Jul 22, 2013

Two NY NOW Programs Highlight Eco-Friendly Products

New developments have been announced in two “green” initiatives produced by NY NOW®, the Market for Home & Lifestyle (formerly NYIGF®) to recognize exemplary eco-friendly and socially-responsible products. Six products in the summer 2013 SustainAbility: design for a better world® exhibit have achieved NY NOW’s highest “Degrees of SustainAbility” status. Additionally, online balloting, with 30 products vying for top honors in three categories, opened on July 15 for the semi-annual Eco Choice Awards.

“These programs support the main goal of NY NOW’s overall SustainAbility initiative, which is to promote and build awareness of sustainable, earth-friendly home and lifestyle resources,” said Christian Falkenberg, NY NOW director and GLM senior vice president. “While we’ve set specific criteria required to achieve ‘Degrees of SustainAbility’ status, the Eco Choice awards are determined by opinions and preferences of the industry-at-large.”

Degrees of SustainAbility
From 120 products accepted for the winter 2013 SustainAbility: design for a better world, exhibit, just six have been designated as achieving NY NOW’s SustainAbility3, the top-ranking level for eco-friendly and socially-responsible products, production processes and business practices. NY NOW’s “Degrees of SustainAbility” initiative outlines industry-specific criteria for identification of green products and producers, with a three-tiered rating – SustainAbility1 through SustainAbility3 –indicating the extent to which a product/producer complies with these standards. Ilene Shaw of Shaw+Co! curates the exhibit and designates each participant’s ranking.

The six companies designated with the highest SustainAbility3 ranking this summer include: Elisabethan for its tablet cozy and coat pin, both made in the USA from recycled materials; Hand in Hand Soap for its donation of clean water and soap to children in developing countries; Hester & Cook Design Group for its collection of recycled paper placemats and napkins; JeevanKala for its plastic vases and support of medical programs in Kathmandu; Made by Survivors for its handmade jewelry production which employs women who were formerly enslaved; and Marina Paper for its line of handmade books and journals produced by Nepalese women artisans.

These SustainAbility3 designated products will be identified by special signage in the display at NY NOW. A complete listing of summer 2013 SustainAbility participants and their products is available online at www.nynow.com.

Eco Choice Awards
Three of the 120 “green” products showcased in NY NOW’s SustainAbility display will be selected as winners of the 8th semi-annual Eco Choice Awards, co-sponsored by NY NOW and GREENRetailer magazine. Through July 31, buyers and suppliers can vote for their favorites from among ten finalists in three categories – “Most Innovative,” “Most Sensitive Use of Materials,” and “Most Sellable.” The finalists’ gallery is accessible online now at www.giftshopmag.com/votegreen. Winners will be announced at NY NOW, and profiled in the fall 2013 issue of GIFT SHOP magazine.

The ten finalists in the “Most Innovative” category include: Ad-N-Art “FLAVOR IT 2 GO” bottle; Belart Sterling Vintage Lace Bracelet; Calamarie Three-rose Braided Necklace; flip & tumble{TM} Felt Pods; Green Tree Jewelry Kinetic Gear Earrings 3B; JAMP Hand Cleanser; Mark Edge Jewelry – EcoVintage Vintage Milk Glass Necklace; mau Kozo Bowl; Stikwood Reclaimed Weathered Wood; and Wood Thumb Carry All Bag.

In the “Most Sensitive Use of Materials” category, the ten finalists are: Aesthetic Movement Hand in Hand Soap; La Lavande Gallet Wood Soaps; Made by Survivors Free Bird Pendant; Mar Y Sol Havana Carryall Tote; Merrily Made Gourmet Pens; Semaki & Bird Nature Cubes; SPARQ Home Original Soapstone Shot Glasses; Wabnitz Editions LTD Chubby Coat Hanger; Walnut Hill Crafts Inc. Banksia Pod Vases; and WorldFinds Recycled Kantha Wrap Bracelet.

The ten finalists in the “Most Sellable” category include: Geared For Imagination Topobots; Good Paper Bacon Me Crazy; Greentree Henry Bottle Collection; Harry Barker Recycled Rubber Dog Placemats; LUprints Napanee Birchwood Tray; OOTS! Kidsonroof Totem ARCHIVILLE; Ortolan Organic Bat Pillow; Peg and Awl Marlowe Carryall; Potting Shed Creations Ltd. Moss + Sedum Terrarium; and Tea Forte Skin-Smart Loose Leaf Tea Canisters.

NY NOW, the Market for Home & Lifestyle, will run Saturday, August 17, through Wednesday, August 21, 2013, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Pier 94. NY NOW’s four comprehensive collections – HOME, LIFESTYLE, HANDMADE and NEW! – will encompass 100,000 products in 400+ product categories. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 80 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nynow.com.