SUSTAINABLE CHOICES GO MAINSTREAM
By Jessica Koster, product manager, BiOH

At the High Point Market next week, the word on everybody’s lips will most likely be “green.” Clearly, the green trend is red-hot and signs are everywhere that environmental awareness is taking root in the mainstream.

In the marketplace, countless companies are making steps towards more sustainable practices and offering greener options for consumers. These same companies (and the earth) are reaping the rewards from socially responsible consumers who want to leave a smaller environmental footprint.

From small businesses to large corporations, sustainable trends are showing up on everyone’s radar. Here are three great examples from a variety of sources. (For links to original articles, contact me at customerservice_polyols@bioh.com):

• Galactic Pizza in Minneapolis is a pizza delivery business fueled by earth-friendly practices. Not only do the drivers of Galactic Pizza drive electric cars and dress as super-heroes, the company also uses organic and locally grown ingredients when possible, donates a small portion of its profit to hunger relief, and minimizes its waste output.
• Green weddings are a popular option now for couples starting their new life and homes with the environment in mind. Greener choices in wedding planning include booking hybrid limousines, setting up donations to charities that benefit the environment in lieu of traditional gifts and (heads-up you textiles types) turning handmade tablecloths for the wedding into dinner napkins later.
• Cities around the world are making an effort to become greener and make sustainable practices easier for their citizens, from better bus systems to parks and new environmental practices. In Curitiba, Brazil, for example, about three-quarters of the residents rely on public transportation, and the city boasts more than 580 square feet of green space per inhabitant. Here in the U.S., Portland runs a comprehensive system of light rail, buses and bike lanes to help keep cars off the road and offers more than 74 miles of hiking, running and biking trails.

In High Point, sustainable practice is a force to behold. BiOH™ polyols—a Cargill innovation derived from vegetable oil and an alternative ingredient to petroleum-based products traditionally used in the production of flexible foam—are now part of many furniture manufacturers’ cushioning. In fact, eleven companies this Market are showcasing cushioning made with BiOH ingredients, including Alan White Company, American Furniture Manufacturing, Bauhaus, Caye Home Furnishings, CR-Home, Klaussner, Lane, LEE Industries, Norwalk Furniture, The Precedent “ecollection” and The Rose Hill Company.

These leaders recognize the consumer-driven need for environmentally friendly products and have taken steps to market their products from a sustainable angle. And here at Cargill, we believe being a leader means seeing the opportunities…sometimes before anyone even realizes the need.

About Jessica Koster:
Jessica Koster manages BiOH marketing efforts that support company partners across the furniture and bedding industries and has contributed to Cargill’s success since she held an undergraduate internship there through Iowa State University. Since she became BiOH product manager in 2005, the business has grown from a research project to a large-scale commercial business promoting a leading furniture ingredient brand. For more information on BiOH visit www.BiOH.com. For additional insights on sustainability issues in the furniture industry, visit www.sustainablefurniturecouncil.org.