Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
30 Compete in Eco-Choice Awards
July 15,
2015 by in Designer Weekly
Thirty finalists are competing for the 12th semi-annual Eco Choice Awards, a green products initiative co-sponsored by NY NOW.
Online voting is open through July 31 with winners to be announced in three categories – Most Sellable, Most Innovative and Most Sensitive Use of Materials – on Aug. 14.
“Over the years we have seen an increasing adoption of eco-friendly business practices spurred on by a growing consumer awareness of green products,” said Randi Mohr, NY NOW co-director and vice president. “The popular balloting that determines our Eco Choice Award winners allows the industry, as well as consumers, to vote for their favorite products.”
The finalists were drawn from products selected for inclusion in the SustainAbility: design for a better world display at the summer 2015 edition of NY NOW, to be held Aug. 15-19, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
Now in its sixth year, the program attracted 258 entries across NY NOW’s three collections – HOME, LIFESTYLE and HANDMADE. The display’s strict qualifying standards recognize the increasing importance of eco-friendly production processes and socially-respectful business practices. Additional qualifications include products that are manufactured or constructed with only recycled, recyclable and/or sustainable materials, have no VOCs or toxins, and do not waste nor contaminate water in the manufacturing process.
As a complement to the display and the Eco Choice Awards, “Selling Sustainability Through Provenance,” will be presented Monday, Aug. 17, at NY NOW. The seminar will discuss how stories about people, production processes and business practices are increasingly helping to sell sustainable products. The panel discussion will explore how consumers’ consideration of a product’s provenance — from design, to funding, to production, to marketing and sales – is injecting humanity into the process, materials and products. Moderator Susan Szenasy, editor/publisher of METROPOLIS, will lead the discussion with designer Kiel Mead of Kiel Mead Designs; marketer Joanne Domeniconi of The Grommet; and retailer Rachel Shechtman of Story.
Tickets are $20 advance/$25 onsite and can be purchased online.