2009 OE Sustainable Textiles Conference
Press Release-October 30, 2009
Organic Exchange Broadens Strategic Direction to Include Sustainable Textiles
21st Century Sustainable Textiles:
A Deeper Look at Key Issues
October 20-22, 2009
Seattle, Washington USA
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Organic Exchange held its annual Board of Director’s meeting in Seattle, Washington USA on the 19 -20 of October. At the meeting, the Board voted to broaden the strategic direction of Organic Exchange (OE) to include sustainable textiles, while maintaining our core competency and focus on organic cotton. A strategic review commissioned by OE this past summer confirmed that an overwhelming percentage of the OE membership (currently estimated at approximately $750 billion in worldwide Retail sales Demand) wanted the organization to move more broadly in to the emerging field of sustainable textiles. In order to better support both their needs in organic cotton and to help identify other sustainable textile solutions for their products and value-chains. Organic Exchange will focus on making sense of the new paradigm of sustainable textiles and help our members advance truly sustainable practices (including organic cotton). As we’ve done with organic cotton, we’ll strive to become a trusted voice in a confusing market and provide useful, decision-making resources and tools for sustainable textiles. We’ll do this in partnership with many of the existing organizations with whom OE has strong relationships and seek other partners working in the field of sustainable textiles. This new direction was fully supported at Organic Exchange’s annual conference, held in Seattle on the 20 - 22 of October. The theme of ‘21st Century Sustainable Textiles’ was a timely response to the needs of the marketplace with 242 attendees from 22 different countries in attendance. Attendees, sponsors, exhibitors, and speakers came from companies and organizations such as Walmart, Disney, adidas, Huntsman, Lenzing, WWF, C&A, Internet Textile, Novozymes, Otto Group, Anvil, Nike, Esquel, Nordstrom, Patagonia, Federal Trade Commission, Eileen Fisher, REI, Williams-Sonoma, Egedeniz Tekstil A.S., Levi Strauss, Clariant, JC Penney, Thai Alliance, VF Corp/The North Face, Pratibha, Target, and many others. Response to the event was very positive with conference evaluations rating the usefulness and workshop content as exceeds expectations. Comments typically included responses such as “great balance of content, timing, exhibition and networking.” Organic Exchange is thrilled at the results of the conference and looks forward to convening other similar events in 2010, along with key partners that are active in the field of sustainable textiles. |
 OE Conference Attendees in Main Auditorium |
 Ed Thomas from Nike provides opening plenary |
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 Workshop Session provided by Mike Brown from Brown & Wilmanns |
 Conference Dinner |
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| Organic Exchange Presents – A Sustainable Textiles Conference | ||
| Organic Exchange members have told us that they need advice and expertise to help improve the sustainability of all of their textile programs, including, but not limited to, cotton. As a member you’ve come to trust Organic Exchange to bring industry and experts together and provide an open and neutral ground to discuss challenging issues, and we’re doing it again with this event. You’ll not want to miss it! |
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Please join us, October 21 and 22 in Seattle, to identify issues and resources relating to sustainable textiles, such as emerging natural and synthetic materials, recycled content in textiles, energy use and conservation in textiles, carbon and water footprinting related to textile production, and much more. This meeting will provide technical training and education by international experts from industry, academia, government, and the NGO community about organic and other sustainable textiles and the corresponding issues and opportunities throughout the textile supply chain. It will also provide a convening and networking opportunity for OE members (and invited non-members) to cross-pollinate ideas, leverage resources, share insights, and improve scale for sustainable textiles worldwide. Potential attendees include those who are charged with the production or sale of textile products, corporate CSR professionals, product designers and developers, sourcing professionals and buyers, product integrity and quality assurance staff, executive management, and marketing and finance staff. Conference Overview If you are a textiles professional chartered with improving the sustainability of your product, this is the one 2009 meeting you’ll want to attend. This comprehensive meeting and forum will cover important aspects of sustainable textiles with topics including organic fibers, intelligent textiles, recycled fibers, natural fibers (bamboo, cellulose, and many others), sustainable business practices, water and energy usage, social issues, climate concerns, industry integrity (including certification), consumer market trends, key performance indicators, and traceability and transparency issues. By attending, you’ll provide your company with an excellent return on investment as you meet with your peers, expand your knowledge of sustainable textiles, and find new opportunities for innovation, risk reduction/brand protection, and cost savings. |
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| We invite you to join us and your peers as we investigate specific textile-related sustainability issues facing today’s companies and the worldwide textile supply chain. Registration will open June 1 and we will look forward to seeing you in Seattle. Please contact Heather Hocker for additional details or questions. | ||
Generously Sponsored By:
| Collaborator |
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| Cultivator |
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| Sustainer |
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| Educator |
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If you are a company focused on textile and apparel products, this is the one 2009 meeting you’ll want to support. This comprehensive meeting and forum will cover important aspects of sustainable textiles with topics including organic fibers, intelligent textiles, recycled fibers, natural fibers (bamboo, cellulose, and many others), sustainable business practices, water and energy usage, social issues, climate concerns, industry and product integrity (including certification), consumer market trends, key performance indicators, and traceability and transparency issues. Through a sponsorship, your company and/or brand will have a highly visible opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to sustainable textiles, introduce new opportunities and product innovations to a very desirable audience, and be recognized by some of the world’s most prominent retails brands as a go to resource. Current and alumnus OE retail members include: Wal-Mart, Nike, H&M, Adidas, GAP, Pottery Barn, C&A, Nordstrom, REI, Marks and Spencer, Levi Strauss, Macy’s, Eileen Fisher, L.L. Bean, Reebok, Woolworth’s South Africa, Tesco, Target, Patagonia, Timberland, Barneys New York, and many, many more. Also included are many of the world’s key textile and materials producers and suppliers, too numerous to name as well major international development agencies and trade organizations.
We appreciate your consideration of this exciting opportunity and look forward to hearing from you in the near future. For more information, please contact Daren Abney or Heather Hocker.
| Sponsorship Level | Cost | Visibility | Exhibit Space | Complimentary Conference Registration(s) |
Companies per Level |
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| Innovator | $50,000 |
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Prominent Exhibit Space | 7 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Collaborator | $25,000 |
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Prominent Exhibit Space | 5 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Cultivator | $15,000 |
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Prominent Exhibit Space | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Sustainer | $10,000 |
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Exhibit Space | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Educator | $5,000 |
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Exhibit Space | 2 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| Supporter | $2,500 |
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Exhibit Space | 1 | 10 |
| We appreciate your consideration of this exciting opportunity and look forward to hearing from you in the near future. For more information, please contact Daren Abney or Heather Hocker. |
| Organics in a Day | October 20 | $950 Free to Farmers |
| OE Sustainable Textiles Conference | October 21 – 22 | $1500 - Non Member Fee $1250 - OE Member/NGO/SMB* Fee Free to Farmers |
| Organics in a Day PLUS OE Sustainable Textiles Conference | October 20 - 22 | $2400 - Non Member Fee $2150 - OE Member/NGO/SMB* Fee Free to Farmers |
| Exhibit Space | October 20 – 22 | $950 |
| Organic Exchange Dinner | October 21 | Free to those attending conference Bring a guest for $125 |
*SMB (Small/Medium Business)= Less than 2 Million in Sales
| Conference Logistics- (Printable PDF of Logistics) |
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| ABOUT SEATTLE Seattle lies in the Puget Sound region of western Washington State. The city is 113 miles south of the US-Canadian border in the far northwestern corner of the continental United States. In the past few decades, Seattle has quietly grown from a port city not registering on too many radar screens, to being nationally recognized as one of the most livable cities in the United States. Seattle is also the home to Nordstrom, Boeing, Starbucks, and Microsoft |
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| Weather: Seattle’s temperatures range in the mid 50s°F to low 60s°F (10°C to 15°C), with a possibility of rain during the month of October. The Seattle Marriott Waterfront kindly provides umbrellas as you exit the hotel. |
| TRAVELING TO SEATTLE Airport: The easiest way to reach Seattle is by flying into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA-TAC). The Seattle Marriott Waterfront. and Bell Harbor International Convention Center are approximately 25 minutes from the airport. TRANSPORTATION AND GETTING AROUND WHILE IN SEATTLE Taxis: Orange Cab Company 206.522.8800 STITA Taxi 206. 246.9999 Yellow Cab 206.622.6500 Shuttle Service: Shuttle Express: Reservations can be made online at http://www.shuttleexpress.com/ShareRide.html or by calling 425.981.7000. Transportation can be scheduled roundtrip from the airport to the Seattle Marriott Waterfront. Public Transportation: Bus King County Metro operates an extensive bus system in Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. You can ride free through much of Downtown and in the bus tunnel from 6am-7pm. For schedule and fare information visit:transit.metrokc.gov. Monorail Travel back and forth between the Seattle Center and Downtown shopping at Westlake Center (5th and Pine) on the Seattle Center Monorail in less than two minutes each way. www.seattlemonorail.com Waterfront Streetcar These 1927 Australian streetcars transport you along the Seattle Waterfront from the edge of Myrtle Edwards Park through Pioneer Square to the International District with nine stops in all. They run approximately every 20 minutes seven days a week. transit.metrokc.gov. Car: Once at the conference, auto travel is not needed, but if you feel you need to rent a car, please feel free to reserve through Avis, Hertz, National/Alamo, or Budget. |
| VISA INFORMATION Visa: If you are a citizen of a foreign country, in most cases you will need a visa to enter the United States. Please research specific requirements for your country. If you need a personalized invitation to apply for a visa, be sure to request a visa letter when registering for the conference online or email us at conference@organicexchange.org. |
| CARBON CREDITS Carbon Credits: Air travel is the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. You can neutralize your carbon emissions by purchasing a carbon offset. Ecobusinesslinks.com (www.ecobusiness.com) has a comprehensive comparison of nonprofit and for profit organizations providing carbon offsets. |
| CONFERENCE DETAILS The 2009 Organic Exchange Sustainable Textiles Conference will be held on the beautiful Seattle waterfront at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center. The headquarters hotel is the Seattle Marriott Waterfront and located directly across the street from theBell Harbor International Convention Center. Seattle is an extremely popular tourist destination and the hotel rooms in the waterfront area usually sell out early in the season. The Bell Harbor Center and the Marriott Waterfront Hotel are located at the very center of the most popular tourist destination in Seattle. You should not need a car while attending the Sustainable Textiles Conference, as the hotel is easily accessible via taxi (approximate fare between the airport and the Seattle Marriott Waterfront is $40) and the conference center is adjacent to the Marriott Waterfront hotel. The hotel does not operate a shuttle bus. There are very many local restaurants of all categories within easy walking distance. The popular Pike Place Market is within an easy walk as are museums and the vibrant downtown Seattle retail district. |
| CONFERENCE HOTEL Organic Exchange has reserved a block of rooms at the hotel for conference attendees, but only those who make reservations with the hotel before September 18, 2009 will receive the special rate and be assured of having rooms available. If Organic Exchange attendees wish to spend more time in Seattle, the hotel rooms are available at the special rate of $205 per night for conference attendees from Friday, October 16, 2009 through Saturday, October 24, 2009. |
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| Marriott Seattle Waterfront Hotel (across the street from the Bell Harbor International Conference Center) 2100 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington, 98121 Guaranteed Hotel Room and Lower Rate Availability Deadline: September 18, 2009 |
| On-Line Reservations Link to on-line reservations (group code "oexoexa" will be automatically populated on form) Reserving via telephone: 1.800.228.9290 Toll Free in the United States 206.443.5000 Remember to mention: 2009 Organic Exchange Sustainable Textiles Conference Note: There are several Marriott Hotels in Seattle, please be sure to make reservations with the Marriott Seattle Waterfront Hotel. Link to hotel photo gallery You must make your own hotel reservation. The special Organic Exchange Conference rate is $205 per night (the normal rate for this hotel in peak tourist season is $329+ per night). Currently, hotel room taxes are 15.6%. Organic Exchange has been able to negotiate free Wi-Fi during your stay at the Marriott. |
| CONFERENCE FACILITY Bell Harbor International Convention Center: This year's conference will be held at the Bell Harbor International Convention Center. As part of your registration for the conference a daily continental breakfast, midmorning and afternoon breaks, and lunch will be included. Conference Location: Seattle’s Downtown Waterfront District Bell Harbor International Convention Center 2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington, 98121, U.S.A. 206-441-6666 www.bellharbor.com |
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Held each day of the conference, the 2009 exhibit area is an opportunity to connect with members of the value chain. Whether you want to do business or get a sense of new fabric trends and dyeing technologies, the exhibit area will connect you with the innovators in the organic fiber sector.
Each exhibitor will be provided 1 – 6 foot table and 2 chairs for their area. Should you have additional needs, please contact Heather Hocker. The exhibit will open prior to the Conference each morning and will remain open throughout the day. A list of exhibitors will be posted online prior to the conference. We recommend booking appointments in advance.
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