Karen Pinyon is the dynamic founder, owner, and operator of Pinyon Products. Pinyon Products is dedicated to manufacturing cloth reusable coffee filters, tea bags, and nut milk bags, all designed to reduce waste and promote sustainability. Karen’s mission is clear: replace disposable paper products with environmentally friendly, reusable options made from hemp fabric. We connected with her to learn more.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Pinyon Products is a manufacturer of Cloth Reusable Coffee Filters, Tea Bags and Nut Milk Bags.
What made you want to do this work?
I wanted to create a sustainable product line that would help eliminate waste using the environment-friendly hemp fabric.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
I wanted to replace disposable paper products such as coffee filters and tea bags with cloth reusable options.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Clientele are a wide range of coffee/tea drinkers concerned with the amount of waste produced and the effect it has on our planet.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
I sell wholesale and online.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
-The Soap Dispensary, Vancouver.
-Local Refillery, Courtenay.
-Homespun Refillery, Prince George.
-The Refill Shop, New Westminster.
-Shades of Green, Parksville.
-Mountain Refillery, Nelson.
-Vancouver Island Refillery, Nanaimo.
-Chickpeace Zero Waste, Kelowna.
-Purple Carrot, Lethbridge, AB.
-Zero Waste Emporium, Victoria.
-Pick Eco Refills, Chilliwack.
-Cupper’s Coffee&Tea, Lethbridge, AB.
Ask your local retail store if they carry Pinyon Products.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
I’m asked why Hemp often.
Hemp is naturally antibacterial and resistant to mold and mildew.
Hemp is easy to grow quickly and requires minimal resources. Hemp also replenishes the soil.
Hemp is 5x stronger than cotton, a longer lasting fabric.
Pinyon uses 55% Hemp/45% Organic Cotton. This weave density allows the coffee/tea to flow at the correct pace for a great brew.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part about Pinyon is creating, sewing and working for myself. The added bonus is to make a product I’m proud of, an eco item that helps to eliminate paper and production waste.
Stress and burnout is definitely a thing for small business owners.
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
Not really a joke but I’m asked ALL the time. Can you smoke it?
Where can we follow you?
Website | Instagram | Facebook
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Ash Refillery is another great store I frequent. Recently opened a new location in Colwood.
