The Vosges Green Mission

In the past few years, we have made efforts at Vosges towards a greener workplace and products. With each small step, we reach towards a future of less impact on the environment. The steps we have taken:

• We are very pleased to announce that our facility and production processes have been approved as an organic manufacturing facility. As you may know, organic farms do not release synthetic pesticides into the environment, some of which have the potential to harm local wildlife. Organic farms are better than conventional farms at sustaining diverse ecosystems, i.e., populations of plants and insects, as well as animals. When calculated either per unit area or per unit of yield, organic farming methods generally use less energy and produce less waste than conventional methods. While organic foods currently account for only 1-2% of total food sales worldwide, the organic food market is growing rapidly, far ahead of the rest of the food industry, and we are very excited to be part of this movement.
• All of our purple boxes are made with 100% recycled paperboard.
• Our shipping department has switched from styrofoam peanuts to air-filled bags that create much less waste in each package.
• Immediate paper reuse! At meetings, you will find our team taking notes on homemade recycled paper pads.
• White sun shades cover our large office windows in the summer to reduce the heat inside. Chocolate is picky and must stay cool but the sun shades lessen the work of the cooling system and help save energy.
• We implemented an office recycling program, cutting down on waste and ensuring that the paper we use will get used again.
• We recycle our printer cartridges with Cartridge World in Lincoln Park, who shares our mission to be "green."
• Whenever possible, we buy organic ingredients for our products. This year we have started using organic sugar, butter, cream and nuts in our chocolate confections. Organic farming keeps your food pure and clean from chemicals, doesn't harm the land and produces food that tastes better!
• Our chocolate is produced using 100% renewable energy.

REUSE:
One of the best ways to reduce waste is to find second or third uses for things. Our purple boxes are already made of 100% recycled board; however, reusing them again keeps them out of the landfill! Some of our Vosges regulars have found additional uses for our signature purple packaging:

• Storage for office supplies
• Use open boxes and lids in your lingerie drawer to organize and sort
• Reuse the purple satin ribbon on gifts or in your hair
• Jewelry storage

• Buy produce from the farm delivered to your doorstep. You'll reduce waste in transport, support your local farm community, and most of all, enjoy extreme freshness. Farmers' markets are also a great option. Grab a tote and a tea to go and make it a Sunday morning ritual.
• Replace at least one regular light bulb in your abode with an energy-efficient option.
• Planning a trip? Find an eco-friendly destination. Discover El Monte Sagrado, a secluded sanctuary built on sustainable principles in Taos, New Mexico. Or adventure in the trees at Black Turtle Lodge in Costa Rica. Sleep in their treehouse cabinas.
• Find organic farms and get involved with Community Supported Agriculture by visiting the USDA website, which features publications on Community Supported Agriculture.
• If everyone lived as we do, how many earths would we need? Take a minute to fill out a quiz to understand your environmental footprint. From food, shelter, mobility, and waste, find out how you stack up to your neighbors. Click here to take the Ecological Footprint Quiz at Myfootprint.org.
• Bring your own bag to the grocery store to prevent excess waste. Pack your gourmet goodies in a stylish tote and start the trend. Check out www.bringyourownbag.ca for cute options. Stash a couple in your car for those unexpected quick trips.
• Organic fashion has grown from Birkenstocks to stilettos. Fashion icons such as Hermes and Armani continue to explore green materials in handbags, jeans and more. Stella McCartney introduced a vegan accessory line that includes handbags, jewelry and belts. Check out another earthly fashionista, Linda Loudermilk at www.lindaloudermilk.com.
• Down the isle in organic style...buy organic flowers for your wedding bouquets that symbolize love. Lemon blossoms for fidelity, honeysuckle for devoted affection or larkspur for lightness. Better yet, find a local gardener for in-season floral arrangements.
• Whose lawn is lush, trimmed and clean? Take the competition to a new level by turning in your gas-polluting mower for a real push mower or rechargeable electric version. Less gas, less noise, and more sweet cut grass aroma. *Grass clippings are a great natural fertilizer. www.cleanairgardening.com
• Urban dwellers, no excuses: rooftop gardens are all the rage. Enjoy your personal oasis of veggies, flowers and herbs in the city while you reduce smog, reduce heat and improve water runoff. And it is a perfect environment for a summer afternoon Exotic Ice Cream social.
• Charge it...cell phone, BlackBerry® or iPod, every outlet in the house is packed with chargers. Unplug your charger when you are finished charging your device. Another option is to let your solar-powered messenger bag do the work. www.voltaicsystems.com
• Trade in your gas-guzzling SUVs for eco-friendly hybrid cars: go from yuppy to guppy (Green Urban Professional)! Or better yet, urbanites can take advantage of public transportation. Come spring, here at the Vosges Haut-Chocolat office, we hold a company "walk/bike to work" contest to promote alternative transportation.
• Start a kitchen compost and create rich, natural fertilizer for your herb and rooftop gardens. Vegetable scraps, pasta, fruit rinds, tea bags, egg shells and more can be collected. There are so many cool compost canisters: visit www.thegadgetsource.com.
• He's been busy: 68 miles of landscaped street medians, planted more than 400,000 trees, created rooftop gardens on major city buildings and continues to put Chicago on the map for setting a new standard for a green metropolis. Mayor Daley's mission is to make Chicago America's greenest city on the map! Inspired by his leadership, Vosges Haut-Chocolat has incorporated a recycling program in the office, reusing every piece of paper before it hits the recycling bin. And soon our LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified platinum manufacturing lifestyle building will be complete in sweet home Chicago.
• Dry cleaning can be a dirty business using pesticides and toxins that harm humans and the environment, all to keep your whites bright. Earth friendly options are popping up fast, search www.greenearthcleaning.com for one near you. In the meantime, return unused hangers and recycle dry cleaning plastic bags.
• There are many eco yoga brands that are stylish, earth-friendly and made with organic cotton. Check out www.oqoqo.com. So put on green gear, grab our Yoga + Chocolate collection and strike a sustainable sun salutation.
• A full freezer or refrigerator takes less energy to keep cool. If you don't have enough food to fill it, put plastic bottles of water or scrunched newspaper to do the trick. Our choice: fill extra space in your freezer with Vosges Brownies to keep them on hand for those chocolate cravings.
• Next time you throw a fête, make it green. Serve our chocolate covered tortilla chips and pecans alongside Spanish biodynamic wine. Biodynamic vineyards are not only organically grown, winemakers consider the sun, moon and stars in every step of the growing and cultivating. Try a biodynamic bottle from Albet i Noya.
• Bring a mug to work and avoid disposable cups for your daily caffeine-fix. Encourage your coworkers to do the same. When your entire office has made the switch, treat them to a sip of Couture Cocoa...now that is an afternoon work break.
• Our purple box and hand-tied satin ribbon save you from the need to gift wrap. But for other gifts, there are plenty of options other than paper. Tie up a gift in an antique scarf. Use out-of-date wall calendars to create exotic intrigue. Top off every gift with natural flowers, plants or spice elements.
• Saving energy in the form of a spontaneous date. Turn off all of the lights and explore our wine + chocolate collection for a romantic earth-friendly night for two. Use beeswax or vegetable based candles to top off your green good deed.
• Spring is in the air and spring cleaning is on the to-do list. Fresh lemon juice is a great alternative to harsh cleaning products. Rub your wooden chopping board with one half of a lemon, let it sit overnight, and rinse in the morning.
• Bring back the days of beautifully designed handkerchiefs. Pull out this stylish fashion accessory for your moments of joy and sorrow and save on paper at the same time.