There are so many vibrant organizations, people, and innovations that could be named the Elite Eight of Sustainability. When Bag The Box asked for my picks of the Elite Eight, I knew I was going to have a difficult time. I’ll admit my final list is missing some great picks, but here are my final choices for the Elite Eight of Sustainability. Runa Tea (organization): Runa was born from the traditions of the Kichwa people of the Amazon – sharing conversation and music over the tea. A group of students imagined that they could make a sustainable business that would both bring this idea around the world and support the Kichwa. Today, Runa has planted more than 150,000 new trees, conserved rainforest, and brought stability and higher income to struggling locals. Ocean “gyre” plastic (eco-innovation): The gyre plastic from the middle of the Pacific is just sitting there. Time to start putting it to use: Method soaps is starting to use gyre plastic for all their packaging instead of making new. Not only does this lessen the carbon footprint of their production, it helps lessen our previous impact.