EARTH DAY 2026
We are old enough to remember the first Earth Day in 1970 and the excitement it generated! This was the year that so much political attention was given to cleaning up our environment, and the passage of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. And the 20 million people that celebrated Earth Day pushed for the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.
With President Nixon in the White House, these were hardly the acts of a crazy left wing radical agenda either! Five decades later, some things are better, but so many things are much worse. Yet, sadly, we see each year a smaller and smaller Earth Day celebration!
Vermont Violins take sustainability very seriously and we always like to give a nod to the products and manufacturers who share out vision of offering musical options that have a positive impact on our planet. For Earth Day 2026 we have assembled a host of incredible products in every category that are made at the highest quality level and in a sustainable way! Music should make the world a better place: help us celebrate our great planet with these outstanding products!
Sustainably Made In Vermont
Every instrument we create reflects our commitment to excellence. We strive to provide the highest quality for every musician.
Sustainable, Sensible, Secure.
Feel the energy of a brighter future for music!
V. Richelieu Violins & Violas — Sustainably Made in Vermont
V. Richelieu instruments are 100% handcrafted in Vermont, with hand-split Italian and Swiss spruce tonewoods and Bosnian maple — all sourced through responsible supply chains that prioritize traceability and quality over volume. Each instrument is hand-graduated by our senior luthiers and finished with oil-based varnish applied by a portrait artist, making every V. Richelieu violin or viola a singular, handmade object — the very antithesis of mass production. Buying locally made means fewer air miles, a fully transparent production chain, and the satisfaction of knowing your instrument was made by people who live and work in the community.
NuBow — Bamboo Violin Bow by Rodney Mohr
Rodney Mohr is widely regarded as one of the foremost bow makers of his generation — a multiple international gold medalist who now sits on the judging panel at the world's premier competitions. His NuBow represents years of rigorous research into a post-pernambuco future for bow making, arriving at bamboo — one of the planet's most rapidly renewable natural resources — as the answer, through a patented lamination process that produces playing characteristics remarkably consistent with traditional fine bows. With a frog and fittings crafted from Sonowood®, a sustainably derived Swiss wood composite, and every material fully CITES-compliant and travel-legal without permits, the NuBow is a genuinely extraordinary instrument in every sense of the word.
GEWA Bio-A Violin Case
GEWA is one of Germany's most respected instrument case manufacturers, with decades of engineering expertise applied to protecting the world's finest string instruments. Their Bio-A case breaks new ground by constructing its shell from compressed organic flax fiber — a natural composite with exceptional strength-to-weight performance — making approximately 90% of the case fully biodegradable without compromising protection. This is not greenwashing; it is rigorous German craftsmanship applied to a genuine environmental problem, delivering a fully suspended, professional-grade violin case under $200 that you can feel proud to own.
Jakob Winter Greenline Case
Jakob Winter has been a leading European manufacturer of instrument cases for over 120 years, and their Greenline series represents their most forward-thinking contribution to sustainable instrument protection. The Greenline cases are constructed from natural fibers — kenaf, hemp, and flax — pressed together using a revolutionary one-shot technique that requires no toxic glues or adhesives. The result is an odorless, weather-resistant, lightweight hard case made entirely in Germany, with an eco-friendly cotton velvet interior that is as considerate of your violin as it is of the world outside.
Leatherwood EcoRosin
Leatherwood Bespoke Rosin, crafted in Australia, has long been revered among discerning string players for its artisanal approach to rosin formulation — and their EcoRosin line takes that commitment one extraordinary step further. EcoRosin is formulated from plant-based resins, organic oils, and waxes, wrapped in a 100% hemp dew-retted fabric, and housed in an SCS-certified recycled container — with estimated carbon emissions offset through investment in renewable energy projects. Completely vegan, fully biodegradable, and instrument-specific for violin, viola, and cello, it is proof that the most refined rosin on the market does not have to leave a trace on the planet.
Katalox Bow by Dylan Kole
Dylan Kole, building out of the Chicago Luthier Cooperative, has created a viola bow that answers one of the craft's most pressing questions: how do you deliver professional-grade performance without relying on endangered or legally restricted materials? The Katalox bow uses a dense, legally traceable tropical hardwood with the elasticity and tonal richness players demand, paired with Ebonprex fittings — a sustainably derived wood composite — ensuring every material is fully documented, CITES-unrestricted, and border-compliant. This is a bow built for the world as it is now: ethically sourced, professionally performing, and ready to travel without compromise.
K&M (König & Meyer) Music Stands
Founded in 1949 in Wertheim, Germany, König & Meyer has spent over 75 years setting the standard for precision-engineered music stands and accessories — and their environmental record is as distinguished as their product legacy. K&M holds ISO-14001 environmental certification, reflecting their decades-long commitment to responsible resource consumption and environmental impact protection.
Their wooden stands are sourced from sustainable forestry, and their industry-leading 5-year warranty and 10-year replacement parts program ensure that longevity — not disposability — is the design philosophy. When you purchase a K&M stand, you are buying something built to last a lifetime, by a company that takes that responsibility seriously.
Connolly Music is the proud U.S. distributor of K&M stands. A family-owned company operating since 1970, Connolly Music has spent over five decades curating a portfolio of world-class musical products and connecting exceptional makers with the players, educators, and dealers who rely on them. Their long-standing distribution partnership with K&M reflects a shared philosophy: that the best products are built with integrity, for the long term.
D'Addario Playback String Recycling Program
D'Addario is the world's largest string manufacturer — and they leverage that position to raise the environmental bar for an entire industry. Their Playback program, powered by TerraCycle, collects used guitar and orchestral strings of all brands, separates metal from nylon, and melts the metals down into new alloys while recycling nylon into industrial plastic applications — diverting what would otherwise accumulate in landfills. To date, nearly 13 million strings have been recycled through Playback, and the program accepts strings from every manufacturer, not just D'Addario — a detail that speaks volumes about their genuine commitment to industry-wide change rather than mere brand promotion.
Vermont Violin & Viola Blankets — Handmade by Green Star Playhouse
These luminous instrument blankets are handcrafted in Vermont from upcycled cottons — fabrics given a second life rather than a landfill fate. Each blanket is pre-washed, hot-iron tested to ensure no damage to instrument finishes, and entirely one-of-a-kind, making them as personal as they are responsible. A violin blanket is one of those rare gifts that is both utterly practical and unexpectedly beautiful — and it is the kind of present that says something meaningful: I see what you love, and I want to protect it.
Eco Bamboo Water Bottle — V. Richelieu Branded
Because every musician needs to stay hydrated — preferably not from a plastic bottle that will outlast the solar system. Our V. Richelieu branded bamboo water bottles are crafted from real bamboo, making each one naturally unique in grain and appearance, with a built-in tea steeper for the musician who likes to practice with a warm cup nearby. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on earth, requiring no pesticides, no replanting, and minimal water — making it one of the most genuinely sustainable materials available for everyday use.
Sustainable Mechanical Pencils
Every musician annotates their music — and every annotation deserves a writing instrument as considered as the music itself. Our sustainable mechanical pencils are designed to eliminate the waste cycle of disposable pencils entirely: refillable, durable, and built to last through years of rehearsals, masterclasses, and performances. In a world that generates extraordinary amounts of everyday plastic waste, choosing a sustainable pencil is a small decision with a compounding impact.
A WORD ABOUT FSC CERTIFICATION
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification is the global gold standard for responsible forestry — ensuring that wood products are sourced from forests managed for long-term ecological health, biodiversity, and community benefit. Vermont Violins is proud to carry FSC-certified musical products, and we encourage every musician to ask about certification when purchasing instruments and accessories. Please ask us about the availability of FSC-certified products in our collection.
THE GIFT OF MUSIC IS THE GIFT OF HOPE
This Earth Day, in a time of war, environmental backsliding, and shrinking civic celebration, we want to offer a different kind of message.
Give a violin player in your life something extraordinary. Not despite the difficulty of the times — but as a direct response to it. Because the act of making music is an act of faith in the future. It says: I believe there will be mornings after this one. I believe beauty still matters. I believe this planet is worth protecting.
Every one of the products on this page was chosen because someone — a German engineer, an Australian rosin maker, an Illinois bow maker, a Vermont luthier — decided to do things differently. To look at the materials they used and ask harder questions. To build something worthy of the world they hoped to inhabit.
That is what Earth Day was always about.
Celebrate it. Gift it. Mean it.
Shop our full Earth Day 2026 collection at Vermont Violins.
FEATURED PRODUCTS FOR EARTH DAY 2026
The Gewa Bio-A Violin Case - An environmentally-friendly case for your violin. Made from flax fiber sheets, lined and upholstered to create a renewable answer to case luxury. Only 2.8 kg. Available in four colors: Blue, lime, violet, and beige. Offers protection to both your violin...and the planet!
PROTECT YOUR VIOLIN. PROTECT THE PLANET.
There are very few moments in retail when a product genuinely surprises you — when something priced accessibly turns out to be thoughtfully engineered, responsibly made, and good enough that you actively want to tell people about it. The GEWA Bio-A Violin Case is one of those products. It is our clear recommendation for any violinist looking for the best violin case under $200, and it is a case we support not just because of what it does for your instrument, but because of what it stands for as an object.
Who Is the GEWA Bio-A For?
This case was designed for students, budget-conscious players, parents equipping a child for lessons, and musicians who prioritise environmental responsibility alongside practical performance. If you are searching for a well-made, fully functional violin case that does not demand a significant financial commitment — and that does not come at the planet's expense — the Bio-A is your answer.
The GEWA Credential
GEWA is a German manufacturer and one of the most respected case makers in the world. That heritage matters. A GEWA case is not an anonymous product; it is the output of a company with decades of engineering knowledge applied to the specific demands of string instrument protection. The Bio-A is simple, yes. But it is GEWA-simple — which means the latches work, the hinges hold, the suspension is properly engineered, and the overall construction meets a standard that genuinely protects what is inside.
The Organic Flax Shell: Why It Matters
The most distinctive feature of the Bio-A is its shell material. Rather than ABS plastic or fibreglass, this case is constructed from compressed organic flax fibre sheets, formed into a rigid, shaped shell. The result is a surface that looks and feels like a natural material — because it is — while delivering the structural rigidity required to protect a violin from real-world impact.
What makes flax fibre particularly compelling from an engineering standpoint is its strength-to-weight ratio. Flax is a natural composite — its fibres have excellent tensile strength and are naturally stiff when compressed into sheets — which is why flax-based materials have found applications in aerospace and automotive engineering in addition to instrument cases. The Bio-A shell is hard to the touch, not soft; it provides genuine impact resistance, not the cosmetic protection of a padded bag.
Approximately 90% of the Bio-A's construction is biodegradable. The metal hardware — hinges, latches, bow holder fittings — accounts for the non-biodegradable remainder, which is unavoidable in any functional case. But the shell itself, the material that gives this case its form and its protection, will return to the earth at the end of its useful life. For musicians who care about their environmental footprint, this is a meaningful distinction.
Suspension: Fully Suspended Interior
Despite its price point, the Bio-A offers a fully suspended interior — meaning the violin rests on cushioned supports rather than lying directly on the case floor. Suspension is the most important protective feature a case interior can offer. A suspended instrument absorbs vibration and shock through the cushions rather than through the instrument's body. At the Bio-A's price, this is not a given — it is a genuine differentiator and a reflection of GEWA's commitment to meaningful protection at every tier of their range.
The black velvet interior is clean, well-fitted, and padded to a standard that keeps the instrument securely positioned during transport.
The under-$200 violin case market is crowded with products that look functional in a photograph and disappoint in practice — cases where the latches stick, the suspension compresses on first use, or the hinges weaken within a season. The Bio-A sidesteps all of that because it comes from a manufacturer that builds cases the right way, regardless of the price tier. The open interior layout is intentionally simple — there is no elaborate shaped foam interior — but that spaciousness is a practical asset. It gives you room to carry a shoulder rest, rosin, strings, and accessories alongside your violin without crowding.
The Vermont Violins Verdict
We recommend the GEWA Bio-A to customers looking for an affordable, well-made case with a clear conscience. It is durable without being heavy, functional without being complicated, and eco-friendly without making any compromises that would give us pause. GEWA made this case right, and we are proud to carry it. If your budget is under $200 and you want a case that will genuinely protect your instrument — and that you can feel good about buying — the Bio-A is our answer.
Outside Features:
- Material technology from renewable natural fibers
- No use of toxic glues due to One -Shot press technique
- Resistant, shock absorbing hard cover
- Water repellent and weather resistant
- Lightweight build to maximize low weight and optimized for easy -carry
- Removable/Detachable outside pocket for large sheet music (39 x 26 cm)
- 2 Easy -Access locks
- Backpack system with 2 carrying straps
- Comfortable non -slip soft handle
Inside Features:
- Inside lining consists of high quality, eco -friendly cotton velvet
- Odorless inside as no toxic glues are used
- Polystyrene insert instrument protection system for optimal protection
- Suspension system for shock protection
- String tube
- Accessory pocket and pocket for shoulder rest
- 2 Hill -style bow holders
Music stand with a curved baroque design. Made from solid beech. The stand is available in three natural finishes.
An elegant music stand with an angular, 4-leg design for optimum stability. Made from solid beech. The stand is available in three natural finishes.
ETA - 3 Weeks
You can also book a trial- HERE
Katalox Viola Bow — Dylan Kole | Chicago Luthier Cooperative
Sustainably crafted. Professionally performed.
Built from katalox — a dense, legally traceable tropical hardwood — this viola bow delivers the elasticity, tonal richness, and fast attack that players expect from the finest traditional sticks, without the sourcing complications of CITES-listed materials.
The frog and fittings are crafted from Ebonprex, a sustainably derived wood composite that replicates the weight and grain character of ebony. A silk winding and single silver accent at the collar ensure precise balance, while a silver head plate at the tip shifts the balance point toward the playing end — exactly where experienced violists want it.
Every material is fully documented and travel-compliant. No permits. No border complications. No compromises on sound.
Stick: Katalox — sustainably sourced tropical hardwood
Frog & fittings: Ebonprex (ebony alternative)
Winding: Silk
Accents: Silver collar ring & silver tip plate
Sound character: Lively, full, fast-responding — rich in overtones
Travel compliance: All materials legally traceable and CITES-unrestricted
For nearly two centuries, the finest violin bows in the world have been crafted from pernambuco (Caesalpinia echinata) — a dense, long-fiber Brazilian hardwood renowned for its extraordinary elasticity, tonal resonance, and ability to hold camber over decades of rigorous play. Those properties made it irreplaceable. Its scarcity is now making it unavailable.
Pernambuco forests once stretched across Brazil's Atlantic coast. Today, what remains occupies a total landmass no larger than the state of Rhode Island. The Brazilian government has banned all domestic logging of the species. International trade in raw pernambuco is prohibited under CITES regulations. The world's supply is not merely dwindling — it is effectively closed. Every serious bow maker working today knows what this means for the future of the craft.
Rodney Mohr knows better than most.
Crafted by the World's Most Decorated Bow Maker
Rodney Mohr is widely recognized as one of the foremost bow makers of his generation. A multiple gold medalist at international bow making competitions, he has since moved to the judging panel — his work considered the standard against which others are measured. A dedicated teacher and mentor, he has trained generations of bow makers and has spent decades championing the integrity of the craft.
Mohr has long understood that a bow-making tradition permanently dependent on an endangered, legally restricted material is a tradition with a finite lifespan. Concerned that bow making could face the same fate as scrimshaw — a distinguished craft rendered obsolete by the prohibition of its core material — he embarked on an intensive research program to find an alternative worthy of the tradition.
After extensive experimentation with numerous species, he arrived at an unexpected answer: bamboo.
Rodney Mohr is one of these master builders of fine bows for the orchestral strings that has many ideas and dreams of creating. Rodney developed and designed violin bows from one of nature’s most renewable resources, bamboo. The Nubow, now patented, meets performance demands while intentionally created for sustainability. The strength, gram weight, and durability of the NuBow, along with its exceptional playing qualities, contribute to the bow’s responsiveness. The NuBow has playing characteristics that are remarkably consistent to that of a traditional pernambuco specie bow. The frog and button material are made from a product that is durable and scratch-resistant called Sonowood® by Swiss Wood Solutions, AG. The bow is mounted in sterling silver and the frog is accented in glistening Caribbean Opal- a simulated man-made mother-of-pearl which is exceptionally durable. The bow is a knockout.
Rodney is also experimenting with a mixture of bamboo and other sustainable woods laminated together. Functional strength, beauty, and always playability are constantly the maker’s goals. Because let’s face it, if it doesn’t play well and make your instrument sound fantastic, it will not be sought after. These new bows are something to look forward to and adding to your bow collection. You may have to also start saving for a new case that holds four bows.
Weight fully haired 61.3 grams
The Science Behind the Choice
Bamboo appears, at first glance, to be a counterintuitive material for bow making — it is hollow, grows in segments, and bears little physical resemblance to the dense tropical hardwoods bow makers have relied upon. But Mohr's innovation lies not in the raw material alone, but in the engineering.
Through a proprietary lamination process — now patented — Mohr transforms bamboo culms into a structurally unified bow stick with playing characteristics that rival, and in certain respects complement, those of traditional pernambuco bows. The result is the NuBow: a violin bow that delivers the responsiveness, camber retention, and tonal projection that serious players demand, built from one of the planet's most abundant and rapidly renewable resources.
CNC precision manufacturing is integrated into the production process, ensuring dimensional consistency across each bow — a level of accuracy that hand-work alone cannot guarantee at this standard.
Vermont Violins' Assessment
Vermont Violins evaluates bows against a rigorous standard: Does it serve the player? Does it honor the instrument? Does it reflect responsible stewardship of the materials it relies upon?
The NuBow checks every one of those criteria. It produces genuine resonance, draws tone from the instrument, and responds with the kind of feedback that allows both advancing students and seasoned professionals to play expressively and with confidence. It is currently being played by professionals and dedicated amateurs across the country, and the response has been consistently enthusiastic.
It is also — and this matters to us — fully legal to own, travel with, and sell across all international jurisdictions, with no CITES documentation required.
Priced competitively with a fine mid-range pernambuco bow, the NuBow represents a genuinely compelling choice for any player ready to invest in something that will last, perform, and carry no ethical compromise.
Premium Plant-Based Rosin for the Conscious String Player
Crafted in Australia by the acclaimed makers at Leatherwood Bespoke Rosin, ecoRosin is the instrument world's answer to sustainable, high-performance rosin. Formulated entirely from plant-based resins, organic oils, and natural waxes — including hemp — ecoRosin delivers the tonal clarity and responsive grip that discerning string players demand, without compromise to the planet.
Each recipe is instrument-specific, calibrated to provide a clean, precise bow attack with a low-to-medium traction that encourages a warm, resonant, open sound. Whether you play violin, viola, or cello, ecoRosin offers a recipe tuned to the unique demands of your instrument.
Why ecoRosin? Every element of ecoRosin has been designed with environmental integrity in mind: 100% hemp dew-retted fabric wrap, SCS-certified recycled packaging, fully biodegradable ingredients, zero animal products, and estimated carbon emissions offset through renewable energy investment. It is completely vegan-friendly and leaves no lasting waste.
At Vermont Violins, we stock ecoRosin as part of our commitment to offering products that are as responsible as they are refined. An ideal choice for students, professionals, and eco-conscious players alike.
Key Features:
Plant-based resins, organic waxes & oils
100% hemp fabric wrap (violin, viola & cello)
SCS-certified recycled rosin container
Biodegradable & vegan
Carbon-offset production
Instrument-specific recipes for violin, viola & cello
Please Note: Cloth is for illustration purpose only.
This stylish tumbler will have anyone feeling zen and feeling good about the environment! Since it's made of real bamboo, each bottle varies in look, making each one unique! It also includes a built-in tea steeper, making it easy to take your tea on-the-go.
Give your violin or viola the gentle care it deserves with these sustainably handcrafted blankets from Green Star Playhouse. Made in Vermont from upcycled cottons, each blanket cushions your instrument perfectly in its case while adding artisan charm. Pre-washed and hot-iron tested to ensure no damage to delicate finishes, every blanket is truly one-of-a-kind. Perfect for safe storage between practice sessions or as a thoughtful gift for any musician who treasures their instrument. Hand wash recommended or gentle machine wash and dry.
Blanket Suitable for: 4/4 or ¾ Violin
Give your violin or viola the gentle care it deserves with these sustainably handcrafted blankets from Green Star Playhouse. Made in Vermont from upcycled cottons, each blanket cushions your instrument perfectly in its case while adding artisan charm. Pre-washed and hot-iron tested to ensure no damage to delicate finishes, every blanket is truly one-of-a-kind. Perfect for safe storage between practice sessions or as a thoughtful gift for any musician who treasures their instrument. Hand wash recommended or gentle machine wash and dry.
Blanket Suitable for: 4/4
Give your violin or viola the gentle care it deserves with these sustainably handcrafted blankets from Green Star Playhouse. Made in Vermont from upcycled cottons, each blanket cushions your instrument perfectly in its case while adding artisan charm. Pre-washed and hot-iron tested to ensure no damage to delicate finishes, every blanket is truly one-of-a-kind. Perfect for safe storage between practice sessions or as a thoughtful gift for any musician who treasures their instrument. Hand wash recommended or gentle machine wash and dry.
Blanket Suitable for: 4/4
Give your violin or viola the gentle care it deserves with these sustainably handcrafted blankets from Green Star Playhouse. Made in Vermont from upcycled cottons, each blanket cushions your instrument perfectly in its case while adding artisan charm. Pre-washed and hot-iron tested to ensure no damage to delicate finishes, every blanket is truly one-of-a-kind. Perfect for safe storage between practice sessions or as a thoughtful gift for any musician who treasures their instrument. Hand wash recommended or gentle machine wash and dry.
Blanket Suitable for: 4/4
V. Richelieu violins are 100% made in Vermont. Hand-split spruce tonewood is imported from Italy and Switzerland; maple comes to us from Bosnia. Together, these woods form a violin of unique distinction offering fine instrument quality at very affordable prices.
Each instrument is hand-graduated by our senior luthiers. The oil-based varnish is hand painted by an accomplished oil portrait artist. Each instrument is unique, but each offers a tonal quality perfect for the advancing student, conservatory student or professional player.
V. Richelieu viola are 100% made in Vermont. Hand-split spruce tonewood is imported from Italy and Switzerland; maple comes to us from Bosnia. Together, these woods form a viola of unique distinction offering fine instrument quality at very affordable prices.Our child-sized violas are true violas: modeled after a 16” model, scaled down for children. Finally, a fractional viola that actually sounds like a viola! Most small violas are modeled after violins, and the resulting instruments never perform…our V. Richelieu violas sing with the resonance a viola is meant to have: from the soaring highs of the A string to the haunting lows of the C.Each instrument is hand-graduated by our senior luthiers. The oil-based varnish is hand painted by an accomplished oil portrait artist. Each instrument is unique, but each offers a tonal quality perfect for the advancing student, conservatory student or professional player.
V. Richelieu viola are 100% made in Vermont. Hand-split spruce tonewood is imported from Italy and Switzerland; maple comes to us from Bosnia. Together, these woods form a viola of unique distinction offering fine instrument quality at very affordable prices.
Our child-sized violas are true violas: modeled after a 16” model, scaled down for children. Finally, a fractional viola that actually sounds like a viola! Most small violas are modeled after violins, and the resulting instruments never perform…our V. Richelieu violas sing with the resonance a viola is meant to have: from the soaring highs of the A string to the haunting lows of the C.
Each instrument is hand-graduated by our senior luthiers. The oil-based varnish is hand painted by an accomplished oil portrait artist. Each instrument is unique, but each offers a tonal quality perfect for the advancing student, conservatory student or professional player.
