10 Green Holiday Gifts from $10 to $100 – From AusPen Eco-Friendly Markers

Green gift-giving is on the rise this 2010 holiday season as consumers search for affordable, unique and earth-friendly gifts to leave a big impression, but small impact. These 10 green holiday gifts draw from the growing market of eco products that are non-toxic, less wasteful and made of recycled content, like the gift of a personal set of AusPen non-toxic, refillable dry-erase markers, the best way to keep toxins out of the air and toxic waste out of the landfill.

 Looking for gift ideas that have a high return but low impact on the environment? There’s no one-stop shopping for all the family members, friends, co-workers and teachers on your list, so AusPen eco-friendly markers has highlighted 10 eco-friendly gifts from $10 – $100.

 1.    AusPen refillable, non-toxic dry-erase markers: www.ecosmartworld.com

A kit of AusPen eco-friendly markers and their refill inks – $69.95
Each AusPen kit includes 6 brightly colored dry-erase markers and their refill inks, designed to last and last! AusPen markers are made with certified non-toxic ink (no xylene, no strong odors), 100% recycled aluminum (no PVC plastic), and they are refillable (no more waste).

 2. Energy Monitor:  amazon.com

Black & Decker EM100B Energy Saver Series Power Monitor. – $38.73
Lets you monitor your current energy usage in dollars, so you don’t have to be a mathematician to understand what the readings mean.

 3.  Video Streaming On Demand: amazon.com or itunes.com

Download TV episodes and movies one at a time, or buy a season pass – Gift cards for any amount

How often does anyone really re-watch the TV episodes or movies that line their shelves?

 4.    Teens Turning Green Beauty Product Collection: teensturninggreen.org
Skin care products, without the chemicals – $5.99 – 21.00
Using botanicals and Fair Trade plant oils, Teens Turning Green also donate proceeds from the mango body butter to community projects in Togo, Africa.

5.   Outdoor Rugs: sweepdreams.com
Colorful rugs made of 95% recycled plastic – 4×6 rugs for $49.00
Floral, ethnic, traditional and geometric designs to liven up the outdoors.

6.    EnviroBLOX: budgetartkids.com

Biodegradable blocks made from cornstarch – $32.95

Just moisten and stick EnviroBLOX together for endless architectural designs.

7. Big Green Cookbook: barnesandnoble.com

Hundreds of planet-pleasing recipes and tips – $25.00

Every tip and recipe in this cookbook is eco-conscious to green your cuisine.

 8.  Wild Animal Adoption: worldwildlife.org

A symbolic adoption of an endangered animal from WWF – $25.00-$100.00

Choose from among 20 species like tigers, elephants, and polar bears, and receive a certificate, a plush animal and a description of the work being done for your species.

9.    Organic towels and bath accessories: gaiam.com

100% organic cotton shower curtains, mats and towels – $10.00 – $59.00

Recreate the spa experience with chlorine and softener-free towels that are made with low eco-impact dyes.

10.  PVC-free toys: ecotoytown.com

A variety of safe toys, plush animals and discovery kits – $10 – $100

Avoid PVC (the ‘poison plastic’) with toys made of natural materials like wood, cotton and wool, with non-toxic dyes paints and finishes.

AusPen Markers are the eco-friendly alternative to disposable dry erase markers. Made from 100% recycled aluminum, AusPen markers are refillable with low-odor, non-toxic ink, and are recyclable. You never need to throw away another dry erase marker, or inhale toxic fumes.

Schools and businesses can significantly reduce their toxicity and waste while saving money.

Green Holiday Gifts – Sales of AusPen Eco-Friendly Markers Spike

Consumer spending on green holiday gifts continues to increase year-over-year, a strong indication that interest in earth-friendly products and services is more than a passing trend. With a 150% sales spike in the 2009 holiday season over the 2008 season, EcoSmart Products, distributors of AusPen eco-friendly dry erase markers, has seen the industry of eco-friendly school and office supplies become an ideal source for holiday gifts.

Holiday gift-giving has gone green, and will most likely stay that way as shoppers search for innovative, earth-friendly and cost-effective gifts. Recent sales trends compiled from EcoSmart Products, distributors of AusPen eco-friendly markers, show a significant increase in the giving of green holiday and teacher-appreciation gifts. “Ongoing concern about the environment, the search for distinctive gifts, and a heightened awareness of green alternatives to products and services has translated into seasonal sales booms,” says Kerry Tuttle of AusPen markers.

In keeping with projections that green consumerism is on the rise, the surge in green gift-buying can be attributed to several factors. First, consumers are increasingly informed of the true environmental cost of products and are more likely to search online for more sustainable and less resource-intensive products. “When they find a green product that can perform as well or better than the regular, wasteful one, they feel a great sense of pride,” explains Tuttle.

Just as greenness helps businesses or schools differentiate themselves from the others, choosing a green gift helps the recipient stand out in an important way. “It’s a nice personal touch to offer a professional a quality non-toxic product they can use on a day to day basis that will protect their health from harmful chemicals and help them tread lighter on the earth,” says Tuttle.

Another factor which has influenced green holiday gift-buying is cost and the concept of value. While lower prices are top of mind for most consumers in today’s economy, there has been a shift in thinking about eco-friendly products as premium-priced luxury items to an understanding that most re-useable products are actually more cost effective than the disposable kind.

“With such an emphasis on using more sustainable products, and consuming fewer natural resources, it has been no surprise to us that green gift-giving continues to be on trend. Our sales numbers attributed to green holiday giving have increased over 150% since 2008,” stated Tuttle.

In 2008, the majority of the consumers of green office and school supplies would be the end-users themselves: educators, office workers, school administrators. Now, as environmental and health issues create concern and pervade our news, other stakeholders are driving the eco-product trend. “Parents are buying class sets of AusPen eco-friendly markers as teacher-appreciation gifts, students of business, education or the healing arts receive AusPen markers in anticipation of their professional pursuits, and students themselves are fundraising on behalf of their teachers to buy them these non-toxic, refillable markers,” explains Tuttle.

Eco gift-giving is a trend Tuttle is sure will grow, especially if consumers have access to the products online. comScore, a leader in measuring the digital world, reported that e-commerce spending during last year’s holiday season – November and December – was up 4% in the United States from the 2008 holiday season, totalling $29.1 billion spent online.

The 2010 Holiday Green Gift Guide

Celebrate the holidays this year with green gifts for the office and home. Use AusPen’s 2010 Holiday Green Gift Guide to give you ideas for a greener holiday.  From non-toxic, refillable markers to Fair Trade beauty products to recycled outdoor rugs, this list is sure to give you ideas on how to remember those on your list without forgetting about Mother Earth.

Looking for gift ideas that have a high return but low impact on the environment? There’s no one-stop shopping for all the family members, friends, co-workers and teachers on your list, so AusPen eco-friendly markers presents the 2010 Holiday Green Gift Guide, with 10 eco-friendly gifts under $100.

 1.    AusPen refillable, non-toxic dry-erase markers: www.ecosmartworld.com

A kit of AusPen eco-friendly markers and their refill inks – $69.95
Each AusPen kit includes 6 brightly colored dry-erase markers and their refill inks, designed to last and last. AusPen markers are made with certified non-toxic ink (no xylene, no strong odors), 100% recycled aluminum (no PVC plastic), and they are refillable (no more waste).

2. Energy Monitor:  amazon.com

Black & Decker EM100B Energy Saver Series Power Monitor. – $38.73
Lets you monitor your current energy usage in dollars, so you don’t have to be a mathematician to understand what the readings mean.

 3.  Video Streaming On Demand: amazon.com or itunes.com

Download TV episodes and movies, or buy a season pass – Gift cards for any amount

How often does anyone really re-watch the TV episodes or movies that line their shelves?

 4.    Teens Turning Green Beauty Product Collection: teensturninggreen.org
Skin care products, without the chemicals – $5.99 – 21.00
Using botanicals and Fair Trade plant oils, Teens Turning Green also donate proceeds from the mango body butter to community projects in Togo, Africa.

 5.   Outdoor Rugs: sweepdreams.com
Colorful rugs made of 95% recycled plastic – 4×6 rugs for $49.00
Floral, ethnic, traditional and geometric designs to liven up the outdoors.

 6.    EnviroBLOX: budgetartkids.com

Biodegradable blocks made from cornstarch – $32.95

Just moisten and stick EnviroBLOX together for endless architectural designs.

7. Big Green Cookbook: barnesandnoble.com

Hundreds of planet-pleasing recipes and tips – $25.00

Every tip and recipe in this cookbook is eco-conscious to green your cuisine.

 8.  Wild Animal Adoption: worldwildlife.org

A symbolic adoption of an endangered animal from WWF – $25.00-$100.00

Choose from among 20 species like tigers, elephants, and polar bears, and receive a certificate, a plush animal and a description of the work being done for your species.

9.    Organic towels and bath accessories: gaiam.com

100% organic cotton shower curtains, mats and towels – $10.00 – $59.00

Recreate the spa experience with chlorine and softener-free towels that are made with low eco-impact dyes.

10.  PVC-free toys: ecotoytown.com

A variety of safe toys, plush animals and discovery kits – $10 – $100

Avoid PVC (the ‘poison plastic’) with toys made of natural materials like wood, cotton and wool, with non-toxic dyes paints and finishes.

Take our Living Planet Quiz

It’s only November, but I feel quite certain that if I were to go on vacation, I would head for a tropical zone over a temperate one. If I were any species other than a human, this would be a bad choice.

Over the last 3 decades, according to the new 2010 Living Planet Report, there has been a 60% decrease in biodiversity for tropical species, compared to the 29% increase that temperate species have enjoyed.

This same report has labelled the US and Canada with the 5^th and 7^th heaviest footprints, respectively. In 2007, humanity’s footprint exceeded the earth’s biocapacity by 50%. So…we need a half of another planet to support our consumption patterns. We crossed the point of balance between what we took and what could be restored on a yearly basis in 1970.

Take our 3-question quiz to challenge your knowledge of our planet’s health:

1.  If you were an animal, would you rather be living in a:

a)      Low income country

b)      Middle income country

c)      High income country

2.  Which habitat type is losing its biodiversity at the fastest rate (since 1970)?

a)      Freshwater species

b)      Terrestrial species

c)      Marine species

 3.  Which country has the largest footprint?

a)      Australia

b)      United Arab Emirates

c)      Denmark

ANSWERS:

1. c) Species fare better in a high income country. Biodiversity has fallen 58% in low-income countries, 25% in middle-income countries, and has risen 5% in high-income countries.

 2. a) Freshwater species have dropped by 35% (Actually, this is an average. The tropical freshwater Living Planet Index has fallen by nearly 70%, while the temperate freshwater LPI has risen by 36%). Terrestrial species have lost 25% and marine species have lost 24%.

 3.  b) United Arab Emirates leads the way, with Denmark placing #3 and Australia placing after Canada in the 8^th spot.

San Francisco Green Festival – Green Products and Solutions for Sustainability

Eco enthusiasts, sustainability professionals and green exhibitors will gather at the 9^th Annual San Francisco Green Festival, November 6 & 7, 2010 for the best in green shopping, cuisine, education and innovation. The weekend conference will showcase innovative products and services from green school supplies, to organic foods to eco-fashion. AusPen eco-friendly markers is proud to attend the Green Festival as one of the many green exhibitors offering solutions for a more sustainable lifestyle.

 The 9^th Annual San Francisco Green Festival gets underway this weekend, November 6^th – 7^th at the San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center. The 2-day festival offers a variety of workshops, talks, live music, innovative green products, organic cuisine, fair trade chocolate and coffee, and a green kids zone. In attempt to walk the talk and model environmental responsibility, the Green Festival has made important strides in reducing its own ecological footprint.

As the world’s largest sustainability event, the Green Festival is distinguished not only for its size, but also for its efforts in being the greenest Green Festival. Aware of the irony of a wasteful green conference, the Green Festival has hired Seven-Star, Inc., a green events planner. The Green Festival is striving to become a zero waste event by managing landfill diversion, product conversion and carbon offsetting for each of its festival locations.  All the signs and promo material are made of recycled materials, the service ware (plates, forks, cups, etc) are all 100% biodegradable, compost, recycling and e-waste bins are provided, and incentives are given for participants using greener methods of transportation. 

Another way in which the Green Festival is distinguishing itself as environmentally responsible is through its selection process of the exhibitors and vendors. Unlike other conferences, the Green Festival screens the exhibitors for their commitment to sustainable business practices, ecological balance and social justice using Green America’s green business standards. With over 350 exhibitors in attendance, festival attendees will be able to find products (in time for the holidays!) that are providing greener solutions for more sustainable living. 

AusPen eco-friendly markers is one of the exhibitors, selected for its uniqueness on the market and contribution to sustainability. As the world’s most environmentally-responsible dry-erase (whiteboard) marker, AusPen markers are an innovative alternative to disposable dry-erase markers. AusPen markers are refillable (no waste), use non-toxic ink (no harmful chemicals and odors) and are made from recycled material (no PVC plastics), costing approximately 70% less than disposable markers.

Other exhibitors at the festival hail from many different green walks of life including: renewable energy, organic products, natural health and beauty, green transportation, earth friendly fashion, and waste reduction.

AusPen exhibits at the San Francisco Green Festival

We are excited to be attending the 9^th Annual San Francisco Green Festival this weekend, November 6 & 7 at the San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center!

It’s a great chance to shop green (holidays are around the corner…), listen to talks, enjoy organic cuisine and learn about the latest green innovations, books and products. Eco-fashion shows, green business seminars, a global music stage, cooking demos and a green kids zone are what make the Green Fest so popular.

Make sure to come by the AusPen booth to say hello – kits of eco-friendly markers will be available for purchase at the booth. See you there!

Follow this link for more info on the San Fran Green Fest: http://www.greenfestivals.org/updates/the-9th-annual-green-festival-returns-to-san-francisco

November AusPen Giveaway!

AusPen’s NEW Giveaway Program!

AusPen Giveaways

Where it pays to go green

 Welcome to EcoSmart’s giveaway program where your “Green” stories can get you great free eco-friendly products.  

 Each month we choose a theme, welcome your input, and have an AusPen draw, ranging each month from AusPen starter kits, to marker packs to accessories.

November Theme:

My Green Light Bulb Moment

What was the moment that flipped the ‘green’ light on? Was it an image, piece of advice, experience or brain flash that made going green sink in deeper than a mere thought? Or, tell us about what you say or do, as an educator or plain environmental advocate, to inspire others.

One AusPen customer, a teacher, once explained to me that it all came together when he saw a picture of an albatross carcass with a plastic marker stuck in its gut. That was his green aha moment.

 Email us at info@ecosmartworld.com to share your aha moment. You will be automatically entered into a draw for AusPen giveaways!

 

 

You are welcome to share your AusPen experiences, but your story does not have to be limited to AusPen non-toxic  markers