By Design 2 Share

Learn the "Green" vocabulary and become a better informed consumer. There are so many different eco-friendly brands and products and ingredients that homeowners need to familiarize themselves with the terminology in order to make the most informed decisions for their homes.I went to the New York Gift Show, which takes place two times a year in New York City and at various other venues across the U.S. The big Gift Show -- along with EX*TRACTS -- features new products, companies, and trends for the upcoming year. It was with much anticipation that I watched the Show to see how the GREEN movement is affecting the gift industry, learn what the hot colors will be for merchandising, and discover the sure-fire-can't-miss products that all retailers, and thusly, all homes will need to have for the holidays.

My reasoning for wanting to write about my experience at the Javitts Center? It was due to some interactions with a few vendors and manufacturers reps. Here were the big buzz words at this August's Gift Show: GREEN, eco-friendly, organic, and sustainability. They were featured in sales pitches and ads, but it was clear after a short conversation that many of the people selling products at the show had no clue as to what constituted GREEN, eco-friendly, organic, and sustainability.

Here's an example: I spoke with a vendor who was advertising their product as natural fibers, yet they were selling leather. While leather is natural, it's an animal hide! It's not a fiber at all. When you think of a natural fiber, think cotton, for instance. So in my effort to educate and inform, and to avoid future confrontations at upcoming Gift Shows (!), here are definitions of some of the big buzz words of the GREEN movement. Knowing them will help you become a more conscious homeowner, consumer, and/or design professional.

VEGAN

Vegan is a product that is not derived from an animal and/or animal by-product. A VEGAN person is someone who eats and wears nothing derived from animals; this includes any dairy, meat, seafood, leather, silk, honey . . . . Examples of VEGAN products include faux leather, cotton, soy, and palm wax candles.

ORGANIC

Organic is of or relating to foodstuffs grown or raised without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides or hormones; you can find organic eggs, organic vegetables, organic chicken, and other foodstuffs that are simple, healthful, and close to nature; it's also possible to live "an organic lifestyle."

CRUELTY-FREE

Cruelty-free refers to a product that does not contain any part of an animal, does not contain material obtained from an animal by means of cruelty, and/or anything made with child labor or in a sweatshop anywhere in the world. Examples include veal or any other food obtained from animals raised/kept on factory farms, or any product made in a Third World sweatshop. (Remember the Kathy Lee Gifford controversy about her clothing line made in Central America?)

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE

This pertains to products made in facilities that practice Fair Trade and are environmentally responsible. Products can also include products made from a labor force that is disadvantaged," e.g. women, the mentally challenged, the homeless, or workers living in war-torn areas.

SUSTAINABLE

A product is sustainable if it is capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment. This is key in all aspects of the life-cycle of any product. Examples include anything made from bamboo, soy, or organic cotton.

DeAnna Radaj, owner of Bante Design LLC and its production division Eden Place Productions, is a designer who specializes in Integrative Lifestyle Design (the fusion of Eastern and Western interior design philosophies incorporating feng shui and healthy home principles).

Emer Schlosser
		About the author:
		Always a fan of words in various glorious forms – novels, dialogue, lyrics, etc – Emer translated her passion into a writing career in 2005. She has since supplied gossip on celebrities to Canadian Press, interviewed individuals from the arts for Inside Entertainment, expressed her fondness for food for Cheese Boutique’s blog, & co-founded, edited and contributed to iheartthemusic.com. At the moment she’s taking the mystery out of Green Living and providing some great tips on Home Renovation, Decorating & Design and Curb Appeal to the members of casaGURU.com. casaGURU, “the homeowner’s home online”, is a free web community that connects homeowners and local house experts.
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