As vice president of IIDEX/NeoCon Canada, Tracy Bowie is responsible for planning the organization’s annual exposition and conference for interior designers, architects, and real estate developers. Now in its 24th year, the event attracts more than 15,000 attendees and 400 exhibits—more than half of which offer green products—and features 120-plus seminars. In conjunction with the Association of Registered Designers of Ontario (ARIDO), which owns IIDEX, Bowie and her team are making the show more sustainable by using green suppliers and contractors. Here’s a look at the plans for all aspects of the 2008 show on September 25 and 26 at the Direct Energy Centre in Toronto:
Promotional Materials: “Our letterhead paper, our business cards, and our brochures are all printed on Forest Stewardship Council paper [from logging operations that have met strict standards]. The expense was a little bit more at first, but we made the decision to do that because we felt it was important.”
Setup: Stronco Show Services is incorporating natural-gas-powered forklifts on site.
Decor: “Although we use the carpet just for IIDEX, it actually goes from the show, is cleaned, and is used again. The carpet is not recyclable carpet yet—that’s coming.”
Signage: Banners are recycled from year to year.
Catering: “The caterer at the Direct Energy Centre is Centerplate, and they recycle all of the food waste not suitable for food banks. They use recyclable cups and plates … or we use real dishes.”
Construction Materials: All leftover construction materials at the end of the show are donated to Habitat for Humanity.
Show Content: ARIDO had a drive for the industry to bring their old jeans to the show, and Habitat for Humanity came up with a concept where the jeans could be used for insulation in housing.” IIDEX also put together exhibits show-casing new materials and trends.
