Archive for April, 2009

Today marked the 39th Earth Day, which celebrates the birth of the environmentalist movement in 1970.

People the world over celebrated and commemorated Earth Day in unique ways today.

We have resolved to have an earthier, greener Expo East in 2009 and going green is at the forefront of our thoughts as we put together our first round of show work orders this week. Can we have organic food? Compostable silverware? Can we use biodiesel buses? Recycled carpet? Offset the building’s energy? Offset the hotels? As we work on some parts of the experience- you can work on others. As an attendee or an exhibitor of Expo East this year, there are a number of things you can do to make your experience better for you and better for the environment….check it out:

Travel Green and Save Green

Natural Products Expo East’s Travel Green and Save Green program encouraged attendees to use public transportation to 2008’s show, resulting in the reduction of 884 tons of carbon emissions!

Click here to see details on our great Travel Green program!

Green Team Sponsorship Options that Support Sustainable Efforts

Recycle Bins

The recycling sponsorship will focus on the greening of the trade show industry and educate attendees and exhibitors on the greening process in Boston. Click here to see how 2008 Green Guru sponsors Nordic Naturals supported the Natural Products Expo East Green Team mission last year!

Renewable Energy

Green Tags are purchased through Bonneville Environmental Foundation, a non-profit organization, to offset the energy used at the Natural Products Expo East.

The Green Exhibitor Program

The Green Exhibitor Program at Natural Products Expo East—in partnership with the Green Team efforts of New Hope Natural Media—calls attention to the tremendous effort our exhibitors are making to reduce the environmental impact of tradeshows. Participation in this recognition program starts with updating a few items in your online exhibitor listing. Please click here to log in and submit your green efforts for review.

Have your own idea to make a “splash of green”?

Contact your Expo Account Manager, or post your comment here and find out how you can be part of these programs, or customize your own!

Whether you’re a founding farmer or a newbie, you shouldn’t have to be told, that the greatest thing you will come to learn when talking to anyone in the Natural Products industry, is that each and every one of us cares. Whether your passion is producing the hottest gluten-free cookie dough, running the neighborhood’s favorite health food store or, in our case, creating that amazing opportunity where a mother-turned entrepreneur of a gluten-free cookie-dough can connect with the savviest retail gent on the block—we are all uber-passionate. Of course we are all working for a living and want to promote our products, ideas and services in order to promote our own, selfish success. But I digress… truly, truly, more than any other industry I have been remotely associated with, we do care! With that, we at Natural Products Expo East are as excited and perplexed about how to ride the coattails of the recent Expo West’s success as you are. It is not something I did, it is not something you did—it is something WE did—something WE should be proud of and something WE, as an industry have to not lose sight of, so that our industry doesn’t follow that latest economic trending…down, down, down. There were so many people that I talked to at West that said things like, “My product is doing great….I can’t keep products on my shelves…” Perplexing? Yes. Surprising? Not really. Pleasing? Yes. How do we keep it going? I don’t know the answer and if I did, I wouldn’t be sitting here watching the Final Four on T.V.—trying to figure out how to get you to come to Expo East this fall (please don’t ask me what I WOULD be doing) BUT, I do know that if we stop caring now, we start down that path, that too many of our friends and family members have already had to go down. Commit yourself to Expo East today and commit yourself to strengthen the platform to support our industry’s growth in the face of challenging economic times, in the face of ALL economic times. Look at it as a commitment to yourself and your future. Exhibition and registration information is available at www.expoeast.com.