NY Gift Fair focus on Sustainability!

Hey Everyone!

Last week, the NY Gift Fair took place at the Javitz Center. The Gift Fair is a trade show where designers get to show off their new products and buyers from all over the world come to stock up on the new designs for their stores.

The show had a section devoted to sustainable products, with interesting seminars and cool new products. SuperForester Jackson and I sat in on a couple seminars that were very informative. There's a lot of cool discussions going on in the design world relating to manufacturing in a more sustainable way.

Here is a little roundup of some interesting products that were featured:

Umbra

Umbra has always made really sleek and mod housewares out of plastic. Now, they have a new line of garbage bins made out of biodegradable plastic. They are also using “Corn” plastic, bamboo, and renewable plantation wood. I spoke to their rep and these are made in Canada, as opposed to a lot of their other products that are made in China. They are trying to incorporate this degradable plastic into their other lines and are also doing their part for the environment by reducing their packaging waste.

The Green Glass Company

This company is awesome. They have partners like wineries, restaurants, festivals and hotels that donates used glass bottles and they recycle them to make glasses, vases, votives and even coat racks! Check out their site where they let you know what they need for a new product, and if you have a large supply of them, they'll arrange the shipping and take them off your hands.

Erbaviva

Erbaviva makes great baby products. I use them all the time on my little one, who has sensitive skin. They featured a washbag at the gift show, which is used instead of soap in a bath. You soak the unbleached muslin sachet in a bath and rub it on the little one to cleanse, but not dry out thier skin. Yummy, I can't wait to try it--sounds like a day at the spa for a baby.

Wry Baby

This company is just hilarious. They have adorable baby clothing, pins and games. They have just launched a line of clothing out of organic cotton. This one was my favorite:

Pigment & Hue Puzzles

This company just came out with a giant floor puzzle to teach kids about the environment. I wasn't sure if it was available yet, so I emailed them and here is what they said:
"It is available now. A number of museums have already purchased it, including the American Museum of Natural History in New York, the Brooklyn Children's Museum, The Field Museum in Chicago, and the San Diego Natural History Museum.Also, in a short while, it will be available on Amazon.com through OyToys.com." That will be a great gift.

Water Powered Clock

This clock never needs batteries. Powered by water, juice, soda, beer or almost any liquid. The one displayed was from Don Mark, but they only sell to the trade. I found a similar one here at thinkgeek.

All around, there were some great new designs out this year. There seemed to be a lot of discussion from designers about the way they manufacture their products. Everyone seems to be more concerned about our environment and are finding creative ways to produce products in a more sustainable manner.

Oh...and check out Cardboard Designs booth at the show--they seemed to rockin!

Cool.

Happy Monday-
Niki