An old newsstand pillar right in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD opened its doors as a revamped showcase of innovative ecoproducts.

Stocking all locally made, environmentally responsible products, gifts and art, the Eco Innovators Showcase Shop is promoting designers who are going green.

The shop is a welcome and engaging change to the busy corner of Little Collins and Swanston Streets. Having been designed and fitted out entirely out of reclaimed and recycled materials, the shop presents an eco-alternative for shopping this Christmas and is a much needed contribution to the otherwise un-eco retail environment of the city.

All the products selected for the showcase have a high level of environmental responsibility built into the design and development of the product.

A few of the products available in the showcase includes;

• Nearly Roadkill recycled tyre wallets and belts
• Keep cups – coffee cups
• OS Initiative’s Bowling arm bangles
• Photo blocks by Steve Argent
• Record Attempts recycled record notebooks
• Earth Greetings greeting cards and wrapping paper
• Lydra purses from recycled fabrics
• MuCKE reconstructed shirt dresses
• Buro North’s eco Christmas tree
• A beautiful range of jewellery made from recycled vintage dominoes

All the products can be viewed on the website www.ecoinnovators.com.au.

The reality is that all consumption has an environmental legacy with some products being much worse then others. So by considering the ways in which a product has been made, where it has come from and what will happen to it at the end of its life, and then purchasing products which have addressed these issues, we can reduce our environmental impact.

The creators and managers of the showcase Eco Innovators explains that the shop was set up as a way of communicating with consumers and encouraging more eco-design of products.

“The objective is to help people understand design and consumption impacts so that people can consciously make environmentally beneficial decisions – especially around Christmas time” – said Director of Eco Innovators Leyla Acaroglu

The showcase is only temporary, until early 2010, so hurry up and visit.