Baking & Snack - November 2006 - 119

NEW PRODUCT

SPOTLIGHT

Bite-Sized

INSPIRATI

Heaven Scent Natural Foods' eco-friendly cookies promote
renewable energy sources and transportation alternatives.

ometimes a picture speaks louder than words, and
a picture that tastes good is even better. Eco-Planet
Cookies, a division of Heaven Scent Natural Foods,
Santa Monica, CA, hopes to inspire environmentally conscious living with cookies that promote alternative energy sources with their unique shapes.
Available in cinnamon and vanilla flavors, the bitesized, die-cut cookies depict the sun (solar energy), a globe
(Earth-friendly), a hybrid/green car (saving fossil fuels)
and a wind turbine (wind energy). The kosher and vegan
cookies are USDA-certified organic and contain no GMOs,
hydrogenated oils or saturated fats. The company created
specialized die cuts to produce the four unique shapes.
The animal-cracker-sized, 1.5-oz box is colored in
child-friendly primary hues and features pictures of
the four cookie shapes. The boxes contain two 100-Cal
servings of eight cookies and retail $0.99 to $1.29.
Having introduced its cookies in April throughout
the Southern California market, Eco-Planet distributes
its products through United Natural Foods, a national
food distributor. Today, Whole Foods stores carry the
brand nationally.
Believing that global action starts at home, Eco-Planet

126 / BAKING & SNACK / November 2006

works to bring environmentally friendly practices into
the manufacture of its product. Using the principles
of reduce, recycle and reuse, the company packages its
cookies in 100% recycled paperboard. The company
also uses wind power from Renewable Choice Energy, a
national provider of renewable energy sources, to offset
fossil fuel usage. In the left-hand corner of the package,
the company displays the logo of 1% For the Planet. As
a member of this organization, Eco-Planet pledges to
donate 1% of its sales to the natural environment. As its
market presence expands, the company plans to include
additional environmental practices.
"Retailers are looking for ways to make their business
more environmentally friendly and send an educational
message as well," said Tom Most, president of Heaven
Scent Natural Foods. "We believe that our cookies can
lend help to those retailers wanting to make a statement
of environmental awareness, while also catering to the
trend toward health and wellness."
The bite-sized cookies also serve a secondary purpose
as an edible educational tool. The company proudly
describes letters sent from educators in the California
area who use the cookies as a teaching tool to educate
students about the environment. The Scripps Aquarium,
San Diego, CA, provides the cookies to students following
classes at the aquarium.
In addition to the instructive
nature of the cookie shapes, the
paperboard packaging features
several Web addresses where
consumers can find information
about energy alternatives. The sites
contain energy facts and games and
classroom activities for educators.
"The Eco-Planet mission is to
inspire children and their parents
to choose ecologically responsible
alternatives in transportation, power
and industry," said Mr. Most.
Ⅲ
- Jennifer Barnett Fox

Baking & Snack - November 2006

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Baking & Snack - November 2006