The Super Bowl and the trade show industry are working to minimize the environmental impact of events.
Tustin, CA (PRWEB) January 28, 2014
While all of America, if not the world, eagerly anticipates this larger than life event, the environmental impact of large scale events produced and fabricated in a short time period can be extremely damaging to the ecosystem. The NFL brings environmental principles and best practices to all of its events culminating each year at the acclaimed Super Bowl. The NFL is a responsible steward of the environment in all areas of its business, with resources that are efficient and minimize waste. The focus of the NFL’s environmental efforts is on greening NFL events and facilities, and working with teams to help them operate their businesses in sustainable, eco-friendly ways. In much the same way that major trade show, convention centers have turned a call for sustainability into their new action plan over the past ten years.
Today’s largest trade shows move 50,000 to 150,000 through a venue city in 7-10 working days creating massive amounts of leftover waste, food, materials, and energy. With programs installed over the past decade the trade show industry carbon footprint is shrinking. Outside the USA and Canada trade show displays are built using the terminology “turn and burn”, (one time builds and thrown away at the end of the show) but not so here. Everything possible is being done to reuse, re-fabricate, recycle, reprocess, and salvage everything within our exhibition venues. Discard is a last resort and even with last resorts the trade show industry has another hundred uses for discards before abandonment. From Habitat for Humanity, Second Harvest Food Banks, to local cardboard, aluminum, electronic, and metal recyclers – trucks and semi’s back up all day long at dismantle. This has become the last step in the exhibit industry. The Super Bowl does the same thing.
The Super Bowl environmental program has five main initiatives: solid waste management, material reuse, food recovery, sports equipment and book donations, and greenhouse gas reduction. Effective waste management and recycling efforts significantly reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills. Comprehensive solid waste management is implemented at all major Super Bowl facilities including the stadium, NFL Experience, Media Centers, and area hotels. Materials Donation including decorative materials, building materials, office supplies and other reusable items are recovered and donated to local nonprofit organizations.
Additionally, there are both a sports equipment and book donation project during the Super Bowl lead-up that transfers tens of thousands of items each year to youngsters. The NFL uses renewable energy credits (REC) to offset all energy used major Super Bowl venues. As part of the NFL's reforestation efforts, several thousand tree seedlings are planted each year in the Super Bowl host community. Through an innovative partnership with US Forest Service/USDA, the NFL tracks annually the environmental benefits of the trees it has planted.
The Super Bowl and the trade show industry are working to minimize the environmental impact of events. High commendations to both for recognizing the future. That is how America works.
About Absolute Exhibits:
Absolute Exhibits, established in 2000, offers large custom exhibits rentals at over 300 shows every year. At its inception Absolute Exhibits dedicated its entry onto trade show floors to coalesce with a new style of exhibition that takes into account sustainable tradeshow exhibiting while utilizing the highest level of environmental efficiency. Absolute Exhibits is dedicated to providing distinctive marketing settings as well as pre-and-post show and, event marketing and support services for clients.
