The good guys

Many of the companies that we write about routinely give back to the planet. We're highlighting a few each month.

Charitable Charms

There's nothing snobby about Snooty Jewelry (or their fun fruit bracelet, above). It's just free of animal products such as pearl, shell and bone, and comes in both traditional and whimsical designs. Ten percent of profits go to environmental and animal welfare organizations. Glass fruit charm bracelet, $46.

877.884.4367; snootyjewelry.com

Artisan Altruism

Mighty Leaf Tea Company's new hand-sewn biodegradable tea pouches are more than planet-friendly. The company also donates countless bags of its Rooibos tea, known for its nausea-calming effects, to cancer treatment centers. Organic Rooibos, $6/4 oz.

415.491.2650; mightyleaf.com

Simply Satisfying

These aren't your average snack bars. Cliffs organic fruit-and-nut Nectar bars contain two servings of fruit. Plus they deliver amazing taste without a laundry list of ingredients (they have fewer than five!), and they have fewer than 200 calories. $1.79/1.6 oz. 800.254.3227; clifbar.com

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Bird-Friendly Snacks

Lundberg Family Farms is a fave stop for migrating birds in California. Instead of discouraging the birds, the employees tend to them and their eggs, calling the brown rice paddies a B&B for the birds. Maybe it's just good karma, but we think their Rice Chips are delicious. $2.69/6 oz. bag.

530.882.4551; www.lundberg.com

COPYRIGHT 2006 Vegetarian Times, Inc. All rights reserved.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning