traffic marketing + design inc. is proud to be a sponsor of a new eco-initiative encouraging consumers to shop sustainable this holiday season. The sponsorship is provided by our sustainable brand The World's Greenest Business Card.

Shop Sustainable, launched by Fashion Takes Action in partnership with Evolution Green, is challenging consumers to shop ethically this holiday season.

Its goal is to raise general awareness for eco friendly products, and at the same time promote many Toronto based and online retailers who carry them.

Eco friendly gifts come in many different forms. They can be made locally with low energy, made with organic or recycled materials, made fairly and in fair working conditions, made with reduced or recycled packaging in mind, or made from natural materials. They do not require batteries, they are not made from plastic and other toxic substances, they are not produced in sweatshops and they are not packaged in layers of non-recyclable materials.

It might seem like eco friendly products are hard to find, but in reality there are several Toronto based retailers who make doing the right thing a lot easier for consumers. Shop Sustainable has something “eco” for everyone, including adult and children’s clothing, toys, personal care products, products for the home, coffee, chocolate, stationary, gadgets and gear and more.

The retailers participating in Shop Sustainable include: Baby on the Hip, Bullfrog Power, Caterpillar Baby, Chocosol, Daily Apple, Eco Flora, Greencricket.ca, GreenIsBlack.ca, Grassroots Store, I Recycle Computers, KaiKids.com, Kids on the Hip, Lileo, Merchants of Green Coffee, Me To We Style, Mountain Equipment Co-Op, Pistachio, PlanetForward.ca, Preloved, Sugar Moon Salon, Thieves, worldSALON, Zero Point and 889 Yonge. In addition, Sporting Life’s uptown location is participating as they carry the eco friendly, Canadian made clothing line Guats, who is a sponsor of Shop Sustainable.

Most people are now doing what they can to lighten their footprint, whether it means driving less, turning down the thermostat, or carrying reusable shopping bags. However, if consumers purchase just one gift or stocking stuffer this holiday season that is sustainable, then collectively it can have a very significant impact. Shop Sustainable challenges consumers to put their wallet where their heart is, for the planet.

In addition to feeling good about doing the right thing, Shop Sustainable is offering further incentive via an online contest opportunity. Consumers can visit www.shopsustainable.ca for their chance to win a gift basket valued at over $1000, full of eco friendly products from the participating retailers.

Sponsors of the program include Green Enterprise Toronto (GET), Toronto’s green business alliance; Fashion Takes Action who promotes sustainable practices within the global fashion industry; Evolution Green, committed to promoting sustainable ideas for the home; and The World’s Greenest Business Card, helping businesses communicate their green message.