Tea company goes to extremes to reduce waste

Monday, July 18, 2005

By DEBERA CARLTON HARRELL
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

The earthy aroma of chamomile fills the warehouse as a tea-bagging machine rhythmically clicks off 150 bags per minute.

For all the high-tech efficiency of the Italian-made machine, it is the low-tech, enviro-consciousness of Granum Inc. that is earning it awards -- and the attention of Seattle Public Utilities.


		Meryl Schenker / P-I
	Purchasing manager Eric Ring tastes products at Choice Organic Teas, which stresses environmental responsibility.

The small West Seattle company, which makes Choice Organic Teas and which saw a 20 percent increase in revenue last year, is doing what Seattle Public Utilities wants more businesses and residents to do: generating less garbage.

"Through producing, shipping, manufacturing, recycling -- we do everything we can to ensure little or no waste from our company goes to a landfill," Granum President Blake Rankin said.

"We can't claim absolute purity -- maybe there are things like candy bar wrappers -- but we're trying to be a larger force in the world for ecological mindfulness; 'mindful' permeates everything we do," Rankin said, seated behind a utility desk that lacks executive chic -- but one he refuses to toss.

"It's a piece of crap -- it's 25 years old," he said. "But I don't need to replace it. It's already here, still functional, and I'll make use of it without being snooty."

An environmental consulting arm of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce recently gave the company a 2005 BEST Award for Waste Prevention and Recycling.

In October, Granum received the Washington State Governor's Award for pollution prevention and sustainable practices.

To generate less landfill-bound garbage, Granum employees reuse tea crates, buy unbleached boxes and use tea bags with natural fibers, and notecards with gift orders are made from recycled paper. Everything -- composted tea bags, machine oil and shop towels -- is recycled. Employees are also asked to print double-sided copies, reuse file folders and to avoid foam packing peanuts.

"We look for sustainable products," said Ray Lacorte, Granum's operations manager, pointing out the corkwood lunchroom flooring, recycled furniture, particleboard office dividers and sunflower-seed desk tops.

"We're trying to be resourceful."

The company has outgrown its location, but any new location must be near public transportation for employees, Rankin said. The company pays half the cost of a bus pass.

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