Green Scene: Outdoor Retailer's parent looking to expand Green Steps model companywide
As part of the recently launched Green Steps program -- designed to raise awareness on sustainability and the environment -- Outdoor Retailer powered January's Winter Market trade show with wind energy and is now sharing that information with its parent company, VNU Expositions.
Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+.
As part of the recently launched Green Steps program — designed to raise awareness on sustainability and the environment — Outdoor Retailer powered January’s Winter Market trade show with wind energy and is now sharing that information with its parent company, VNU Expositions.
At the 2005 Winter Market trade show, Outdoor Retailer worked with Utah Power and Light to use 100 percent clean wind energy to power the show at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Utah. In doing so, it was able to offset 252 tons of carbon dioxide emissions — comparable to either, not driving 539,000 miles, taking 43 cars off the road for a year, or planting 99 acres of trees (48,497 trees). Also, the Salt Palace Convention Center reported compacting 80 yards of cardboard during the show’s set-up/tear-down in addition to the materials collected at the 45 recycling bins throughout the Convention Center.
Outdoor Retailer said the concept received high marks from both retailers and exhibitors, and it is planning to use wind energy again at the upcoming Summer Market, Aug. 11-14. And, VNU Expositions is looking to broaden the sustainability concept to more than 60 VNU trade shows, and researching environmentally sustainable procedures for all its shows based upon the Green Steps model.
Â
“Our staff was really inspired by the success of the Green Steps program and wanted to share what we learned with other VNU trade shows. The Sports Group team, who manages Outdoor Retailer, approached VNU execs with a template for operating in a similar eco-friendly manner and VNU is fully supporting the concept,” said Lori Jenks, group operations director for the VNU Sports Group Division.
Â
SNEWS® is very committed to further the communication of the green message. Our monthly “Green Scene” column takes a look at what our industry is doing well, what it can do better, and provide inspiration and ideas for establishing our industry position as the leaders in green for both preservation and profit. If you have ideas or issues you would like to see us discuss, send an email to: GreenScene@snewsnet.com.
Â
