Each year, our school's Green Team carefully chooses a fundraiser that embodies our mission: Teaching our children that they can make meaningful choices in their
everyday lives that make a measurable difference for the planet. When we encourage them to
think of the bigger environmental picture, beyond their school walls and
long after they've graduated, we're training
them to be leaders and problem-solvers. The end goal is to help the students to think green and globally, all on their own. But the first steps are often right in the school cafeteria, where they can easily see the environmental mantra in practice: "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle."
This year, we've been fortunate to partner in our fundraising efforts with Jennifer Larsen, the creator and owner of Snackaby: environmentally friendly, reusable (and completely adorable!) snack and sandwich bags. This Columbia University-educated mom (she has one son currently in kindergarten) is now based in West Orange, New Jersey. We looked at several reusable lunch container companies for our fundraiser, but ultimately, we chose Jennifer's. Why? Because she's a local businessperson (who keeps the business entirely local) and her lunch containers were, hands-down, the most appealing in their designs. (They practically flew off the shelf in our first sale at school.) I've had several opportunities to sit down with Jennifer and discuss our personal and professional green missions. Here, she shares the story of Snackaby, her green roots, and how she makes positive choices for the planet every day.
Jennifer, what inspired you to start Snackaby?
It was the end of the summer in 2010 and I'd been experimenting with recycling materials into craft items. I had
sewn a few little bags and was trying to figure out how to reuse things
as well as how to use less plastic. Everything else in my son's lunchbox
was reusable, except those little plastic baggies, which I needed sometimes.
Then I was at a playdate with my son, and my friend--the other mom--pulled out a little cotton snack bag she had bought at a store in Michigan. When I told her that I had just been trying to make an alternative to plastic baggies, we started brainstorming at how we could make a better one. We brought our sewing machines to our next few playdates!
After a few prototypes, experimenting with fabrics, and bringing our experiments to playgrounds to get feedback from moms and kids, we came up with Snackaby.
Then I was at a playdate with my son, and my friend--the other mom--pulled out a little cotton snack bag she had bought at a store in Michigan. When I told her that I had just been trying to make an alternative to plastic baggies, we started brainstorming at how we could make a better one. We brought our sewing machines to our next few playdates!
After a few prototypes, experimenting with fabrics, and bringing our experiments to playgrounds to get feedback from moms and kids, we came up with Snackaby.
So this was a joint effort starting out. Tell me about your original partner in the business.
My partner in creating Snackaby is Jennifer Dowd, a mom who is incredibly creative and deeply committed to the green movement and to education. She has since left Snackaby to pursue a Master's degree in Public Administration, as well as her other projects in education and the green community.
What inspires you now from a business standpoint?
The
inspiration was--and continues to be--to have a company that follows
green principles. For example, it's tempting to want to have the labor
done overseas when you see the price differences with domestic
companies, especially at smaller quantities for a start-up. But we
wanted the company to be sustainable and to put something back into the
local economy. To do this, we shopped for everything locally. We chose a
New Jersey-based bank; we have the sewing done by another small business, at a
factory in Passaic; I buy labels from a shop on Etsy. And recently, one
of our fabric companies has moved from Toronto to New Jersey.
That's
really admirable to keep the entire process local instead of
outsourcing to companies overseas. What else differentiates your product
from your competitors?
Most
other snack bags on the market have a cotton exterior, which means they
are meant for the washing machine, whereas you can wash Snackaby in the
dishwasher [top rack]. Ours are laminated on the outside, too, so they're easy to
wipe off. The
fabric is a laminated cotton on the outside (it does contain some
plastic) and a food-safe laminate that is free of BPA, DEHP, phthalates,
and plasticizers on the inside. I buy the interior fabric directly from
the manufacturer, who does not outsource the formula, to ensure its
integrity. I also use very little packaging and recycled envelopes to
send out orders.
What's the biggest lesson you learned by starting a green business?
Starting a green business is challenging because you're not only competing with others who are making your product, you're competing with those who source labor overseas, rather than locally. It makes pricing a real issue. One of the bigger brands is made completely overseas--from fabric to sewing to packaging. But know that when you pay more for a Snackaby, you are supporting not only our New Jersey-based business, but a local sewing factory, a local bank, a U.S. label company and a local fabric manufacturer.
Starting a green business is challenging because you're not only competing with others who are making your product, you're competing with those who source labor overseas, rather than locally. It makes pricing a real issue. One of the bigger brands is made completely overseas--from fabric to sewing to packaging. But know that when you pay more for a Snackaby, you are supporting not only our New Jersey-based business, but a local sewing factory, a local bank, a U.S. label company and a local fabric manufacturer.
Okay, so moving to the "green home" aspect: How do you pack a totally eco-conscious lunch for your son?
I use Snackabies for dry snacks--pretzels,
chips, crackers--and not-so-dry snacks--strawberries, grapes, apple
slices, and of course, sandwiches and wraps. We use reusable water
bottles and I used to send flatware from home, but when the spoons
weren't making it back, I went to Target, bought a small set of
inexpensive stainless steel forks and spoons and now I use those. I do
use some plastic containers--which I wash and reuse--because the school
won't allow glass, which I can understand for kindergarten.
My biggest challenge in being a green parent is finding ways to cut
down on food packaging. It kills me to buy a case of individually
wrapped snacks and juice or water bottles when it's my turn to bring
snacks to soccer, but I don't know of any good alternative, especially
with the prevalence of food allergies. I'm trying to buy more food in
bulk, like beans by the pound instead of beans in cans. Whole Foods has a
good selection of bulk items. Snackabies work really well to make
things "snack size" in our house.
I've really enjoyed working with you, learning from you, and sharing green ideas. Any closing thoughts?
I've really enjoyed working with you, learning from you, and sharing green ideas. Any closing thoughts?
"Green" is not something you are or you aren't, it's all about
individual actions. We can all be green-er. In each situation we have
choices and we can try to make the greener choice. It's not always
possible, but often it is.
For more information on Snackaby or to order products, visit www.snackaby.etsy.com or email snackaby@gmail.com. (HAMC parents: Order yours at school by October 31 for the fundraiser discount.)
Snackaby is part of Team Eco on Etsy.com.
If you have a green product, business, or practice that you would like to submit for consideration for "Green Business Profiles" at JoyfullyGreen.com, please email me. I'd love to hear from you!
********************************************************************************************************
If you enjoyed reading this post, please subscribe to this blog via RSS reader (bottom of right column) or email (under "Categories"). Already subscribed? Please connect with me on Facebook and Twitter . To comment (and please do!): If you're a subscriber, click on the blue title at the top of the post to get to the main site. Then you will see the comments section at the end of the post. Thanks for reading Joyfully Green!
****************************************************************************************************************************(c) 2012 by Joy Sussman/JoyfullyGreen.com. All rights reserved. Photos and text digitally fingerprinted and protected by MyFreeCopyright.com. Site licensed by Creative Commons.
