eco-fabrics. They have been using 100% natural Merino Wool for a while now, but the new eco-friendly line of natural fiber products includes Tencel, a textile derived from eucalyptus wood from forest managed according to sustainable principles.

Buff Infinity Lyocell Scarf Review

Haiku makes highly functional, nature-inspired, eco-friendly bags for women. Like their name suggests, the products are thoughtful, simple, and meaningful. All Haiku bags are made from 100% post-consumer PET bottles, and I like that the company states on each product how many PET bottles are saved from landfill. (I wouldn’t expect anything less from a Berkeley-based company.)

Haiku To-Go Bag Review

Animal-Friendliness

If you think pets aren’t sophisticated enough for brand-name recognition, just pull a Zuke’s package from your cupboard and see what happens. Zuke’s premium pet treats contain high-quality, all-natural ingredients. The company donates a percentage of every sale to the Dog and Cat Cancer Fund, which helps families in need get treatment for their pets who have cancer. Zuke’s happens to help out in other categories as well: their offices are 100% powered by green energy, the product packaging is recycled paperboard, and employees are encouraged to bike to work instead of driving.

Zuke’s Z-Bones Review

Polar Bottle, the original insulated sport bottle, can print your pet’s photo on the foil liner as a time-limited special promotion. They are supporting their local Humane Society by donating $5 from each sale of a Pet Photo Bottle to the cause, helping homeless and abandoned animals. Hurry because the promotion ends December 22nd (unless we pet-lovers collectively convince them to continue it!).