Green Steps Program is a concept that calls out companies adopting green practices in their product, policies and business tactics in and around the outdoor industry. More and more businesses (and consumers) are choosing to do business with environmentally responsible brands, and this is one way to find out who's doing what. The goal for this program is to encourage, step by step, the spread of ecologically sound best practices throughout our industry.

Some Green Steps for Outdoor Retailer include:

• Paper badges (recycled paper and soy ink) - no more petroleum based badges
  
  
• Recycled aisle carpet - reused at each Outdoor Retailer show
  
  
• Recycled booth carpet - offered to exhibitors in each service manual
  
  
• Biodegradable food ware - utensils, plates, napkins, cups, sandwich containers
  
  
• Renewable energy - We still support 100% wind energy for every show we produce
  
  
• Recycled trash programs - We recycle everything! All cardboard during exhibitor move-in as well as all trash from the show floor is recycled
  
  
• Promotion of Carbon Offset Program

Did You Know?

The Salt Palace lets nothing go to waste. All trash collected under the roof of the Salt Palace is taken to a transfer station and sorted. What this means: Every bag of trash is sorted for recyclables and only solid waste is sent to the dump. Recyclables include; plastic, cardboard, paper and aluminum. You can feel secure in knowing that your trash is being recycled simply by placing it in ANY trash can during the show. What needs special attention is the placement of all biodegradable items food containers and cutlery - into the proper containers so they can be taken to the local compost pile and turned into mulch and fertilizer for local growers.


As an outdoor business you may already be taking steps that lessen your environmental impacts and reduce your energy and material needs, waste, and carbon emissions. Small steps by many across an entire industry are one way to see noticeable gains in reducing CO2 over the long run. OIA has extended the Carbon Neutral Traveler Challenge, which provides a way for businesses to take steps toward lowering their emissions.

Here’s how it works:

Travel to, from, and during Outdoor Retailer produces carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Carbon offsets allow you to ensure that in the future, clean alternative wind energy is produced in lieu of carbon intensive coal fired energy. You are offsetting the carbon that you have already emitted, reducing future carbon emissions, and helping to grow the availability of clean energy by supporting new wind energy projects.