Best New Innovation Experience | Winner
The Sustainable Care Co. Cleanery Coconut and Sandalwood Hand Soap
More plastic, more problems! Cleanery’s Coconut and Sandalwood Hand Soap aims for as few plastic problems as possible. In minutes, the innovative powder-to-gel formula produces elegant hand soaps that smell great and leave hands clean and moisturized. Consumers can either repurpose their own bottles or stock up on plant-based plastic bottles from Cleanery, slashing the amount of waste and emissions created by traditional cleaning products. The cherry on top is that Cleanery is its replicating its renewable-energy, low-emissions New Zealand factory in the U.S., with plans to offset any remaining carbon emissions to create a carbon-positive business.
Winner | Best New Beverage
The Equitea Co. Spiced Hibiscus Tea
The Equitea Co. Founder and CEO Quentin Vennie formulated this caffeine-free green tea with adaptogens and botanicals as part of his journey to heal himself from anxiety, depression and prescription drug addiction and help his son manage ADHD. With less than 50 calories and less than 10 grams of sugar per serving, the tea is blended with cinnamon, rosehips, elderberry, lemon peel, schisandra berry and honey. The BIPOC-owned company’s mission is to destigmatize mental health, expand pathways to wellness and help make mental health–centered products more accessible and equitable.
Best New Certified Organic or Regenerative Product | Winner
Gruff Ancient Grain Grits
Gruff offers up a new experience with a relatively underutilized grain, farro. While it’s usually consumed as a berry or flour, Gruff cracks the grain and turns it into nutrient-dense grits, the perfect addition to any meal. The farmer-focused Regenerative Organic Certified brand sources farro from a single multigenerational farm in Montana. Gruff encourages consumers to collaborate and experiment with farro, so it offers recipes and idea exchanges on its website. One ancient grain at a time, Gruff wants to connect consumers to healthy lands and healthy, community-driven eating.
Best New Sweet Snack | Winner
Pocket’s Chocolates Black Sesame Chocolate Almonds
Coming from an AAPI- and women-owned brand, Black Sesame Oat Milk Chocolate Almonds are making a splash in the snack aisle and beyond with their low sugar content and delightful flavor profile. Pocket’s Chocolates is on a mission to destigmatize Asian flavors and products, and this snack provides an easy entry point for American consumers to try something new. The company’s commitment to sustainable sourcing is a key part of its story, boasting Fair Trade certification and using Non-GMO Project Verified sesame seeds, almonds from a local farm and environmentally friendly organic oat milk.
Best New Condiment, Sauce and/or Dip | Winner
Smallhold Mushroom Pesto
These days, everybody is striving to boost their mushroom game. Smallhold delivers the fungus to natural and organic product enthusiasts by turning imperfect mushrooms (which normally would be tossed as waste) into pesto. Each container holds a half-pound of organic mushrooms, along with savory aromatics and oil, yielding a savory sauce with intense mushroom flavor. Bonus: the packaging is plastic-neutral certified.
Best New Functional Food or Beverage | Winner
Nirvana Water Sciences Super Cucumber Lime
A new take on a workout beverage, these functional waters go beyond hydration to focus on muscle strength, lean muscle mass and muscle recovery. The anchor action comes from the branded supplement ingredient myHMB Clear, a hydroxymethylbutyrate with decades of research and testing. Nirvana adds vitamin D3 to increase HMB uptake and electrolytes (because … electrolytes) and serves it up in a single-source spring water in trending flavors at a very reasonable $2.29—although to match clinical levels of HMB, drinkers will need two to three per day.
Best New Special Diet Food | Winner
Happy Wolf Apple Cinnamon Fridge-Fresh Bar
Bars continue to evolve, decades after they first became a thing, starting with the humble granola bar. This bar from Happy Wolf, co-developed by a founder mom who had a tough time finding healthy bars for her kids, skips preservatives, depending on refrigeration rather than ingredients to keep it fresh for a long time. This organic, non-GMO, allergen-free and Clean Label Project Certified bar turns to dates and honey for sweeteners and seed-butter for heft and flavor—and flavorful it is.
Best New Pantry Product | Winner
Atoria’s Family Bakery Upcycled SuperGrain Mini Naan Flatbread
Upcycled foods are cool, and Upcycled Supergrain Mini Naan Flatbread is no exception. Innovation is ingrained in Atoria’s Family Bakery, as evinced by this product’s nutrient-packed ingredients and packaging, which allows the bread to have a 14-day ambient shelf life. It uses 20% ReGrained Supergrain+ flour made from grains typically discarded at the end of the beer-brewing process, so diverting waste has never tasted so good.
Best New Supplement | Winner
Biocidin Botanicals G.I. InnerCalm Restore
Digestive upset is a real problem for many consumers, and the gut-brain axis is an emerging concept linking wellness with these two biological control centers. The plastic-free package contains individual-serving satchels of sugar-free powder that supports gastrointestinal and nervous-system health and helps manage occasional heartburn, bloating and gas.
Best New Condition-Specific Supplement | Winner
Better Being Co. Solaray Her Life Stages Perimenopause
News flash, not hot flash! While perimenopause and menopause are normal parts of aging for women, the associated changes and challenges are rarely discussed openly or addressed directly with supplements. Enter Solaray’s Her Life Stages Perimenopause, a doctor-formulated natural solution that supports a healthy cycle and provides targeted relief for key concerns reported by women. This hormone- and soy-free supplement is made with key nutrients and botanicals that address mood, sleep, blood sugar, hormonal balance and, yes, hot flashes. Women are truly the inspiration, but Solaray brings the innovation.
Best New Meat, Dairy or Animal Based Product | Winner
Painterland Sisters Plain Organic Skyr Yogurt
Painterland Sisters is a farmer-owned brand dedicated to bringing regenerative skyr yogurt to consumers. Milk is sourced from small, regenerative family farms in Pennsylvania and neighboring regions through the company’s vertically integrated, transparent model. Then an ultrafiltration process yields a more nutrient-dense yogurt than others on the market. At 21 grams of protein per serving (3/4 cup) and just 3 carbs, this lactose-free skyr offers a high protein ratio that carb-wary consumers can get behind. Lastly, a 24-ounce tub of certified-organic creamy plain yogurt is versatile for enhancing sweet and savory dishes.
Best New Plant-Focused Product | Winner
Atlantic Sea Farms Spicy Gochujang Seaweed Salad
Atlantic Sea Farms is a woman-run company at the tip of the spear in introducing clean, sustainable, domestic kelp at scale in the U.S. Featuring kelp, the “virtuous vegetable,” this seaweed salad delivers lively, bold flavors that are versatile enough to freshen up any dish yet satisfying enough to stand alone. This gluten-free, vegan, regeneratively grown snack is not only on (tasty) trend, it’s also a climate hero that captures carbon and nitrogen and improves water conditions for other important species.
Best New Dessert | Winner
Chocxo Chocolatier Dark Milk Chocolate Peppermint and Cookie Crunch Snaps
Looking for a one-of-a-kind holiday treat? Look no further. These snaps are a better-for-you alternative to other seasonal sweets, crafted thoughtfully with sustainably sourced cocoa beans that are naturally flavorful and not bitter, nixing the need for extra sugars. A combination of gluten-free cookie pieces, candy cane bits and Chocxo’s delicious milk chocolate, these treats are perfect for consumers looking to reduce their sugar intake without sacrificing the holiday spirit.
Best New Savory or Salty Snack | Winner
Maine Crisp Co. Better with Buckwheat Sea Salt Crackers
Maine farmers grow loads of buckwheat, which they rotate in the same fields that support the state’s vibrant potato industry. And while Down Easters do eat buckwheat—they even hold a festival to celebrate ploye, a kind of buckwheat pancake—much of the Maine crop gets exported to Japan (soba noodles), France (Brittany-style crepes) and Eastern Europe (blini). Now, however, Maine Crisp Co. sources its naturally gluten-free main ingredient from buckwheat farmers in its home state, as well as New York and the Upper Midwest, and turns the flour (crafted in a 19th century New York mill) into crunchy, flaky crackers. Eschewing preservatives, artificial flavors and sugar, these protein-rich, high-fiber snacks are pollinator friendly.
Best New People-Forward Product | Winner
GoodSAM Foods Brave Day Coffee
GoodSAM’s Brave Day Coffee not only tastes good, it does good too. This regeneratively grown, direct-trade, organic and Non-GMO Project Verified coffee is farmed by women who are victims of armed conflict in Colombia. These delicious sips advance regenerative agriculture and uplift communities that, traditionally, have been left out of the picture. The hints of dark chocolate, walnut and baking spice create the perfect pick-me-up for consumers and the planet.
Best New Personal Care or Beauty Product | Winner
Bfree Menstrual Cup
As a founding member of the Sustainable Menstrual Equity Coalition, Bfree knows a thing or two about periods. After seeing how lacking the means to manage a period negatively affects individuals and their communities, Bfree partnered with a cross-functional team to create this unique, no-boil period cup made of antibacterial silicone. This innovation gives women from communities without access to clean water a cost-effective, sustainable way to manage their periods. Through collaborations with the United Nations Global Compact and other organizations worldwide, Bfree’s invention addresses period poverty and offers equitable access to menstrual health education.
Best New Natural Living Product | Winner
Gear Hugger Heavy Duty Degreaser
Gear Hugger—winner of the Expo East 2022 Pitch Slam—makes plant-based, eco-friendly products that help keep gear in play longer, reduce waste and help protect the planet. New Heavy Duty Degreaser is a 96% USDA Certified Biobased Product, free of petroleum, fossil fuels and volatile organic compounds, so it’s safe for kiddos, animals and the planet. Using upcycled products from agave and tequila production, Gear Hugger helps turn hundreds of thousands of tons of waste into this easy-to-use, easy-to-love degreaser. Each bottle features a QR code for viewing blockchain-enabled ingredient traceability, so you know it’s the real deal.
Best New Meat Alternative or Dairy Alternative | Winner
Jinka Plant-Based Calamari
Though squid was marketed as a sustainable seafood in the early 2000s because of its abundant population, quick growth and adaptability, it has since been overfished and become one of the least sustainable seafood sources. This calamari made from chia seeds and pea protein—which tastes remarkably like the squid version—is the first product in a new clean-label, minimal-ingredient portfolio from Jinka, a BIPOC- and woman-owned company.
Best New Frozen Product | Winner
Afia Foods Mediterranean Falafel Bowl with Roasted Peppers and Tomatoes
Afia merges vibrant flavors with Lebanese and Turkish roots and sprinkles in a dash of modernization to create a gluten-free, non-GMO, Mediterranean masterpiece. Packed in a beautiful, reusable bowl featuring its heritage Syrian tile pattern, Afia brings authenticity and indulgence into every part of the dining experience. As a self-manufacturing company, Afia supports the community and refugees through employment opportunities, college education sponsorships and donations to food banks.
Best New Planet-Forward Product | Winner
Surthrival Black Walnut Protein Powder
It can be a bit shocking to learn how many steps it takes, from planting to production, to create a typical plant-based protein powder. Surthrival’s Black Walnut Protein Powder changes the game with “wild nutrition you can feel great about.” Foragers, family and friends collect black walnuts from the wild—and are paid fairly by the pound—then the walnuts are transferred to a third-generation family-owned business in Missouri. Deep in the heart of black walnut country, this protein powder comes to life. Unlike many other protein sources, black walnut is habitat friendly, meaning no agricultural land is used and no irrigation is required. Benefitting the soil, habitat, wildlife, waterways, foragers and local families, Black Walnut Protein Powder is planet and people forward.
Editors' Choice for Tasty Discovery
Arya International LLC Spinach Roll
Many consumers are already with naan, but Arya International is bringing another traditional Indian flatbread to the table: roti, which is sure to become a staple in many households. Arya is a New Jersey-based brand that creates classic Indian roti using clean ingredients, convenience and approachability while preserving authentic flavors and textures through heritage techniques. Arya’s ready-to-eat, vegan rotis are made with superfood spices, veggies and whole grains. Our editors' standout flavor, the Spinach Roti, is a vibrant green flatbread infused with whole cumin seeds that boasts a blistered surface and a soft, chewy texture, Its paper-thin, flaky layers are perfect for scooping up rich sauces or stews. Beyond being a curry accompaniment, these plant-based rotis are great replacements for tortillas, crepes, pitas and more. Arya ensures freshness by crafting and shipping the rotis frozen from its New Jersey factory, making them available chilled at retailers without the need for chemical preservatives, refined gums, starches, hydrogenated oils or added sugars.
Editors’ Choice for Brand Steward
HiBAR
HiBAR is a heck of a lot more than just a shampoo bar company. Pioneering a plastic-free lifestyle starting in the bathroom, the brand has expanded to high-quality plastic- and water-free shampoo and conditioner bars, face-wash bars and deodorants. Since 2018, it has eliminated nearly 5 million plastic bottles and saved more than 800,000 gallons of water—and it's just getting started. With products that volumize, moisturize and maintain hair; cleanse, renew and hydrate the face; and four different SKUs of deodorant, including one for sensitive skin, HiBAR has something for everyone, increasing its potential for making a positive impact.
Editors’ Choice for Innovation
Prime Roots Koji Foie Gras Torchon
Un-foie-gettable! In the spirit of true innovation, Prime Roots has transformed the guiltiest of culinary pleasures into delightful plant-based charcuterie. The Certified B Corp is committed to transforming Old World deli products into clean, sustainable offerings for today’s consumers. Koji is the hero ingredient behind Prime Roots’ offerings—which include salami, pâté and, our fave, foie gras—allowing the company to create mind-blowing meat analogues without nitrates and other preservatives common to the deli case. On the environmental front, a third-party lifecycle analysis confirmed that Prime Roots’ plant-based meat is 89% to 92% more sustainable than conventional animal proteins.
Editors’ Choice for New Packaging
Terraseed The Complete Multivitamin for Kids
Multis for children are pretty standard. But Terraseed is at the front of the class with a fully biodegradable, plastic-free container that features a childproof cap. All ingredients are plant sourced, from hemp-derived omega-3s and algae-derived vitamin D to the pectin-based gummies. Even the ink used in the company’s biodegradable mailers is made from algae. This product takes the honor roll for sustainability.