who and what is spuds?
It's ironically endearing when great tragedy sparks creative good! In the summer of 2004 the founders of Spuds lost their nine week old daughter, Hannah to a still unexplained genetic manipulation. After exhaustive testing that concluded the genetic manipulation was a singularity and mathematically impossible to happen again they had a son, Austin. Thirteen short weeks later in the winter of 2005 they lost Austin to the same unexplained genetic manipulation. After exhaustive investigating they were astonished to learn about the plethora of known genetic DNA manipulation chemicals used in the production of so many of the products used on a daily bases. Even more astonishing is the use of these toxic chemicals in children's feeding and toy products that eventually end up in our environment.
While processing all this information, the Spuds garden was planted and began to grow! We are Spuds; a U.S. based natural and organic children's product designer and manufacturer, providing products needed to create a safe and healthy environment for today's children and generations to come.
From its humble beginnings Spuds objective of developing products and solutions that solve urgent problems surrounding environmental pollution, resource depletion and the growing concern over toxic chemicals leaching from existing children's products and intoxicating future generations before, during and after key developmental stages. Our work is inspired by four basic principles;
Spuds product lines are real solutions to the demand for convenience goods that are individually safe and healthy with little or no negative environmental impact. Indeed, our vegetable components enable us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the consumption of energy and of non-renewable resources with reclaimed raw materials of agricultural origin which are returned to the environment without releasing pollutants through the processes of biodegradation and composting, thereby completing a virtuous, Ecocentric circle.
Spudmer... all natural polymer
The Spuds team developed a vegetable (potato) based biodegradable solution. We are proud to offer the patented bio-plastic Spudmer.
By providing these and more benefits Spudsmer contributes to our vision of a healthier sustainable world though smart Ecocentric materials.
Nubber... spuds all natural rubber material.!
A renewable and sustainable enterprise, Spuds uses a proprietary clean technology to create an all natural, ultra-pure, high-quality and high-performance rubber affectionaly named Nubber.
Nubber is based on a plant native to the southwestern U.S. that Spuds has helped to developed into a global crop of products including Nubber.
Nubber is the safe, natural alternative for Type I latex allergy sufferers and protects the environment by containing;
• No artificial color
• No chemical softeners, BPA, PVC, Lead or phthalates
• No hormone disrupting chemicals
And are / is;
• All natural
• Sustainably harvested
• Completely Biodegradable
• Anti bacterial
• Non food based crop
• Domestic renewable crop
packaging... out of the box and into the garden!
Spuds packaging for its Ecocentric dinnerware products and toys are plantable. The Spuds team collaborated with some of the largest producers of organic seeds, to create the first ever, 100% compostable, biodegradable and plantable product packaging. It is manufactured with zero waste and created from 100% post-consumer material, without glues and dies.
Just soak the packaging for one minute or so and plant it about 1 inch deep in soil, it's that simple.
The Spuds package is a clean example of a visually appealing structure that supports our responsible brand story. The atypical design, the biodegradable nature of the cartons and the fact that they are embedded with flower seeds communicate responsible and sustainable values. Coming from the earth and going back to it. That's what we call Ecocentric.
Do no harm
It's not enough for the Spuds team to create the worlds first carbon neutral, healthy and ecocentric children's feeding line! Our children's future is and always has been our mission. To that end the Spuds team has decided to help combat a growing concern here in our own back yards. The tremendous decline in the economic climate has resulted in more and more families truly needing help to get by. We believe whole heartily NO child or person in this country should go to bed hungry. Spuds is working with a group of non-profit organizations that dedicate themselves entirely to helping put food on kids tables in this difficult economic time. Stay in touch to see the difference you can make!
come grow with us!
A career at Spuds offers a chance to be a part of the world's most up and coming beloved children's brand. Our team continues to build a great company together, and will achieve personal and professional success through working hard, working healthy and having fun together.
why Work At Spuds?
You can be a catalyst for success in a world-class company. At Spuds, you can see it right before your eyes. Through our Selection Process we strive to find a match between what a candidate loves to do and what we need them to do. We only hire candidates who are a match so that loving your job is easy. At Spuds, a good idea is much more than just an idea. It's our opportunity to motivate parents and kids to live a sustainable healthy lifestyle for themselves and the environment. This is the heart and the power of what we do: our innovations spark imaginations all over the world. It's easy to love what you do at Spuds.
personal development is a priority
Work at Spuds and without a doubt you know that your contributions and skills are seen, heard, and appreciated like a refreshing drop of fresh water that helps grow our company to new heights. Employees drive our success, we invite people to grow with us we support personal and professional development through Personal Development Plans, 360° feedback, on and offsite training, and individual coaching. Join Spuds and grow with us.
we have so much fun together
Fun is the face of Spuds. In the end, that's our greatest value, the heart of creativity here at Spuds. We offer people more than a job. We offer a tight-knit community where every job is essential and every employee has a voice. Mutual respect and appreciation is a Spuds tradition that we intend to preserve because it fosters an atmosphere that encourages new and different ideas. Join the garden, join the fun.
become a Spuds retailer
If you are a retailer in the U.S. and are interested in selling our products, we invite you to apply for a retailer account. Simply download and complete the merchant application on this page, all fields must be completed. Please be sure to return the completed application via email. Applications that are received through snail mail will not be reviewed, besides we'll just be wasting paper!
Once approved, our sales team will notify you of your account status. Depending on your specific business situation our sales team may ask for additional information.
Once your application has been approved, our sales team will send you a Spuds Retailer Operating Agreement. The agreement specifies the rules, regulations and procedures in which Spuds Inc. requires of all its retailers along with pricing information. You'll also recieve a password to the Spuds' wholesale page link located just to the right. Inside you'll get great news on specials, displays and upcoming new products ahead of the rest!
Spuds Inc. does not allow its products to be sold on EBay or any other auction site.
In the meantime, if you have any questions about our retailer program, please contact us at grow_spudsinc.com .
Spuds_Retail_Application.pdf
100% all natural Spudmer™ no chemical or oil based materials!
soft and flexible so not to harm baies sensitive gums.
double wall design helps maintain food temperature.
It’s an exciting time when your little one gets to add cereal and fruit into the mix. What better way to feed your hungry spud than with baby’s first spoon. Perfectly shaped for mom’s hand and baby’s mouth. Our baby’s feeding bowl works great with it!
available only in white.
double wall design helps keep drinks cool!
functional handle allows bowl to rest on your hand while feeding. Snap on coverhelps keep food on the spoon.
Our baby’s first bowl fits perfectly on mom or dad’s hand Use with baby’s first spoon for a delightful feeding experience. Happy baby not included.
all natural rubber feet!
function profile design doesnt allow those cute little fingers to grab the plate and toss, the design only allows the plate to be pushed and when its pushed the bottom rubber feet take over and bring the plate to a smooth stop!
section design is a great parent reminder to make sure kids are getting the right food groups, Also helps when kids dont want their foods to touch each other!
functional wider base design keeps the center of gravity lower and reduces tipping.
overall square design is easier for kids to grip and hold.
function profile design doesnt allow those cute little fingers to grab the bowl and bowl a frame or two, the design only allows the bowl to be pushed and when its pushed the bottom rubber feet take over and bring the plate to a smooth stop!
rugged double wall - unbreakable design.
thick robust design!
functional ergonomic grip with a cute little stopper designed in to stop the utensil from slipping down into your milk!
new design allows more food capacity toward the front of the utensils.
wide open design is great for kids that just like to mash it up!
function profile design doesnt allow those cute little fingers to grab the bowl play Frisbee, the design only allows the bowl to be pushed and when its pushed the bottom rubber feet take over and bring the plate to a smooth stop!
youve never seen a sippy cup like this one!
double wall design helps keep drinks cool, not to mention extremely rugged!
all natural Nubber™ snap on thread less nipple with patent pending no drip venting.
Plastic is every where!
Most of our waste today is comprised of plastic. Plastic, which is made from petroleum, is a material that the Earth cannot digest. Every bit of plastic that has ever been created still exists, except for a small amount that has been incinerated, releasing toxic chemicals.
After spending so much time and effort ensuring our kids are eating healthy, it can be frustrating to find out the spoon, plate or bottle theyre using to eat might contain something harmful. DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, DNOP, PVC, Lead, Styrene, BHT, Melamine and BPA, just to name a few. What can this alphabet soup of chemicals have to do with feeding our families? These chemicals can be found in plastic baby bottles, bowls, plates, baby spoons, teething toys, and more and can seep into food and drink from routine use. These chemicals have been linked by researchers to a slew of health concerns ranging from asthma to cancer.
And yet manufacturer and manufactuere, brand after brand continue to develop children's products using toxic materials! Some do this for simplicity, some do it becuase they don't know any better and some do it out of sheer complacency. Most of them simply doit for the money. it's cheaper to make the products with traditional plastic.
children and chemicals
Our Children today live in a world that is fundamentally different from that of 50 years ago. In many ways their world is better. The traditional infectious diseases have largely been eradicated. Infant mortality is greatly reduced. The expected life span of a baby born today in the United States is more than two decades longer than that of an infant born at the beginning of the twentieth century.
But at the same time our children face hazards that were neither known nor imagined a few decades ago. Children today are continually in contact with thousands of new synthetic chemicals. Since World War II, at least 80,000 chemical compounds have been invented and dispersed into the environment. Only a fraction of these new chemicals have been tested for their possible human toxicity. Fewer still have been assessed for their toxic effects on children.
Nearly 3,000 of these chemicals are high-production-volume (HPV) chemicals. They are produced in quantities of 1 million pounds or more per year. These HPV chemicals are distributed widely in the environment-in air, food, water, and consumer products. They can enter children's bodies by ingestion, inhalation, or through the skin. Of great concern is that only 43% have been tested for their possible human toxicity, and fewer than 20% for their capacity to interfere with children's development
toxic indeed
People and children are exposed to chemicals not only during manufacturing, but also by using everyday items like plastic dishes, utensils and packages; because some toxic chemicals migrate or leach from the plastic items to the foods they are used for. Examples of plastics contaminating food have been reported with most plastic types, including Styrene from polystyrene, plasticizers from PVC, antioxidants from polyethylene, and Acetaldehyde from PET to name just a few.
Among the factors controlling migration or leaching are the chemical structure of the migrants and the nature of the Items use. In studies cited in Food Additives and Contaminants, LDPE, HDPE, and polypropylene bottles released measurable levels of BHT, Chimassorb 81, Irganox PS 800, Irganix 1076, and Irganox 1010 among others into their contents of vegetable oil and ethanol. Evidence was also found that acetaldehyde migrated out of PET and into water. All proven to harm laboratory animals at one level or another.
Many of the cute plastic children's dishes we use are made with melamine, the product that caused urinary tract infections and kidney damage in China when ingested through infant formula. The FDA responded that no level of melamine exposure is safe for an infant. Studies as late as 2008 showed leaching from food containers such as mugs made of melamine into the contained food.
Many Children's dishes and bottles are made of polycarbonate plastic or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and are then softened using BPA and phthalates, which are known hormone disruptors. A hormone disruptor is a synthetic chemical that acts like or imitates natural hormones. Hormone disruptors may cause hormone alteration, reproductive system deficits, and low fertility in boys, and early-onset puberty in girls.
A Center for Disease Control study found BPA in 95% of urine of people tested; the younger the subject, the higher the concentration. The median level of chemical tested was higher than what we know can cause harm to animals. In January 2008, a report published by the National Toxicology Program found BPA to be of concern for fetuses and small children. BPA was first discovered in 1891 during a search for synthetic estrogens Chemicals from plastics are able to leach into your child's food or drink with everyday use and especially with high heat exposure (i.e. microwave use, dishwashing, sterilizing). Studies have recorded the leaching of BPA into the bottle when it is frozen, heated, at room temperature, reused, etc.
REALLY...
WHAT'S NEXT?
A sobering read about some health concerns
many chemicals not tested
Tens of thousands of synthetic chemicals are registered for use in manufacturing and industry in the U.S. Only a small percentage of these have been tested for their effects on human health. According to the EPA, of the nearly 3,000 top-selling chemicals in the U.S., only 7% have a full set of basic toxicity information. A leading pediatrician has been quoted as saying we are conducting a vast toxicological experiment, in which our children, and our children's children, are the experimental subjects. There are many choices you can make to eliminate synthetic chemicals in your home.
living organically
The umbilical cord delivers pollutants from the mother's body and from her environment to the baby in the womb. In a 2004 study, the umbilical cord blood of 10 babies were tested for industrial chemicals and an average of 200 chemicals were found including mercury, fire retardants, and pesticides.
While pregnant or breastfeeding, your developing baby is not only susceptible to what you eat, but also what you drink, inhale and put against your skin. As a parent, you will want to make sure your baby is surrounded by the healthiest environment you can provide. There are artificial chemicals everywhere and though much of your exposure is unavoidable, you can control exposure in your home by avoiding products with chemicals that are known or suspected to cause harm to you and your family. This simple change will make a difference as the EPA has found the air quality in our homes to be 2-5 times more toxic than the air outside (and even more in homes that use air fresheners!). From your babies feeding bottle to your toddlers lunch plate to the toys they all inevitability stuff in their mouth, all contribute to your child's overall health. Since most people spend up to 80% of their day inside, why not make your home as healthy as possible for you and your family?
taking a toll
Small doses can add up over time; many products that contain harmful chemicals have been tested and proven safe in small doses. However, researchers have not been able to measure the cumulative effects of multiple environmental influences added together throughout the day over a prolonged period of time. A study conducted at Tufts showed that small amounts of exposure to chemicals may be harmful when combined with other exposures.
why is this more important for children?
Children are more vulnerable to toxic substances than adults as they breathe more air per pound and their bodily systems are still developing and are therefore less able to handle toxic substances. In 1993, the National Academy of Sciences listed reasons why children are uniquely vulnerable to the harmful effects of chemicals: Pound for pound, a developing child's chemical exposures are greater than those of adults. A porous blood-brain barrier allows greater chemical exposures to the developing brain. Children have lower levels of chemical-binding proteins, allowing more of a chemical to reach target organs. A baby's organs and systems are rapidly developing and thus can be more vulnerable to damage from chemical exposure. In children, systems that can detoxify and excrete chemicals are not fully developed. The longer future life span of a child vs. an adult allows more time for adverse effects to arise.
children's unique vulnerability
Children are not simply "little adults." Four fundamental differences between children and adults contribute to children's heightened susceptibility to environmental toxins.
Children have disproportionately heavy exposures to environmental toxicants due to their greater intake pound-for-pound of food, water, and air, coupled with their unique behaviors - in particular, hand-to-mouth behavior.
Children's metabolic pathways, especially in the first months after birth, are immature.
In many instances, they are less able than adults to deal with toxic compounds.
Children are undergoing rapid growth and development. These developmental processes create windows of great vulnerability in which the course of development can be permanently disrupted by environmental toxins.
Because children have more future years of life than adults, they have more time to develop chronic diseases that may be initiated by early exposures
reasons for concern
Our children's generation is seeing a rise in cancer, asthma, birth defects, ADHD, and learning and developmental disabilities. We don't know for certain why this is happening yet. Our country's leading researchers all agree that much of this could be due to the introduction of so many new toxic chemicals to the market and then subsequently into our home.
The U.S. CDC says that from 1980-2005, there was a 200% increase in asthma in school age children and rising in preschool age children.
Childhood cancers such as acute lymhocytic leukemia jumped 27% from 1973-1990.
The American Cancer Society estimates that environmental factors contribute to 75% of cancer cases. The International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that 80% of cancer is attributable to the environment. After accidents, cancer is the biggest killer of American children and childhood brain cancer increased almost 40% between 1973 - 1994. Studies link exposure to household toxins to cancer, asthma, and learning disabilities.
Hormone disruption, over the last 20 years, possibly due to environmental chemical exposures, puberty is starting earlier in girls and sperm counts are lower in men. Autism, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Hyperactivity Disorder in children have risen at alarming rates.
its not too late
In an NIH study, urine samples were collected from suburban children. Pesticide breakdown products were found routinely in the samples. The researchers then replaced all the foods the children ate with the organic version. Within 24 hours, the concentration of pesticide breakdown products dropped significantly. After returning to their previous diets, the levels of exposure to organophosphate pesticides returned, sometimes above the safety limits set by the FDA. This is the same case as with BPA in children's products as well as most all plastics. Exposure to one or two products may be o.k., but the continued exposure to these toxins in almost every product we use on a day to day base is a compounding problem.
research still being done
Though many of the negative effects of these synthetic chemicals have only yet been proven in animals, Bill Walker, Vice President of the Environmental Working Group, says, "There's never been a chemical found that affects animals, but has no effect on humans".
toxic_baby_bottles.pdf
BabysToxicBottleFinal.pdf
The Melamine Story I.pdf
The Melamine Story II.pdf
Children and Chronic Diseases
The combination of children's exposures to newly developed chemicals along with the triumph of vaccines and antibiotics have changed the face of childhood illnesses in the United States. While the classic infectious diseases have been largely conquered, they have been replaced by complex chronic diseases
Patterns of illness in American children have changed dramatically in the past century. Asthma, learning disabilities, allergies, obesity and leukemia have replaced polio, smallpox and measles as the most highly prevalent and most feared of childhood diseases. Toxins in our homes, at schools, in the air we breathe, and in the products we use every day have been implicated as causes of some of these diseases. And these diseases are on the rise.
Asthma rates have more than doubled in the past three decades.
Asthma is now the leading cause of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and school absenteeism.
One of every six American children has a developmental disorder such as ADHD, dyslexia, and mental retardation.
One in every 150 American children is now diagnosed with autism.
Primary brain cancer increased by nearly 40% and leukemia increased by over 60% among children 14 years and younger from 1975 to 2004.
Childhood obesity has quadrupled in the past ten years.
Type 2 diabetes, previously unknown among children, is becoming epidemic.
where does all that plastic go?
In the broad expanse of the northern Pacific
Ocean, there exists the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a slowly moving, clockwise spiral of currents created by a high-pressure system of air currents. The area is an oceanic desert, filled with tiny phytoplankton but few big fish or mammals. Due to its lack of large fish and gentle breezes, fishermen and sailors rarely travel through the gyre. But the area is filled with something besides plankton: trash, millions of pounds of it, most of it plastic. It's the largest landfill in the world, and it floats in the middle of the ocean.
The gyre has actually given birth to two large masses of ever-accumulating trash, known as the Western and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patches, sometimes collectively called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
The Eastern Garbage Patch floats between Hawaii and California; scientists estimate its size as two times bigger than Texas [source: LA Times].
The Western Garbage Patch forms east of Japan and west of Hawaii. Each swirling mass of refuse is massive and collects trash from all over the world. The patches are connected by a thin 6,000-mile long current called the Subtropical Convergence Zone.
Research flights showed that significant amounts of trash also accumulate in the Convergence Zone.
The garbage patches present numerous hazards to marine life, fishing and tourism. But before we discuss those, it's important to look at the role of plastic.
Plastic constitutes 90 percent of all trash floating in the world's oceans [source: LA Times]. The United Nations Environment Program estimated in 2006 that every square mile of ocean hosts 46,000 pieces of floating plastic [source: UN Environment Program].
In some areas, the amount of plastic outweighs the amount of plankton by a ratio of six to one. Of the more than 200 billion pounds of plastic the world produces each year, about 10 percent ends up in the ocean [source: Greenpeace]. Seventy percent of that eventually sinks, damaging life on the ocean floor [source: Greenpeace]. The rest floats; much of it ends up in gyres and the massive garbage patches that form there, with some plastic eventually washing up on a distant shore.
Spuds Company Overview Final.pdf
Spuds Product Overview Draft Final.pdf
Spuds TLC PR - FINAL.pdf
Thank you so much for your interest in Spuds! We love working with bloggers & news media outlets to review our products and offer giveaways to their readers. However, as you can imagine, creating the first & only all natural children's product line the sheer volume of requests we've been receiving is overwhelming. While this is a wonderful problem to have, we certainly don't want to leave anyone out or delay your schedules in any way. Spuds decided to create a company sponsored Blogger Program to help us respond in kind to the requests we receive.
Below are three different levels of bloggers. What determines the level in which you fall is your verified monthly blog traffic. If you would like to review Spuds products on your blog, please fill out the form to the side and provide as many statistics as you can. Also, let us know what products you are interested in reviewing. We will contact you regarding your request and ask you to verify your traffic.
Giveaways are also a popular draw for traffic among our bloggers. The level in which you fall will also determine the value of the giveaway we are willing to donate. All giveaways will be shipped directly from Spuds and all you need to do is send us the name, address, and phone number of your winner. If you see a product that you wish to review but it is above your qualification level, please let us know.
Thank you for your interest!
CULTIVATOR
Qualification: 20,001 + Unique Monthly Visitors
SPROUT
Qualification: 5,001 20,000 Unique Monthly Visitors
SEEDLING
Qualification: 1,000 5,000 Unique Monthly Visitors
Spuds corporate home and manufacturing is currently centrally located in the Midwest, about two hours southwest of Chicago, on old route 66 in Dwight, IL.
I f you need to contact us, shoot an email to grow_spudsinc.com . We will endeavor to respond to all inquires in a timely manner.
the Spuds team would like to thank you for taking the time to visit us!
