REI Opens New Prototype In Boulder, CO
Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a retail cooperative providing quality outdoor gear has opened its first prototype store to test new retail concepts and green building features. “REI’s prototype initiative is structured around our community involvement, environmental stewardship and commitment to be a gateway to the outdoors,” said Brian Unmacht, REI’s Sr. V.P., Store Development.
Some of the most striking differences in the store’s appearance occur through design changes and the incorporation of renewable materials. Located at the center of the 42,000 sq. ft. store is an elevated community center -- a first for REI. The community center highlights REI’s commitment to connecting customers to resources for recreation opportunities, outdoor and conservation clubs and non-profit organizations.
Green materials, such as bamboo, recycled rubber and cork, have been incorporated throughout the store. Three solar strategies, passive solar, solar thermal and solar electric, were incorporated into the design. Natural daylight is channeled throughout the store through Solatubes.™ A soaring entryway skylight collects energy from imbedded silicon solar cells, and is the first installation of its kind in a retail environment.
Frito-Lay’s SunChips To Feature Green-e Designation
SunChips, Frito-Lay’s popular brand of multigrain snacks, has announced the inclusion of the “Green-e” designation across its full line of SunChips snacks. The updated packaging will feature the Green-e logo, a designation from the Center for Resource Solutions used with certified renewable energy certificates. The Center for Resource Solutions is the national non-profit group that administers the Green-e program. The SunChips brand will be one of the first national consumer packaged goods brands to include the Green-e logo on packaging.
“Including the Green-e on the SunChips line of snacks gives the brand an opportunity to communicate its commitment to support green energy, and hopefully will remind and encourage consumers to take their own small steps to make our world a brighter place,” said Gannon Jones, V.P., Marketing, Frito-Lay.
Safeway Announces First Solar-Powered Grocery Stores
Safeway has launched a new environmental project to power its California stores with renewable solar energy. The company installed solar panels atop a newly renovated Safeway Lifestyle store in Dublin, CA and plans to extend the program as part of a broader renewable energy initiative. Solar equipment at the Dublin Safeway store will provide 20 percent of the stores’ average power usage.
“Safeway is taking its green power initiative to the next level as we identify additional California store locations for its solar stores program,” said Joe Pettus, Safeway Sr.V.P., Fuel & Energy. “The investment in renewable energy, both solar and wind makes sense for both the environment and our company.”
Green Path Wine Launched At Whole Foods Market
The Country Vintner, Australia, announced that the first wine produced with organic grapes in a Tetra Pak carton package is available exclusively at Whole Foods Market stores. The wine, sold under the name Green Path, is made by Organic One Wines, a 100% organic winery. These wines are packaged in a Tetra Pak carton, which is more environmentally friendly than bottles.
Nintendo Games Shows Kids How to be Green
Nintendo has launched Chibi-Robo(TM): Park Patrol for the portable Nintendo DS. In the game, players clean up a park by planting flowers, building park equipment and defeating toxic enemies called Smoglings.
George Harrison, Nintendo’s Sr. V.P., Marketing, said, “Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol represents one of the first environmentally themed video game adventures.”
Memorex Launches ‘ReNew’ Electronics Line
Memorex has teamed with the Arbor Day Foundation to help replant our national forests through sales of the Memorex ReNew line of consumer electronics. The ReNew line is designed to minimize impact on the environment through responsible choices in product design, manufacturing and packaging.
When consumers purchase ReNew products, such as the ReNew digital picture frame and ReNew Digital Music Player, Memorex will fund the planting of new trees.
Boston Retail has introduced 100% ecoRigid(TM) PVC-FREE Custom Extrusions to its ecoSeries® family of display impact protection products. All shapes, sizes and colors are extruded from PolyBostylene(TM), a unique blend of thermoplastic monomers that is free of both chlorine and bromine hazardous chemicals. ecoExtrusions can be used on merchandising units, sign holders, and more. For additional information, visit www.bostonretail.com, or call 1-800-225-1633.
Great Lakes MDF has developed Cleantech Green MDF™, an environmentally friendly specialty product containing no urea formaldehyde. Great Lakes MDF is produced with 100 percent post-industrial wood fibers and uses EcoBind™ resin technology from Hexion Specialty Chemicals, which meets the most stringent global emission standards. The EcoBind resin technology has also been used to create Clean Process Spectratech Color MDFTM, an environmentally friendly MDF. For more information, visit the Great Lakes MDF website: www.greatlakesmdf.com.
Fox River took into consideration green environmental practices for this 20'x30' exhibit, which it used at a recent Outdoor Retailer Show. A water-based wood stain made with low VOCs was used to finish the exhibit. The exhibit features cork for the floor and walls. The cork oaks thrive and regenerate, while never being cut down, which makes them completely sustainable. To represent the Midwest where Fox River socks are knitted and where the natural corn crop starch used for the socks is made, a silo is featured at the center of the exhibit.. The silo was built from recyclable rhythm board. This exhibit was created for Fox River by MG Design (www.mgdesign.com), a Pleasant Prairie, WI-based exhibit firm.
Dieselution Tour Conducted By Volkswagen of America
Volkswagen of America is conducting the Dieselution Tour to educate the the public on advances in clean diesel technology and alternative fuels. The Dieselution Tour, will visit events around the U.S., including environmental and alternative fuel festivals, auto shows and the 2008 SuperBowl.
The Dieselution Tour is centered around a 53’ long, double-expandable semi-trailer. Elements include an “Alt Fuel/Alt Film” video area; a Dieselab with a series of interactive and video displays; a Diesel Heritage section, illustrating Volkswagen’s diesel history and leadership; a Sustainability Station, involving an interactive quiz and aCarbon Footprint Calculator; a Beyond Diesel perspective, featuring SunFuel; and a Motorsports display, outlining Volkswagen’s recent historyand international success in racing diesel vehicles.
Partner/sponsor companies involved in this exhibit are International Truck and Engine Company and CarbonFund.org. The Dieselution Tour will be certified as CarbonFree by CarbonFund.org.
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