All Hail Earth Day!

This is my most recent article for NacNak, a great new paper that's spreading throughout the country, for which I write a column:

Earth Day, while still a relatively new holiday for many, is actually celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year!  It’s officially on April 22^nd, but many cities, like Nashville, are celebrating it with an Earth Day Festival this Saturday, the 17^th.

Whether you credit the media, Al Gore, the weird temperature fluctuations we undeniably experience these days, or this highly-informative, incredibly entertaining column you’re currently reading, you’re probably more aware today, than ever before, about the need to green your world.  (Green, heretofore a humble color, -- a mere adjective -- has now branched out and become a verb.)

Whether by recycling your OJ bottles, taking your own tumbler /thermos to the coffee shop, carpooling one day a week, turning off the water while you’re brushing your teeth, or, if your organization uses promotional items (which every organization should, but more on that later), switching to more environmentally-friendly versions:  recycled-paper pens, rather than plastic; recycled business card magnets, recyclable custom bags, organic cotton apparel – it all counts!  It all matters.

Andrea, from Vanderbilt, who just ordered embroidered shirts from us, insisted on not just organic cotton t-shirts and polos, but certified organic cotton/made-in-the-USA t-shirts.  She would not accept anything less (which I thought was awesome!).  Andrea knows that organic cotton is grown using natural fertilizers (Ah, the wonders of cow poo) and is free from toxic chemicals.  Instead of using herbicides to kill weeds, organic cotton farmers use hoes.  Instead of using pesticides to kill plant-eating pests, they use things like chili and garlic (and every bug I know hates that stuff!).  Plus, a field must be pesticide-free for at least three years before it can be certified organic.  Conventional Cotton, on the other hand, uses pesticides that are known carcinogens that affect the air, ground, water, and food supply.  For instance, Aldicarb, a nerve agent, originally developed during WWII, is one of the most toxic pesticides applied to conventional cotton.  According to the Environmental Justice Foundation, just one drop of Aldicarb, absorbed through the skin, is enough to kill one adult.  Another one, monocrotophos, while pulled from the US market in 1989, is still widely used in developing countries, and has been directly linked, not only to cancer, but to paralysis in children living in cotton growing areas, such as Paraguay.  (Andrea’s reasons for wanting made-in-the-USA shirts, goes without saying.)

Environmental awareness is key.  Tuning in to what’s genuinely happening is vital to the future of our children, and our children’s children.

Now, Earth Day, created to heighten that awareness, came about in 1970 (though the idea for it had been germinating for roughly eight years), as a result of the efforts of Senator Gaylord Nelson.  While he was successful in persuading President Kennedy to go on a National Conservation Tour to promote environmental awareness and conservationism, for one reason or another, the tour did not succeed in putting the issues on the national agenda. 

Not to be outdone, Senator Nelson, inspired by anti-Vietnam War demonstrations (“teach-ins”), proceeded to organize a huge grassroots protest, on behalf of the environment.  20 million demonstrators took part, along with thousands of schools and communities.  And here we are, 40 years later, carrying on his message. 

Celebrate Earth Day by turning over a new leaf.  Or planting a tree.  Or putting something in the recycling bin, rather than the trash can.  If you’re in or near Nashville, be sure and come to the Earth  Day Festival at Centennial Park.  I’ll be in the Eco-Swag™ booth!  (No autographs, please!)  Bring this article, and get a free gift!)

Eco-Swag™ carries FSC-Certified Sticky Notes (What is FSC-Certified?)

We, here at Eco-Swag,™  are so thrilled that more and more of our manufacturers are becoming FSC-certified and, as such, we are able to offer a huge selection of eco-friendly promotional products, such as sticky notes, pencils (carpenter and round), envelopes, etc. that are, in fact, FSC-certified.

What does FSC-certified mean, you ask?  Well,click here to go directly to the Forest Stewardship Council's site, or read the highlights, below.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way.

FSC-accredited, independent, “third-party” certification bodies or “certifiers” certify forests. They assess forest management using the FSC principles, criteria, and standards, each certifier uses their own evaluative process. This allows FSC to remain outside of the assessment process, and supports the integrity of the standard, and of the FSC system. Certifiers evaluate both forest management activities (forest certification) and tracking of forest products (chain-of-custody certification). There are 12 FSC-accredited certifiers around the globe.

 FSC-Certified Heart-Shaped Sticky Notes from Eco-Swag™

Forest landowners or managers can contact an accredited FSC certifier if they are interested in becoming certified. Certifiers engage in a contractual relationship with the landowner/manager to assess forest management against the FSC standard approved for the region where the forest is located. The general public is notified about certification assessments before they take place so that the certifiers, helping assure the integrity of the process, can hear a full range of voices. At the close, an assessment summary report is made public, while at the same time keeping the company’s proprietary information confidential. If the forest management operations assessed qualify for certification, the landowner can choose to sign a certification contract. This event results in their being “certified” and brings with it the landowner’s commitment to continue to practice forestry in a certifiable fashion.


The contract’s duration is five years, at which point a full assessment will be conducted again if the landowner wishes to continue being certified. These five-year audits are supplemented by annual audits to verify that the terms of the contract are being followed, and facilitate regular contact between the certificate holder and certifier.

FSC-Certified Envelope from Eco-Swag™

For those companies who manufacture or trade certified products, a different form of certification applies. Again, to assure the credibility of claims on products, it is important to track materials as they leave the forest and become products down stream. This “chain of custody”(COC) certification process is quite simple. Like any inventory control system, COC allows products to be segregated and identified as having come from a particular source—in this case, an FSC-certified forest.

FSC’s model of certification allows products that flow from certified forests to enter the marketplace with a credential that is unique. Any FSC labeled product can be traced back to a certified source. This aspect of the system is the basis for any credible certification system and is the link between consumer preference and responsible, on the ground forest management.

Eco-Friendly, FSC-certified promotional products from Eco-Swag™.

Green your brand.  Let us help!