Feature - GOING GREEN
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Raising a Buzz
Buzz Off Insect Shield Strikes Big                      by Karen Koza

Improving the efficacy or longevity of your product by 180% in just four short years sounds like a dream come true.

At Buzz Off Insect Shield, those numbers are more than a dream. They are a reality.

“We have been able to improve our technology so that our Insect Shield now lasts for 70 washes, up from 25 washes in 2004,” says Janine Robertson, a spokesperson for the company. Insect Shield technology converts clothing and gear into long-lasting, effective and convenient insect protection. The apparel products are proven to repel mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers and midges (best known as no-see-ums for their quick attacks). The gear products are proven to repel mosquitoes, flies, ticks and fleas.

The new products are currently hitting the market and so far, the buzz has been all positive. “The response has been really great,” Richardson tells. “People are really responding to the assortment and loving the new technology. This is an incredibly important development, particularly for the East Coast, where ticks and Lyme Disease are concerns.”

Advancements in the insect repellent industry are important, considering that each year, millions of people worldwide are affected by insect-borne illnesses. As any hiker, outdoor worker or nature afficianado can attest, one of the most important areas one can protect are ankles and lower legs. So, great news, hosiery industry…..Buzz Off Insect Shield now comes applied on socks for the ultimate in protection for feet and lower legs. Treated socks are currently sold by Gold Toe, the sock manufacturer, Ex Officio, the travel oriented retailer and Orvis, the outdoorsman’s store of choice.

While efficient, the chemicals in insect repellents have been known to be unfriendly to the environment. But, as Richardson attests, there’s good news at hand on that front as well particularly for tomorrow’s water supply. “The patent-pending Insect Shield process is designed to prevent loss of active ingredient outside the system, and once applied, Insect Shield repellency is so tightly bound to fabric fibers that garments retain effective repellency through 70 launderings,” says Richardson. “Compare this to insect-control methods that require fogging or spraying, and traditional topical repellents that last just a matter of hours and readily wash off in water.”

So, apparently, now going out in the greens means you are also simultaneously going green.

For a complete look at the latest products, log on to http://www.insectshield.com.