Considering The Environment In Your Small Business Sustainability Practices

In today's difficult economic situation, it can be especially tough for a small business, just getting on it's feet, to implement the plans that we have for running a green and sustainable company. It is not necessary to invest thousands of dollars in the beginning, there are a number of sustainability best practices that you can start, today, that will get you on the path toward realizing your vision for a business that is responsible to the environment and utilizes "green" small business practices.

Here are some tips to get you started:

• Be Paper Wise

Be aware of just how much paper you are using in your office each day. Ask yourself if it really necessary to print of that report or email.  By using an iPad connected to your network, your employees can bring their email with them to your meetings.  If you must print, the "fast draft" or "black and white" settings should be considered first.

• Unplug And Hibernate

By using power strips with surge protection, the benefits are twofold. Not only will you be protecting your valuable electronics from power surges but you will be able to more easily control which appliances should be powered completely off at the end of the day and which should stay plugged in.  For the latter, utilize the  "hibernate" or "sleep mode" when available.

• Have Potluck For Lunch

This can be especially effective if you encourage your employees to make it a meat-free potluck.  They can experiment with recipes or bring favorites from home.  This one little thing can mean a 28.5% reduction in each person's carbon footprint if they can make the entire day meat-free.  Remember "Meatless Mondays"?  

• Encourage Carpooling and Recycling

To encourage carpooling it can be as simple as making people aware of an online service that they can take advantage of, and a visit to the storage container store will outfit you with an attractive set of recycling bins.  Take advantage of any cash rebates, like for aluminum, and hire a waste company that recycles too.  You might need to make that suggestion to your building management team.

• Assign A Dishwasher

Encourage your employees to participate in your efforts by volunteering for dish washing duty.  This way you can ban all plastic and styrofoam from your lunch room and stock it with real glass and ceramic dish wear from a restaurant supply store (or solicit donations).  Hand washing would be preferable to a dishwasher, or is it?  Every little bit helps, especially when it comes to keeping things out of the landfill.

These are just a few things that are relatively inexpensive and painless as well as easy to implement.  If you know of other ways, maybe more creative ways, to lessen our carbon foot print, we would love to hear about it.  Contact us and let's work together toward a greener future.

Eco Friendly Packaging

Why use eco friendly packaging? Just imagine how much plastic is in the ocean right now. It's esimated that there are 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile. There is way too much plastic packaging making it's way to our beaches. It's also filling up the landfills at an alarming rate. Whale Tails is commited to finding a chip bag that will be completely
degradable.

Love Your Ocean

We love the ocean and the whales that live there. We have put a different seascapes of Wyland’s on each of our chip bags to remind our customers why we strive to be eco friendly. Nothing is more beautiful than whales in action. Through our whale tail design and beautiful packaging we encourage all of our customers to recycle.

Tasty and Eco Friendly

We want to show the world that you can have quality snacks and save the ocean at the same time. We love to surf and we want the ocean to be a fun experience for everyone. By developing a completely  degradable snack bag we will greatly reduce water pollution. Only 20% of snack bags are recycled. The rest finds their way to the ocean and to landfills.

Dedicated to Saving The Environment

Whale Tails is commited to saving the environment. In addition to using eco friendly packaging we are active in many environmental foundations such as The Wyland Foundation, IFAW, NRDC, WildCoast, Sea Shepherd, and many more. We believe that we can make a difference.

Contact us for more information or for a retail location near you.

Non-GMO is not just a Political Buzzword

You might have heard a lot of about genetically modified foods (commonly called GMO) recently, especially in California as November will allow voters to decide on whether or not GMO foods should be labeled.  You might have noticed a lot of packages, like ours, advertise they are non gmo and you might not know what the big deal is.

Genetically modified crops are those that have been forcefully mutated.  The genes of one crop have been crossed with another crop to form a stronger type of crop or the colors of the crop more vibrant.  This might seem positive at first glance, but the consequences are far reaching the more you get to know.  The first is that foods that are GMO or contain GMO are not required to be labeled here in the United States.  In addition, the regulation for this type of processing is highly overlooked by the US government, which means many companies don't have the proper oversight required to keep public health in check.

Many GMO crops have been engineered with genes of bacteria or virus.  Doing so assists to make the plant resistant to pesticides and other chemically toxic materials that many farmers introduce to food to prevent weeds and bugs from taking over their harvest.  Besides the fact that consumers then ingest these chemicals because they are eating the plant that was sprayed numerous times over the course of its growing life, but those same GMO plants go on to contaminate local fields, over taking non GMO farmer plants.  These same crops become resistant to the pesticides over time, eventually causing farmers to use a stronger pesticide as more growing seasons occur.  

GMO plants reduce genetic diversity among plants.  When genes are diverse, they allow for more nutritional value, and more robust plants.  It makes them more vulnerable to drought, insect and viral infections that can do serious harm to our food supply.  Unfortunately, once contamination has occurred, there's no going back.  The plant will continue to pass along the mutated genes to future seeds.

Finally, the consequences of eating GMO food are unknown.  Unfortunately, there haven’t been enough real studies that would indicate that they are safe to consume, despite the environmental consequences.  GMO food was introduced in 1996, which means society as a whole has consumed this food for less than 20 years.  In fact, some studies have suggested that eating GMO foods can be toxic as well as lead to allergies.  Mice fed GMO foods had liver problems, and rabbits have showed kidney and heart problems.

We’re committed to bringing you a healthy product, free from genetically modified ingredients.  For more information on our products, please contact us today!

Aloha and get the guacamole!

Dude! I thought the tortilla chip innovation nation was over a long time ago.  I mean how can genius be duplicated in the 21St Century?  I didn't know I was tired of almost munching on my fingers every time we go to that one chick's house for parties, until I saw these chips.  Makes me want to go down to the Mavericks and party hearty.  And eat chips.

Now just talking about it makes me want to grub on some of those babys! Anyway, can you believe that now I have to watch my cholesterol! These are different, made with chia seeds, full of Omega 3"s whatever that is,  and your bro Irving can eat them because they are kosher.

Hawaiian salt, for sure does that even really exist?  Organic (like me!!), ya called Alaea salt. Well whatever, it's still really great with Pabst!  Dude, what day is it, hey wanna go surfing? So you have to watch your gluten? Why? You're only 40!  Don't old people have to quit gluten?  Anyway what IS gluten?  And why can't you eat it?

That old lady that works in the corner store told me this Alaea salt is good for ya.  She said she read in www.whaletaleschips.comThat..."Alaea is unique to the Hawaiian Islands and legendary for being low in sodium content , 3% to be exact , and high in essential trace minerals that our bodies require. Alaea is sun dried, never processed, and imparts the rich earthy taste of corn that has been roasted “Island Style” over an open flame."

Roasted over an open flame? Sounds like a Luau to me, Jack.  I can get so much dip on these chips it's crazy. Shaped like the back end of your surf board, no lie!  If Toddzilla wants some for his surf shop he should contac t us.  Aloha and get the guacamole!

Biomimicry; Helping Humans Solve Problems by Studying Nature

A new kind of science is emerging as a method by which we can learn from Earth’s natural processes. Sustainability is a focus of Biomimicry as it seeks to understand how nature solves her own problems.

In 1997, author and scientist Janine Benyus defined Biomimicry as a science that “studies nature’s models and then imitates or takes inspirations from these designs and processes to solve human problems”.

The San Diego Zoo has been practicing Biomimicry since 2007, and it commissioned this study in 2010, called “Global Biomimicry Efforts: An Economic Game Changer.”

The study notes that, “Two very different approaches are followed in the use of biomimicry. In some cases, scientists see an interesting concept in nature and then find a commercial application. In other instances, firms are seeking a solution to a specific problem and find an answer in the natural world.”

San Diego seems ideally situated to begin the next wave of scientific brilliance via Biomimicry. They predict that Biomimicry will help reduce the depletion of natural resources, create jobs and industry. In fact, the study declares “Biomimicry could be a major economic game changer.”

As science searches for answers to our most difficult human problems, Biomimicry shows us that we may find the best answers in nature.

The wildlife that dwells in our oceans are benefiting from this new science already.  Beautiful data gathering robotic fish created by University of Essex professor Dr. Huosheng Hu measure levels of pollution. They swim around among real fish, and the data they collect is used by scientists to help protect the natural inhabitants of that body of water.

Humans are benefiting from Biomimicry as well. Florida-based biotech company, Sharklet Technologies, has invented a shark skin inspired adhesive film for use in the medical field for the prevention of infection in humans. Their specialty is "bacterial inhibition for medical devices", and they are successful innovators in the world of human medicine.

To find out more about why Biomimicry matters to Whale Tale Chips, please contact us.

Tummy Growling? Look for Healthy Vending Options

I am sure you have been there. You have spent the day surfing or on the beach with your family. All the snacks were eaten on the beach, or perhaps they were eaten in the car on the way to your next destination. You are trying to eat as healthy as possible, but your schedule sometimes gets tight, which causes you to eat on the run occasionally. Whether you are at work on an empty stomach or at the hospital visiting a loved one, you will find healthy vending options in your nearest snack machines.

One of those healthy vending options is Whale Tail's Blue Corn Tortilla Chips infused with Chia. Chia seed is a super food that contains omega-3 fatty acids, and omega-3's are known to lower cholesterol. 

They are also a good source of fiber, protein, calcium, magnesium and phosphorous. For hundreds of years, this tiny seed was used by the Aztecs as their main energy source. Plant Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Cleveland Clinic

Not only is it healthy to eat our chips, it is incredibly fun too. The tortilla chips are shaped like a whale's tail. 

Having the Chia infused into the Corn Chips is not the only reason that the chips are healthy for you. All varieties of Whales Tail's Chips are made with Organic Corn that is grown in the USA. Our chips are naturally gluten free. They do not contain any genetically modified organisms or Trans Fat, and they are kosher.

Next time your tummy is growling, and you are far from a carrot stick but near a vending machine, look for our organic tortilla chips. We have 3 varieties.

• Original Yellow Corn Chips with “Alaea” Red Gourmet Hawaiian Sea Salt
• Hawaiian Barbeque Flavor Chip
• Blue Tor"Chia" Chips

Contact us if you have any questions, or to find a distributor near you.

The Many Benefits of Chia Seeds

You might have seen our Organic Blue Corn chips, which advertise that they are infused with chia seeds and you may have found yourself wondering, "So?"  If that's gone through your head, allow us to take a minute to talk about the benefits of chia seeds.  Yes, we're dedicating a whole blog to chia seeds, because they are just that cool.

Chia seeds are considered a superfood, which is to say it is a food that contains a high amount of nutrition per bite.  Chia seeds are taken from a desert plant, Salvia hispanica, which is a member of the mint family.  Mainly grown in southern Mexico, it is said that Indians used the seed for energy and substance.  They are flavorless on their own and magnify the flavors they are mixed with, which means you get the benefit without any weird tastes.

So what can the seed do for you?  

• Help you lose weight.  If you were to take some chia seeds and put them in a glass of water and return in about an hour, the water would become gelatinous because of all the soluble fiber in the seed.  This gelatin property helps you feel fuller longer.  In addition, it prevents calories from being absorbed since the gel provides a coating and prevents caloric absorption.
• Chia seeds are high in calcium.  In fact, they have more calcium than whole milk.
• Chia seeds have tons of anti-oxidant properties.  The same thing you find in blueberries and exotic fruits.  Anti-oxidants help you stay younger longer.  That's why chia seeds are capable of staying fresh for so long at room temperature without preservatives.  You can leave them on the counter for two years and they'll still remain fresh and ready to eat.
• Chia seeds have omega-3.  They have more omega-3 than salmon!  Omega-3 helps heart disease and other inflammatory causing problems, like arthritis.  In addition, they help to reduce blood pressure.
• Chia seeds give you energy.  Because they contain complete protein, and balance that with other vitamins and minerals, you'll have more energy that is long lasting.

There is an abundance of ways to include chia seeds in your diet; we've found just one tasty way by including it in our Organic Blue Corn Whale Tails!

For more health benefits of our unique tortilla chips, please contact us today!