Sep 1, 2009

The summer 2009 Eco Choice Awards go to…

Winners of the first-ever Eco Choice Awards were selected by retailers at the August 2009 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), with top honors bestowed to “green” gift and home products in three categories – Most Innovative, Most Sensitive Use of Materials and Most Sellable.

The awards, which are co-sponsored by GREENRetailer magazine and NYIGF, recognize the industry’s most innovative, environmentally responsible products. More than 175 “green” products in NYIGF’s SustainAbility: design for a better world® display were considered by retailers, and winners were selected for inventiveness, newness, aesthetics and functionality.

Winners of the 1st semi-annual Eco Choice Awards are:

MOST INNOVATIVE: Cocoa 2 Candle and Baby*Bird Feeder by Vanishing Creatures
This multi-purpose gift leaves virtually no waste. After the chocolate is consumed, the box is repurposed into either a candle holder or a bird feeder. The organic, hand-sculpted dark chocolate is shaped as one of five animals – elephant, gorilla, polar bear, hippopotamus or koala, and the company gives a percentage of profits to the World Wildlife Federation. www.vanishingcreatures.com

MOST SENSITIVE USE OF MATERIALS: Gold Bar Pillows by Lulan™ Artisans
These 100% all natural silk products are hand-twisted, hand-spun, hand-woven, hand-washed and hand-finished using local natural materials raised without pesticides or herbicides. Manufacture of these products is Fair Trade directed and specifically intended to promote economic opportunities and sustainable trade for community artisans. The manufacturing facilities utilize cooperative, “off the grid” electricity artisans in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and India. www.lulan.com

MOST SELLABLE: Doggie bath products by lani — dig your dog®
Formulated to soothe and heal a dog’s sensitive, itchy skin, these bath products are 100% natural, 68-74% organic, hypoallergenic, sulfate- and dye-free, and made with the most luxurious natural oils and organic extracts available. They are manufactured in the USA in a facility with four international and national organic certifications. The company is a member of the Carbon Fund and the EPA, and donates a portion of net proceeds to local, no-kill humane societies. General Gift – www.lanidigyourdog.com

“NYIGF’s SustainAbility display exists to showcase the industry’s best examples of ‘green’ product design,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “We’re taking it a step further by asking retailers to identify those products which they find particularly compelling.”

“GREENRetailer magazine’s core mission is to help raise awareness of eco-friendly business practices in the gift and home furnishings industry,” said Patricia Norins, publisher. “The Eco Choice Awards recognize companies who are already leading by example.”

The winners and finalists will be published in the Fall ’09 issue of GREENRetailer magazine.

The second semi-annual Eco Choice Awards will take place at winter 2010 NYIGF, January 30 through February 4, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Pier 94. For information and registration, visit www.nyigf.com