The nation’s largest natural, organic and healthy products trade show expects more than 45,000 people to attend the industry event in Anaheim, California this week from March 14 - 16. In its 28th year, this year’s Expo will publicly display its commitment to Green. For the first time, Expo West will implement widespread programs to reduce waste, limit carbon footprint, and encourage its attendees to do the same.
Image courtesy: Natural Products Expo West/Supply Expo
The Green Team’s list will include:
- Powering the 930,000 square foot Anaheim Convention Center with wind and solar energy through offsets.
- Providing attendees and exhibitors a green-powered travel option, through the purchase of renewable energy certificates via registration.
- Encouraging “car” pooling through a regional bus service or participating in the shuttle service provided by Natural Products Expo West to the official host hotels.
- Using sustainable building materials for show structures and exhibits that will be reused over a 3-year period, including, but not limited to plyboo, Woodstock, muslin drape, 100% recyclable aluminum extrusion and low-VOC paints provided by Freeman.
- Using biodegradable flatware at Natural Products Expo West events and feature areas.
- Outfitting Expo staff with organic t-shirts with vegetable dye ink
- Offering attendees green educational seminars.
- Collecting and donating unused samples and products to local Anaheim charities and food banks.
- Providing local, free-range, natural and organic products at concessions and events in partnership with Aramark.
- Printing show promotional materials on 30-100% post consumer recycled paper.
- Purchasing show premiums and gifts made of recycled materials.
- Biodegradable table liners in all exhibit booths.
- Providing the exhibitor service kit online only, eliminating paper and CD production.
- Offering environmentally friendly exhibit packages through Freeman, including recycled carpet, 100% recyclable aluminum extrusion, plyboo panels and low-VOC paints.
The green policy reflects the show’s producer, New Hope Media’s own greening efforts, and we applaud the move.
Root Concepts will be there to hear New York Times Magazine best-selling author, Michael Pollan, winner of the James Beard Award for best food writing, for The Omnivore’s Dilemma, deliver the keynote address on March 15. We’ll be checking out eco fashions when thinkproducts bring together eco-fashion icons at the thinkVitality Fashion Show to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Susan G. Komen For The Cure. Komen For The Cure is the largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors, and the largest nonprofit fund dedicated to fighting breast cancer in the world.
Be on the lookout for a RootCast derived from our travels.
Image: Courtesy of Indigenous Designs
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