CvilleStyle Spotlight: Blue Ridge Eco Shop & Eco Giveaway!
July 15, 2008 by Haidee
I stopped in the Blue Ridge Eco Shop today to buy a can of paint. Not only was I happy to bypass the hellish experience that is the Lowes paint counter, but, more importantly, I was on a mission for non-toxic, zero VOC. I found the perfect teal for my powder room, and I left the Blue Ridge Eco Shop more informed about some of the everyday products I use and how they affect the planet and my health.
While I’ve not yet purchased “bgreen” undies, I do try to be as eco-friendly as possible. It can be challenging, though, with all the big box retailers and their ”bigger and cheaper” merchandising strategy. Sadly, you often have to make more of an effort to buy a product that is kind to the earth and your body. Thankfully, the Blue Ridge Eco Shop is making it easier, and more stylish.
I pop in about once a month to see if, like paint, there are better alternatives for basic items. Indeed, Paige and Hakon Mattson have pulled together a wide selection of healthy products and environmentally friendly options for almost everything you could think of. They are also extremely knowledgable of each product and the issues / concerns it addresses. This is not your typical shopping experience; you walk away educated and thus able to make better choices.
And there are some gorgeous choices! I am particularly fond of the recycled glass stemware and plates, which are slightly more expensive than the run-of-the-mill set at Pier One, but you can feel good buying and looking at them! From the amazing BioKleen home cleaners to the luxuriously heavy organic cotton blankets, I always find something I need and something to swoon over at this store.
I’m not the only one who admires the Blue Ridge Eco Shop. They were recently awarded the 2008 Virginia Sustainable Building Network’s Innovation Award for Best Green Small Business in the State of Virginia.
Being green is definitely in style in Cville! As such, we have an eco-friendly giveaway from the Blue Ridge Eco Shop. Comment below to win a recycled cotton canvas tote and 27oz stainless steel Klean Kanteen (did you know that Nalgene isn’t good for you? But don’t throw them away!). You can use a secret name, but give me a legit email so I can contact you (no one will see it).
The store is located in the Preston Plaza Shopping Center. I hope you check it out!
i’d love a new tote and bottle! and what a great store!
I’ve been meaning to stop in to this store for some time; now I’ll try to get in this week.
it is so helpful to have a shop in town like this!
Thanks for the info on this store, Haidee. It sounds like another great part of Charlottesville’s business culture!
Let us know how you find working with the paint. I used to only use Sherwin William’s no-VOC paint, Harmony and thought it was great. However, Benjamin Moore came out with a low-VOC paint called Aura that’s a full-spectrum paint and I’ve fallen in love with it. I’m so glad paint companies have come around on the VOC issue.
So happy to have run across this discussion on low-VOC paint. Planning to paint ian interior room in the next few weeks so will definitely check out this shop and the paint choices there (have been meaning to stop in anyway). Thanks!
Please enter me—- thank you.
Would love to be entered- thank you!
LOVE THIS POST! GREEN Is the new Black. I’ve been meaning to buy a stainless steel water bottle for months now!
Thanks for the chance..
I definitely need a new water bottle. The guys who stock the fridge at the lab (where I work a few times a month) only buy bottled water for customers, I drank coke at 9 am the last time I was there. Yuck. Only thing worse than that is bottled water itself. I think I’ll get a new bottle anyway!
Love this place, I try to stop by there any chance I get. Got my nephew the cutest stuffed elephant there.
Good work!
What a nice post. I am definitely going to check the store out. Please pick me!!
Thanks for stopping by the Shop Haidee! I’m excited to see more Blue Ridge Eco Shop totes floating around Cville!
I wish we had a store like that around here….sounds really interesting.
Just another reason I love Preston Plaza!
[...] you are still need a tote, I’m giving away a reusable canvas tote from Blue Ridge Eco Store here). Still, plastic bags somehow end up stashed in my kitchen drawer. In celebration of the movement [...]
Sounds like a great eco store.
Thanks to all who read the post and commented. Congrats to Karin a! She’ll receive a Blue Ridge Eco Store canvas tote and Klean Kanteen bottle. Be on the lookout for future eco ideas and giveaways!
Love this place - fine addition to C’ville
Oh a new tote bag - give this business more and more love
Thanks