2012 NRA Show - Powerful!

Chris Moyer (NRA) & Ruth
Watts (BASF, Ei Partner)

The 2012 National Restaurant Association Show held at McCormick Place in Chicago was the catalyst for powerful Elemental Impact Partner gatherings, some planned and many spontaneous encounters.  In partnership with the NRA ConSERVE program on the Zero Waste Zones, the Sustainable Food Court Imitative and other focus areas under development, Ei was honored to actively participate in the Show.

In addition to many Ei Partners exhibiting on the Show floor, Ei Chair Scott Seydel orchestrated an educational session moderated by Lily Kelly, Project Manager at Global Green's Coalition for Resource Recovery. The formal session name was Challenging the Value-Chain to Transform Transport Packaging:  Eco-Friendly , Wallet-Friendly Solutions and included a strong focus on the waxed cardboard box dilemma.

Panel @ end of session

Ei Partner Linda Dunn,  HMSHost VP Supply Chain & Analysis, closed the formal session presentations with the foodservice operator's perspective along with an overview of their sustainability commitment. See the ZWA Blog post, Waxed Cardboard Boxes = Landfill Destiny = $$ Lost, for a session overview. 

Ei Partners @ CleanRiver booth

CleanRiver Recycling Solutions' booth served as the Ei central gathering point.  Impressive and spacious, it was a great place to connect and confirm later meeting times. At the opposite aisle end was the NRA ConSERVE booth complete with appreciated tables and seating, perfect for impromptu meetings.  

In the middle of the ConSERVE aisle Ei Partner Ecologic Solutions created a green oasis on the show floor to educate attendees about their toxin-free cleaning systems and products. In the general floor area, Asean | Stalkmarket booth was an excellent venue to educate the show attendees on their compostable foodservice product line.

Anselm Doering @ EcoLogic
Solutions booth

With a multitude of Ei Partners in Chicago for the Show, Matt Hupp of Simon Property Group organized an all-day tour of Gurnee Mills and the Waste Management MRF (materials recovery facility) north of Chicago.  

At day's end, the group convened at a Chicago restaurant for a wonderful dinner where fun and camaraderie intertwined with business chatter among the Ei Partners.  The ZWA Blog post, Simon Property Group @ Sustainability Helm, gives an overview of the tour including details on the Gurnee Mills Goes Green accomplishments.

Wonderful, fun, important and somewhat exhausting are a few words to describe the 2012 NRA Show.  Ei Partners left with plenty of action points and enthusiasm for the 2013 Show.  The Ei FB album, 2012 NRA Show in Chicago, gives a pictorial recap of Ei's Show participation.

Congratulations to the NRA for another successful show!