Wal-Mart will hold the first annual Sustainability Milestone Meeting in Bentonville, AR, on Oct. 7,with CEO Lee Scott as the host. More than 80 exhibitors are expected to participate, including Wilson Art International, Georgia Pacific, American Rubber Technologies, American Specialty Glass, and Quest Recycling.
In fact, it was Quest Recycling that brought the concept to Wal-Mart. According to show organizer Denise Kennedy, "Wal-Mart is particularly interested in products that can be created in a 'closed-loop system,' meaning those reclaimed at the end of their lifecycle and turned into other products that can be sold in stores.
All the showcased products are made from recycled materials, such as tires, plastics, refined oil, and organic waste. One example is rubber playground mulch made from old tires.
Red Ball Productions LLC, the general contractor for the showcase, selected environmentally friendly EA Logistics to be the official freight carrier for the show. EA Logistics' Delivered GrEAn program computes emissions for each shipment based on distance, weight, and mode of transportation, and at no additional cost to customers purchases carbon credits to offset 100 percent of these emissions.
"We are thrilled to be able to support these exhibitors in their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their show participation while expanding the market for sustainable products," said Mike Ellis, president. "By helping facilitate their connection with Wal-Mart, we hope to encourage eco-friendly shipping." Ellis, who has been active in efforts to promote eco-friendly exhibiting, is co-chair of the transportation subcommittee for the APEX-sponsored effort to establish sustainability standards for the meetings and events industry.
Originally published Oct. 6, 2008