Media Update: December 2006
New Green Gear & Gift Guide Released
Featuring Eco-friendly and Fair Trade Products
Boulder, CO (December 2006) - Conscientious consumers who are looking for the perfect gift this holiday season need to look no further. Sustainable Travel International (STI) has released its 2nd Annual Green Gear & Gift Guide just in time for the holidays.
Outdoor equipment and clothing is enormously popular. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, 161.6 million Americans aged 16 and up participated in at least one outdoor activity in 2005, an increase of 20.6 million over 2004. Awareness of fair trade in the consumer marketplace has also increased. According to the Fair Trade Labeling Organization (FLO), the 2005 global sales of fair trade products increased 37% over 2004 sales.
"The problem is that most outdoor equipment and clothing that's on the market and many souvenirs you see during your travels are produced through intensive energy and resource use, under oppressive labor conditions or with harmful toxic materials," explains STI President Brian T. Mullis. "The good news is that more and more companies are incorporating sustainable practices into their operations, producing products in a more responsible manner, investing in environmental conservation, and supporting artisans and entrepreneurs, helping them to improve their own lives, the lives of their families, and the communities in which they live."
The year's 20-page Green Gear & Gift Guide profiles individual companies such as Aid to Artisans, Arbor, Mary Jane's Farm, PrAna, Simple Shoes, Sun Ovens, Timberland, and many others. The user-friendly guide also highlights industry best practices as well individual products - all of which must meet one or more of the following criteria:
