Toy Industry Association Announces TOTY 2011 Nominees and Hall of Fame Inductees
The Toy Industry Association (TIA) will host a national press event on Monday, November 22, announcing the nominees for the 11th Annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards and two new inductees into the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame.
Held in New York City's historic Bryant Park, the event will unveil the top toy and game picks in eleven distinct categories. TIA received a record number of product submissions this year from toy companies, inventors, and retailers. Products will appear on five TOTY ballots (one each for consumers, retailers - mass and specialty, media and toy industry).
Each of the toy nomination committees - comprised of seven to 15 high-stature experts (such as journalists, toy trend experts, and play therapists) - carefully evaluated more than 500 toys, games, and properties from 169 unique sponsor organizations before casting their votes. Among the product categories are Activity Toy of the Year, Boy Toy of the Year, Girl Toy of the Year, Educational Toy of the Year, and Game of the Year. Each product selected for the official TOTY ballot will also be considered for the overall "Toy of the Year."
TIA will also announce its two newest inductees into the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame, which includes entertainment greats John Lasseter (Toy Story) and George Lucas (Star Wars), Joan Ganz Gooney (Sesame Workshop) and toy and game inventors Milton Bradley, Reuben Klamer (Game of Life), and Betty James (Slinky).
The press conference will also launch the first-ever voting website, ToyAwards.org, where consumers can vote for their TOTY picks between November 22nd and mid-January.
TOTY winners will be announced, and Hall of Fame inductees honored, during the TOTY Awards ceremony, to be held Saturday, February 12th, 2011.
NSF Releases American National Standard for Sustainable Wall Coverings
Architects, designers, retailers and consumers can now look to an American National Standard (ANS) that helps identify sustainable and environmentally-preferable wallcoverings.
NSF International, an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) member and accredited standards developer committed to protecting public health and the environment, recently announced the adoption of NSF/ANSI 342: Sustainability Assessment for Wallcovering Products. The standard evaluates the environmental performance and sustainability attributes of wallcoverings, based on product design, manufacturing, long-term value and innovation, among other factors. Products covered by the standard include textiles, vinyl, vinyl coated, alternative polymer, alternative polymer coated, paper and other natural fiber products and natural fiber products. NSF/ANSI 342 addresses the entire product life cycle, from raw material extraction through manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life management.
NSF/ANSI 342 was developed through the National Center for Sustainability Standards, which was founded by NSF to develop standards and protocols for measuring sustainability attributes and conformity assessment programs to verify sustainability claims.
As a developer of more than 70 American National Standards protecting public health and the environment, NSF, through the National Center for Sustainability Standards, has developed sustainability standards for building products and materials; furniture; carpet and flooring; fabrics; roofing membranes; green chemicals; and drinking water quality.
ICC Accepting Applications for Committee to Develop American National Standard for Irrigation Sprinklers
ANSI member and accredited standards developer the International Code Council (ICC) is accepting applications for the Turfgrass and Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler Standard Consensus Committee. The committee will work to produce the first American National Standard governing the design, construction, performance, and testing of sprinklers used in landscape and turfgrass irrigation systems. The deadline for submitting applications is December 15, 2010.
According to ICC, the need for a standard in this area came to light during the development of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC), a model code that includes provisions for efficient outdoor landscape irrigation systems. Codes like the IGCC depend on product standards to ensure that individual components can be assembled into a high-quality system.
Seeking industry input, ICC's Plumbing Mechanical and Fuel Gas (PMG) representatives reached out to key industry organizations including ANSI member the Irrigation Association (IA) and ANSI member and accredited standards developer the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). ASABE, which publishes standards for agricultural irrigation products and systems, will partner with IAPMO on the development of the new standard.
The committee is expected to begin work in early 2011; development is anticipated to last up to 18 months. All interested stakeholders are welcome to apply via an application form on the ICC website. For more information, visit www.iccsafe.org/CALL2010.