Spring 2023 - 64

Reduce, reuse, recycle are at the heart
of sustainable and eco-friendly trends
BY HILARY DANINHIRSCH
Contributing Writer
With a unique crown shape and a punch
pattern reminiscent of Chantilly lace, the
Soji Stella Crown Solar Lantern looks
delicate and ornate by night. Handmade
from white Tyvek® this solar lantern is set
to dress up any outdoor occasion, from
Allsop Home & Garden. Circle 247.
S
on products
ustainability is not just a moment; it's
a movement.
Both consumers and brands place value
that are
environmentally
first and foremost from a material that would have been
in a landfill otherwise. "
friendly
and sustainably sourced, and the gift industry is no
exception. Green gifting benefits both the giver and
the recipient and sends a double message: I care about
both you and the environment. And when a gift has a
backstory or started life as a different product, that can
spark interesting conversations.
Many consumers are familiar with the phrase
" reduce, reuse, recycle, " the principles of which are the
heart of sustainable manufacturing processes. The term
" upcycle " is another buzzword, and it is associated with
the " reuse " precept, as it refers to an object or material
that would have been thrown away but is given a second
chance at life by being converted into another object.
To illustrate this concept, Alchemy Goods upcycles
bike tubes or seat belt webbing to create a unique line
of durable gifts, including backpacks, belts, wallets,
shoulder bags and zipper pouches. The company also
upcycles old vinyl banners from events or even full-size
interstate billboards.
" Alchemy means turning something into gold; in our
case, it's turning tubes into bags, " said Davidson Lewis,
owner of Alchemy Goods.
" The whole ethos of the brand is reducing waste
streams and creating useful, stylish, functional products
for daily use, " he added. " We like to make sure it's made
64 SPRING 2023 GIFT SHOP® PLUS
The company partners with bike shops, billboard
companies, seat belt manufacturers and trade show
centers to source materials. Some products appeal to
vegan customers, such as their Franklin wallets vegan
" leather " wallets made from reclaimed bicycle inner
tubes, a bestseller for the company.
There is no limit to the category of gifts in which
sustainable processes can be applied. For its 2023 kids'
gift line, Mud Pie introduced wheat straw toys.
" Wheat straw is a natural, plant-based filler that is
incorporated with plastic and forms an eco-friendlier
material than traditional plastics, " said Lauren Brekke,
vice president of merchandise at Mud Pie.
Started by a father-daughter team, Allsop Home
& Garden is known for its decorative solar lanterns
in an eclectic variety of patterns and colors. " Our
patented, innovative Soji Stella solar lanterns that
feature long lasting DuPont™ Tyvek® fabric continue to
be bestsellers in their category. We've continued to add
to our solar line in 2023 with new shapes and designs in
both Tyvek®
fabric and hand blown glass. Additionally,
solar lanterns purchased from Allsop Home & Garden
are unique in that each and every part can be recycled,
refurbished or replaced. Our goal in design is longevity
regardless of the price point of the item, " said David
Brewin, owner of Allsop Home & Garden.
Another family company is Gifts that Bloom, owned
Spring 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spring 2023
