2006 Press Releases
All Things Organic(TM) Conference and Trade Show Offers Green Travel to Attendees and Exhibitors
Green Tags will offset environmental impact of climate-altering travel to and from the all-organic show
Portland, Ore. (May 2, 2006) — The Organic Trade Association (OTA), in partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), announced today that approximately 332,000 pounds of greenhouse gases (primarily measured as carbon dioxide) will be offset by attendees and exhibitors of the All Things OrganicTM Conference and Trade Show taking place May 6-9 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.
"Now All Things OrganicTM attendees and exhibitors can make their travel to and from Chicago more environmentally sound by participating in the optional purchase of renewable energy certificates from BEF," said Caren Wilcox, executive director of OTA. "These certificates are an important component in building the market for clean, renewable homegrown energy supplies, and BEF makes it simple for people to support this option."
Prior to the show, attendees were invited to 'green' their travel by simply checking an option on the registration form. The options reflect the average distances exhibitors and attendees traveled in prior years. Funds were then used to purchase Green Tags from BEF. The typical All Things OrganicTM attendee or exhibitor who chooses to green his or her travel will displace approximately 4,080 pounds of CO² from the electricity grid, which is the leading industrial contributor to global warming. All BEF's Green Tag products come from new renewable energy projects (such as wind and solar) and are certified as 100 percent renewable by Green-e® .
"Having a renewable energy program complements OTA's mission to encourage organic trade to the benefit of the environment," Wilcox said. "By using renewable energy, biodegradable sampleware, booth drapes made from organic fiber, soy inks and recycling, All Things OrganicTM and its participants are reducing impacts on the environment."
The All Things OrganicTM Conference and Trade Show, presented by OTA in partnership with Diversified Business Communications, is the only conference and trade show in North America focusing exclusively on the organic trade industry. OTA's partnership with BEF at the All Things OrganicTM Trade Show provides another avenue for OTA members to participate in activities that directly improve the environment. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, BEF reinvests all the net revenues from Green Tag sales in support of its mission, which supports solar power systems for schools, wind power systems for farms and ranches, and restoration efforts for salmon-bearing streams.
About the Organic Trade Association
The mission of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy. OTA envisions organic products becoming a significant part of everyday life, enhancing people's lives and the environment. As a membership-based business association, the Organic Trade Association focuses on the organic business community in North America. OTA's more than 1,700 members include farmers, processors, importers, exporters, distributors, retailers, certifiers, and more. For further information, visit www.ota.com.
About Diversified Business Communications
Diversified Business Communications provides information and market access through trade exhibitions, magazine publishing, and online resources on five continents. In addition to serving the natural products/organic market, DBC produces over 20 food exhibitions organized throughout the United States, Europe, Australia and Asia (www.divbusinesss.com).
About the Bonneville Environmental Foundation
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), a non-profit organization, was established in 1998 to restore watershed ecosystems and further the development and use of new renewable energy resources. Through revenues generated from the sale of green power products, BEF funds projects that restore damaged watersheds and support new renewable energy projects from solar, wind and biomass. BEF pioneered the sale of Green Tags in 2000 and has helped establish national standards for their certification and trading. More information is available at www.b-e-f.org.
