Rather than flowers or chocolates this Mother’s Day, why not send Mom a chic environmentally-friendly shopping bag instead? That’s the message coming from Ecozuri, a green producer of 100% recycled reusable shopping bags.

“Mother’s Day is such a special celebration for so many people across the country,” said Lily Wu, President and founder of Ecozuri, Inc. “What better way to say ‘Thanks Mom’ for everything she has done for you, than by sending her a gift which is not only useful, but also says how much you care about her and the planet we all share?”

Each Ecozuri bag is manufactured from 100% certified-recycled material and is available in a wide range of eye-catching colors, and will make an ideal gift for the eco-conscious Mom. And because each bag is machine washable and can hold up to 50-pounds, this is a gift that will be used by her for many years to come.

Packaged in a cute green box, every bag also comes complete with a free reminder kit that can be used to ensure the bag is never left behind.  Each kit comes with either a door hanger that can be used to store stray plastic bags for recycling, a steering wheel wrap or a flexible etched buckle to attach your Ecozuri bag to Mom’s key chain.

Customers can order directly from the Ecozuri website and orders placed before Wednesday May 4^th are guaranteed to arrive before Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8th.

For those who would like to help make this year’s holiday season ‘green’, giving the gift of Ecozuri’s chic reusable bags is a great way to help save the environment and give practical gifts to family, friends and business colleagues.

“This holiday season we decided to offer free shipping on our entire line, as our gift to those who are looking to promote a green lifestyle,” said Lily Wu, President and founder of Ecozuri, Inc. “Our products aim to help others embrace an eco-aware lifestyle. The holiday season is a great time to spread that concept”

Manufactured from 100%-certified recycled material, Ecozuri bags are machine washable, waterproof and can hold up to 50-pounds in each bag. Every purchase comes packaged in its own cute green box, making it perfect for gift presentation.

Ecozuri also provides a free reminder kit that will help ensure that recipient of the gifts will never forget to use their bags. Every kit comes either with a door hanger that doubles as a plastic bag recycler to store any stray plastic bags for later recycling, an earth tone steering wheel wrap that you can slip on your vehicles steering wheel, or a flexible engraved buckle that you can use to attach your Ecozuri bags to your key chain.

10% of all retail sales of Ecozuri products are donated to the Bricks and Books Foundation – a U.S. based charity which helps the children of Tanzania.

This holiday season, Ecozuri encourages everyone to “go green and make a difference.”

About Ecozuri
Formed in 2008, Ecozuri, Inc. has offices in Pasadena, California and Guangzhou, China and manufactures environmentally conscious, 100% recycled, habit-changing bag products to help consumers embrace a more eco-friendly lifestyle. The company contributes 10% of its online retail revenue to Imbaseni Primary and other Tanzanian schools that are supported by the Bricks and Books Foundation (www.bricksandbooks.org), a non-profit organization.

Green gifts may range from the simple to the truly extravagant, though many of the most treasured are also the most useful. Highly effective green products, such as reusable bags, are also especially cost-effective and can make it easy to surprise several members of any holiday gift list. Often, reusable shopping bags are associated with poorly-made or unattractive models that are covered with branding for a particular store or otherwise might seem like strange choices for meaningful gift giving. With Ecozuri’s fashionable reusable bags, however, there’s no obtrusive branding or poor craftsmanship to detract from the utility and style of the bags themselves, so users can simply enjoy their shopping and show off their care for the planet.

Fun and functional packages make Ecozuri bags a great option for gift-givers with plenty of important people on their lists. Full sets for families, along with smaller sets that include a choice of chic colors for reflecting a loved one’s personal tastes allow for a variety of gifts capable of pleasing everyone with an eye for the environmentally conscientious. The bags are easily folded into a pocket or purse and can be washed to keep them clean and bright. While Ecozuri’s bags make great gifts to feel good about all on their own, they can also add some extra holiday cheer through their connection to a good cause. Ten percent of Ecozuri’s proceeds go towards the support of educational projects in East Africa, helping kids lead richer and fuller lives. Though they’re bound to be empty from time to time, Ecozuri bags are often full of the holiday spirit.

To avoid the risks of bacteria breeding was exactly the reason why Ecozuri insisted to make our bags machine washable. When we observed many existing reusable bags in the market are actually not washable or very difficult to dry, we decided to make our bags differently. We tested multiple fabrics and even settled at the 100% recycled PET Repreve product from Unifi. The fabric is sturdy, light weight, machine washable with low temperature and dries very quickly. We believe 3-in-1 and 6-in-1 bag sets are more practical for families because reusable bags, like clothes, are meant to be washed and changed when they are soiled so multiple of them are necessary.

At Ecozuri, we always image a lifestyle that we all change and wash our reusable bags frequently, just like changing and washing our dresses, our towels, or our table clothes. We also like to consider reusable bags are part of our outfits. So we choose the ones with the right colors and styles with care, from the cleaned, washed, folded bags in the drawer every day.

     Traditionally, reusable pages are made from PP non-woven materials, resulting in cotton/paper-like bags that are soft to the touch, and often this material is laminated to achieve a more hardy surface. These bags are usually crinkly and are not recommended for machine washing. When cheap and difficult-to-wash materials are used, bags can be breeding grounds for bacteria and various other organisms, especially in the presence of spills and leaks.

The answer, however, is not to switch back to flimsy plastic bags that are simply thrown out after use, but to try reusable bags that are made from easily washable materials. Ecozuri’s line of environmentally-friendly bags (www.ecozuri.com) is machine washable and easy to dry. Moreover, their bag is manufactured from recycled polyester, making them more effective against waste and pollution than other washable bags, and providing users with the ability to simply throw them in with the laundry now and then.

     A great green product should not only benefit the environment, but should bring a greater degree of convenience and well-being to the lives of its users. Ecozuri’s reusable bags achieve both targets, bearing benefits both for individual users and for the great planet on which they live. When materials are chosen intelligently and with a sense of duty to the earth, products that truly have an effect on environmental efforts can be produced. From the insistence on recycled polyester rather than virgin materials to the incorporation of fashion-forward colors and sensible storage, Ecozuri’s bags are the perfect solution for shoppers who want to do their part for the planet without risking their health.

The For-me-not bag set to be given away as prize for the contest includes 2 pouches.  Each pouch contains 3 bags in an array of handsome hues — orange, green and blue; gold, green and brown.  There’s a caribiner on the outside pouch that conveniently attaches to your purse, messenger bag, backpack or carryall. The set also contants a jute door bag, 2 steering wheel wraps with reminder messages to help people to remember bringing their bags when they go on a shopping trip.

To participate in the contest, please visit http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2010/09/21/ecozuri-forget-me-not-a-tired-and-true-review-great-green-giveaway/

About Ecozuri

Formed in 2008, Ecozuri, Inc.(www.ecozuri.com) has offices in Pasadena, California and Guangzhou, China and promotes environmentally conscious bag products to help consumers embrace a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Ecozuri also offers a factory direct, custom-made program of promotional products for corporate clients. The company contributes 10% of its retail revenue to Tanzanian schools that are supported by the “Bricks and Books Foundation,” a non-profit organization.

About The Alternative Consumer

Ranked as one of the top 3 blogs that help people to change the world by “Fast Company Magazine” , The Altnernative Consumer site (www.alternativeconsumer.com) has provided its diverse audience with smart tips on an eco-conscious life style. The site was intiated by Maureen O’Connor and a team of eco-minded contributors who shares a passion for promoting sustainable, eco-friendly products and services. Since its launch in 2007, the site has enjoyed widespread positive acknowledgment among media and the environmentalist community.

As more and more industries embrace the burgeoning eco-friendly trend towards sustainable business practices, packaging, and energy conservation, so too does consumer willingness to adopt environmentally friendly green habits. One way for businesses to position themselves within this growing segment is through the adoption of green or eco-friendly promotional products into their advertising and marketing campaigns

California based Ecozuri, manufactures a wide range of stylish eco-friendly bags that are economical while still offering a high-quality, unique marketing solution for companies looking to promote their business with green promotional products. Ecozuri offers a guaranteed-green product that is manufactured from your choice of either 100% recycled plastics, organically farmed fabrics, or material manufactured using sustainable farming techniques.  

Built around a custom-made factory-direct program, Ecozuri enables clients to interact directly with its worldwide manufacturing partners, removing all the usual hurdles associated with dealing with similar companies and helping its clients to not only confidently present a 100% green product, but also achieving savings that are typically in the range of 10% to 25% over other similar products.

Ecozuri products are available in a wide range of recycled and organic materials allowing you to offer a flexible, tailored product that fits comfortably with your brand’s image and have proved extremely popular with environmentally aware shoppers. Our wide range of reusable bags are easily brandable, highly visible and, while similar products offered by competitors use only 50% recycled material, Ecozuri’s unique fabrics are made from 100% environmentally friendly material.

 RPET:  Manufactured from recycled virgin plastic materials that have been collected and sorted at recycling centers, Recycled PET or RPET retains all the flexibility and advantages of virgin polyester materials with none of the associated negative environmental impact. It can be made into fabric of differing weight and thickness to suit your needs. Ecozuri can also provide you with recycled content verification issued by the materials provider for all of our custom made RPET products. 

Organic Cotton: Grown using methods that have a low impact on the environment, Organic Cotton production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers and help to build biologically diverse agriculture. Organic cotton is verified through a third-party program that certifies that it was produced using only methods and materials allowed in organic production and without the use of genetically engineered seed.

Canvas: Usually made from cotton, modern canvas differs from other heavy cotton fabrics in being a plain weave rather than twill. Available in multiple weights, canvas is available in two basic types: plain and duck, with the threads of duck canvas being more tightly woven than plain canvas.

Jute: A natural fiber with golden, silky threads, Jute is the cheapest vegetable fiber extracted from the skin of the plant that gives this material its name. With high tensile strength and low extensibility that ensure a more breathable fabric, Jute fiber is 100% biodegradable and recyclable.

Hemp: Soft and durable, Hemp is used for a wide variety of manufacturing purposes. Although the fibers can be used to create 100% hemp products, it will usually be blended with other organic fibers such as flax, cotton or silk.

Bamboo: Made from the pulp of bamboo grass and 100% natural, bamboo fabric has grown in popularity because of its many unique properties. More sustainable than most other textiles, bamboo fabric is strong and light, provides excellent wicking properties, and has some antibacterial properties.

 For more information on Ecozuri and the company’s unique promotional products visit www.Ecozuri.com or http://ecozuri.com/custom-made.html

About Ecozuri
Formed in 2008, Ecozuri, Inc. has offices in Pasadena, California and Guangzhou, China. Ecozuri, Inc. manufactures environmentally conscious, 100% recycled, habit-changing bag products to help consumers embrace a more eco-friendly lifestyle. The company contributes 10% of its revenue to Imbaseni Primary and other Tanzanian schools that are supported by the “Bricks and Books Foundation,” a non-profit organization.

Ecozuri’s boldly colored bags are a step away from the ubiquitous, white plastic shopping bag, and a step-up for modern consumers looking to make an eco-friendly fashion statement. Unlike other reusable bags in the market, which may be made from lower recycled content or virgin plastic, Ecozuri’s machine-washable and waterproof designs are made from 100% certified recycled plastic and are strong enough to hold up to 50 pounds in each bag.

“I came across this fabric that was made from 100% recycled plastic in 2007, and I knew instantly that it was going to be a great solution to help reduce the landfills caused by excessive plastic use,” explained Lily Wu, the founder of Ecozuri.

To help consumers remember their reusable bags, Ecozuri includes a free reminder kit with every purchase. The kit contains a door hanger that doubles as a plastic bag recycler to store stray plastic bags for recycling, or an earth tone wrap that you can slip on your vehicles steering wheel and fridge handle, or a flexible engraved buckle that you can use to attach your folded Ecozuri bag to your key chain.

Ecozuri is donating 10% of its retail revenue to benefit impoverished school children in Africa.

“Zuri is a Swahili word which means ‘beautiful’,’ and I decided to use it as part of my company name after I volunteered in Eastern Africa,” said Wu. “I was overwhelmed by the well preserved natural beauty of the area, and touched by the willingness of the children to learn even under very difficult situation.”

About Ecozuri
Formed in 2008, Ecozuri, Inc.(www.ecozuri.com) has offices in Pasadena, California and Guangzhou, China and promotes environmentally conscious bag products to help consumers embrace a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Ecozuri also offers a factory direct, custom-made program of promotional products for corporate clients. The company contributes 10% of its retail revenue to Tanzanian schools that are supported by the “Bricks and Books Foundation,” a non-profit organization.

“Companies that translate these goals into a holistic approach to offering differentiated green products and bringing down costs across the entire value chain have been rewarded with higher margins and market share.” – The Boston Consulting Group: Capturing Green Advantage Consumer Companies

One of the ways for companies to transmit their commitment to “going green” outlined in the BCG report was by the effective communication of a company’s message on sustainability and green issues. The use of green or eco-friendly promotional products to promote a company’s commitment to the preservation of the planet’s ecology offers an interesting opportunity for companies but can also present potential problems if it fails to adequately research the partner it purchases promotional products from.

Promotional products have long been shown to be an effective marketing tool and offer a flexible, tangible, long lasting advertising option with results that are easily measured. In studies, promotional products repeatedly outperform television advertisements with test groups and, when added to an ongoing advertising campaign, created a favorable response toward the product of up to 44%, according to a 2006 Study by Louisiana State University and University of Texas at San Antonio.

The same study found that integrating a promotional product with TV and print ads increased referral value and improved the credibility of the message. Recipients of promotional products also tended to rate the advertising message more positively than those who did not receive a promotional product.

When these findings are coupled with the current boom in green awareness among consumers, the possibility for business to effectively market their services and products while communicating a commitment to the green movement is obvious. While the opportunities are plenty, marketing and advertising departments hoping to take advantage of the swing towards sustainability are faced with the problem of identifying a reliable company that can provide the level of dependability and green-credentials that they should be looking for.

A new phrase entering the lexicon of the general public is the term “greenwash” and, like its better known cousin “whitewash” the connotations of the phrase are not what you could describe as positive. Coined by New York environmentalist Jay Westerveld in 1986, the term refers to companies which falsely claim to be environmentally friendly or whose production processes of green products actually create more waste than is saved.

When greenwashing is coupled with the high costs, low dependability and long turn-around times associated with dealing with overseas companies, as well as the added cost implications of the inevitable “middlemen”, the economic and possible public relations consequences can be disastrous. To avoid the potential negative impact to a company’s reputation through its association with a sub-par or greenwashed product, it is important to first fully research the potential company and the promotional products that they are offering before partnering with them.

Ecozuri, a California based manufacturer of eco-friendly reusable shopping bags designed to replace the plastic bags handed out at supermarkets, offers a unique solution for companies that may be looking for a one-of-a-kind brandable product with high potential reusability. The company offers a guaranteed-green product that is manufactured from 100% recycled plastics, collected and processed in the U.S.

With bright, in-your-face designs the bags are highly visible and have proved to be extremely popular with environmentally aware shoppers. 

“Because we run a factory direct program, we cut out the middleman,” explains Ecozuri’s founder, Lily Wu. “Working with us, a business can easily transform their corporate gifts or promotional products to green products while paying less than ordering traditional promotional materials through traditional channels.”

The custom-made factory direct program offered by Ecozuri is built around a production model that allows clients to interact directly with Ecozuri’s manufacturing partners on product and logo designs, sample development and order fulfillment. Effectively cutting out all of the usual hurdles associated with dealing with similar suppliers, this young company helps its clients to achieve maximum savings, typically in the range of 10% to 25%, while still maintaining flexibility in the design process for the client.

For more information on Ecozuri and the companies unique promotional products visit www.Ecozuri.com