Tried & True: 2007 Staff Picks

One of the greatest things about working at The Green Guide is that we get to test a lot of products at the company's expense. So, it may be particularly telling to see what we spend our own money on. Here are a few of our favorites from 2007:

Our product consultant Solvie Karlstrom got us all hooked on Equal Exchange's Roasted Salted Pecans and Organic Tamari Almonds, both of which come from farmer-owned co-ops in the U.S. ($6.99/5-oz. bag of almonds, $5.99/5-oz. bag of pecans; www.equalexchange.com, 774-776-7400). And deputy editor Paul McRandle made it through the hotter parts of the summer with Green & Black's Organic Chocolate Ice Cream. "About the best I've had in store-bought ice cream," he says (see www.greenandblacks.com/us for stores that carry it). We also found that Green Path 2006 shiraz can ease a long workday. It's packaged in Tetra Paks—not as easily recyclable as glass bottles, but they weigh less, so shipping the empty containers, and the containers filled with wine, produces fewer greenhouse-gas emissions (about $12; www.wholefoodsmarket.com).

Speaking of drinks, senior editor Emily Main discovered North Carolina-based Larry's Beans on a trip to visit relatives (from $9.95/lb.; www.larrysbeans.com) and usually carries it around in a stainless-steel Starbucks tumbler ($18.95; www.starbucksstore.com) to keep from wasting cups and to keep coffee hot for hours at a time.

Like the rest of you, we're always looking for ways to lighten our eco-footprints, and now that we're working in a real office, rather than our homes, we've come to like Chico nylon shopping bags for grocery stops on the way home. They're large enough for large-scale shopping trips, yet they still stuff into their own pouches and clip on a key ring or bag handle ($5; www.greenfeet.com). General manager Wendy Gordon prefers ACME Workhorse Bags ($9.95; www.reusablebags.com) and plans on giving them as stocking stuffers this Christmas. "I love that they're virtually weightless, so you can carry a couple in your backpack, purse or computer bag without even knowing it," she says. Not to be outdone, Paul lightens his footprint in Timberland's comfortable and sturdy Earthkeeper organic canvas boots with linings, soles and laces made from recycled materials ($160; www.timberland.com).