The growth in popularity of sustainable products—those that are eco-friendly, organic and those produced through fair trade methods—has marched upward for at least the past five years as more shoppers factor in the environmental impact of the products they consume. According to the latest IRI Times & Trends Report, “Sustainability: CPG Marketing in a Green World,” the spectrum of green shoppers is broad and represents a diverse array of consumer demographics, psychographics, values and beliefs. The IRI report examines eight green consumer segments and provides insight into current and emerging sustainability trends that will enable manufacturers and retailers to drive top-line growth in the rapidly evolving green segment of the consumer packaged goods market.

The average American household spends hundreds of dollars each year buying bottled water. If these families were to fill reusable bottles with their own filtered tap water, they could save an average of at least $500 per year and help reduce the nearly 200 million pounds of plastics waste in the country’s landfills annually.

To help consumers reduce waste every day, Base Brands today introduces WaterWeek, a set of five 16 oz. reusable, BPA-free water bottles for the work week in a specially-designed tray that fits neatly in a refrigerator. Available in a variety of colors and patterns, these leak-proof bottles are ideal for a variety of indoor/outdoor activities where consumers typically use bottled water like the office, car or gym.

If the more than eight million U.S. consumers who purchased a new dishwasher in 2007 bought a Bosch 800 Series model, instead of a conventional unit, the lifetime energy savings would be equivalent to preventing 21 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions (according to the Department of Energy). This could save a forest twice the size of Sequoia National Park in Southern Sierra Nevada – which is more than 400,000 acres. A staggering statistic such as this clearly demonstrates Bosch’s longstanding commitment to the environment and how its full-suite product portfolio delivers complete ECO solutions that families can rely on. In fact, the brand is the only U.S. manufacturer whose entire lineup of major appliances is ENERGY STAR qualified, in the categories that the program rates.

Green design, from rugs to furnishings to accessories, is the hottest home design trend for 2008. Addressing current, environmental concerns, the National Hardware Show is launching a new, specially designated area on the show floor that highlights the latest in green, eco-friendly and sustainable products.

Located directly adjacent to New Product World, Green Product World, will focus on what The American Society of Interior Design recently reported is “one of the fastest growing segments of its industry.” The new attraction and focus will offer a diverse selection of environmentally safe innovations and is sponsored by EarthTronics, manufacturer of high quality lighting products that are designed to save energy.

Targus launched their environmentally-friendly line of laptop cases - The EcoSmart Reflection - designed to help on-the-go Canadians reduce the size of their carbon footprint.

The four cases in The EcoSmart Reflection line let eco-conscience consumers use their purchasing power to limit their impact on the environment. The line is made from materials that are less toxic to the environment, have nickel-free metal and recyclable plastic hardware and can be returned to Targus for final disposal where all the materials will be separated and recycled.

The EcoSmart Reflection line, which comes with a limited lifetime guarantee, launches at the end of March and can be purchased at Staples, Office Depot and via Targus Canada's website.

V-Dimension has provided VH1 with 2,000 Helius solar backpacks as a corporate gift to VH1 staffers. Each solar charging bag has been embroidered with the VH1 company logo along with the phrase "Go Green." The bags have been distributed among VH1 employees.

In recent years, an increasing number of businesses throughout various industries have been "going green" with their business practices. Companies are encouraging the use of environmentally friendly products in an attempt to reduce the worldwide carbon footprint. Solar energy is free, creates no pollution and is reliable. The use of solar energy may eventually solve the world's energy supply and global warming dilemmas.

Through the use of patented technology, V-Dimension is able to utilize power from a single solar panel on their bags. This allows their line of solar bags to charge an iPod, iPhone, cell phone, PDA or any other small electronic device powered by using room light or sunlight. The bags fully charge almost all devices in two hours the same amount of time needed by a wall charger.

The rush to go green is like the gold rush of 1849. If you really desire to positively impact the environment, one of the first things you should do is get yourself a green sunscreen--one that is made with all natural ingredients.

Traditional sunscreens contain chemicals that can impact our environment. The chemical UV filters, preservatives and scents wash off and can contaminate pools, oceans, lakes and streams when you go swimming. In fact, there is some evidence that at least one of these chemicals survives the sewage treatment process.

One of the most recent studies to link sunscreen chemicals to adverse reactions in the environment was completed by the Polytechnic University of the Marche, Italy. It documents the effects of sunscreen exposure on coral samples from reefs in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. This study concluded that even low levels of sunscreen chemicals, at or below the typical amount used by swimmers, could promote viral infections that can completely bleach coral in just four days.

ecosource launches their third line of biodegradable pots, called COIR, made from sustainable coconut fiber. The product was unveiled at the recent Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market in Atlanta where the company received a "Best in Category" award for The Gardens.

The addition of this third line of pots supplements the existing greenPots line (from rice hulls) and Enviro Collection (from bamboo) makes ecosource's selection of biodegradable pots the largest in the marketplace. The launch was in response to strong consumer and retailer interest in larger eco-friendly vessels for container gardening.

Targus announced its Radius eco-friendly bags for MacBook and MacBook Pro. The new line of stylish cases is made of PVC-free material, making the production of the bags less harmful to the environment. Composed of 100% recycled polyester, recyclable plastic and nickel-free metal, the Radius bags are the next step in Targus’ on-going EcoSmart initiative to create eco-friendly cases.

EcoSmart, Targus’ company-wide initiative toward becoming an eco-conscience company, has grown vastly since its launch in September 2007. Starting with changes on the corporate level such as the paper recycling program and eco-friendly product packaging, the EcoSmart program stretches to every corner of Targus’ corporate culture including product design, sourcing, operating and manufacturing practices.

Boosted, a lifestyle brand passionate about and influenced by art, music and popular culture, has released the Livity Outernational x Boost Device Case Collection at sustainable-style.org.

The Livity Outernational x Boost Device Case Collection is constructed entirely of a 100% organic cotton canvas and consists of four cases (small, medium, large and extra large) to fit mobile devices such as a cell phone, iPod, MP3 player or Blackberry, as well as a hip bag and oversized messenger bag. All four fashion accessory cases can attach to the larger bags. The Livity Outernational x Boost Device Case Collection is also available in three color varieties (Gina Print, Mosaic Print and Solid Brown).