Sustainable Business a Growing Movement at Outdoor Retailer

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIF. – Outdoor Retailer, the leading outdoor industry trade event, will continue to elevate its commitment to the application and promotion of sustainable practices at the upcoming Winter Market 2007. Sustainability will take center stage, starting with new measures such as the distribution of thousands of new show badges created from recycled paper; to the show’s aisle carpet being made of recycled materials – all helping to conserve materials and energy.

On Saturday morning January 27, the Industry Breakfast, presented by the Outdoor Industry Association, will feature keynote speaker Jill Bamburg, dean of the Sustainable Business MBA program at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute and author of “Getting to Scale: Growing Your Business Without Selling Out.” Bamburg will discuss the benefits of environmental sustainability in business, encouraging attendees to infuse socially responsible innovations into everyday business practice.

“We are really pleased to partner with OIA to welcome Ms. Bamburg to this year’s Winter Market,” said Peter Devin, group show director for Outdoor Retailer. “The issue of creating a sustainable business model is facing everyone – and Jill’s knowledge, passion, and her ability to create momentum for change will be an inspiration to the audience at the Industry Breakfast.”

Outdoor Retailer continues to take “show size green steps” by implementing sustainable measures on the show floor. For the first time in the show’s 18-year history, all Winter Market attendees will receive badges made from recycled paper and printed with soy ink. The recycled paper badges will replace an estimated 20,000 petroleum based badges. Badge holders will additionally be collected and re-used at future trade events.

Winter Market 2007 will also feature recycled aisle carpeting throughout the tradeshow floor. Through its partnership with GES, a major exhibition and event services provider, Outdoor Retailer will now use a carpet that is made with 25% recycled content. Additionally, the carpet will be reused for future VNU produced shows. GES also makes this carpet available to any interested exhibitors.

“Outdoor Retailer is committed to the support of a clean environment. Our environmental program was created out of the need to increase sustainability within our tradeshows and within the tradeshow industry itself,” said Cindy Sample, VNU Business Media operations director. “By adding recycled badges and carpeting to our Green Steps program, we are taking small steps towards a healthy community and overall sustainable lifestyle, which is something we are all passionate about.”

The Green Steps program at Outdoor Retailer continues to recognize companies that are adopting “green” practices in their product, policies and business tactics. By showcasing successful exhibitor practices, the program continues to encourage the spread of ecologically sound programs throughout the outdoor industry. All net proceeds from the Green Steps program go towards green education, and purchasing wind credits, powering Outdoor Retailer shows with sustainable energy.

VNU Sports Group, the parent company of Outdoor Retailer, will once again offset 100% of the electricity used during the show with clean, renewable wind power through the purchase of renewable energy credits. The energy-related activities calculated from electricity indicate that an average tradeshow would release over 858,000 pounds of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. This would be equivalent to the environmental benefit of taking nearly 81 cars off the road for an entire year. In 2007, VNU Sports Group will purchase enough renewable energy credits to offset standard electricity usage for seven expositions.

Outdoor Retailer will also continue their partnership with SMG, a leader in conference venue management, to provide biodegradable, vegetable-based food and beverage containers at Salt Palace concession stands for the duration of the show. Attendees will be urged to make use of biodegradable-specific disposal bins placed near concession stands.

About Outdoor Retailer
Outdoor Retailer, a division of VNU Business Media is a full service tradeshow company whose goal is to create, market and produce high quality tradeshows and educational conferences. Outdoor Retailer is the leading outdoor industry business-to-business trade event, bringing together top manufacturers, retailers, industry advocates and media to conduct the business of the recreational outdoors. Currently in its 25th successful year, OR gathers approximately 40,000 attendees on a semi-annual basis for both Fall/Winter/Holiday and Spring/Summer markets. VNU Business Media, headquartered in Northern Virginia, and its predecessor companies have been in the exposition and conference business for over 35 years.

Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2007 will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah from January 27-30 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, with the 4th Annual Backcountry Base Camp scheduled on January 26, one day prior to the Show. Registration details for Winter Market 2007 and more information on Outdoor Retailer tradeshows can be found at www.outdoorretailer.com. Media may contact Sara Nazzaro at Mullen by phone at 978/468-8970 or by email at sara.nazzaro@mullen.com.

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