BOULDER - The founder of Eco-Products and Ellie's Eco Home Store in Boulder has launched a new business to distribute natural, organic and environmentally friendly home-and-garden products nationwide.

Steve Savage said his National Eco Wholesale Inc., or NEW, is responding to an increasing demand for natural, organic and environmentally friendly products from consumers at grocery, hardware, lawn and garden, home improvement, big-box and online retailers nationwide.

"Even in today's economy, consumer demand for natural, organic and eco-friendly products continues to grow at a significant pace," Savage said in a press release. "Sales of these products remain strong, growing at 10 percent to 15 percent, and retailers are expanding their offerings beyond natural and organic foods to include such products as non-toxic, green cleaners; natural and organic gardening and pest control products; recycled paper products and office supplies; and other green products for home and garden."

Savage said National Eco Wholesale will help retailers secure authentic green products at competitive prices. The new company also will serve as a reliable knowledge source on green products for retailers, he said.

National Eco Wholesale will begin operating on a regional basis from its warehouse in Boulder, and Savage eventually plans to open distribution centers on the East and West coasts to expand nationwide.