Retailers at NYIGF to vote on best ‘green’ products

-- Home Textiles Today, 7/2/2009 8:00:00 AM

White Plains, N.Y. -- Retailers cast ballots at the upcoming New York International Gift Fair to determine the winners of the event’s inaugural Eco Choice Awards.

Awards will be given in three categories: Most Innovative, Most Sensitive Use of Materials, and "Most Sellable. Judging will take place August 15-20.

Co-sponsored by GREENRetailer magazine and NYIGF, the awards will recognize the most innovative, environmentally responsible products featured in the Fair's SustainAbility: design for a better world display, a special curated exhibit showcasing eco-friendly gift and home products. The summer 2009 display will showcase more than 175 products created from recycled, recyclable, sustainable or indigenous materials, and selected for inventiveness, newness, aesthetics and functionality. A complete list of display participants is available at http://www.nyigf.com/info/display.html)

All retailers who vote will receive a free gift. Voting will take place at the SustainAbility display at the Jacob Javits Center, with the winners announced at the conclusion of fair on Aug. 20. 

NYIGF launched its SustainAbility program in 2006 to recognize and encourage the integration of environmental responsibility with profitable business practices.  The two-part program features an environmentally-focused exhibit, curated by Ilene Shaw of Shaw + Co, and educational programming related to environmentally friendly business practices for the gift and home industries. 

The fair will feature two "green"-themed seminars -- one featuring Josh Dorfman, writer and host of the Sundance Channel Original Series “The Lazy Environmentalist,” and the other addressing organic beauty trends with Rona Berg, editor-in-chief/founding editor of Organic Beauty.  Details and registration are available www.nyigf.com/programs.