As a not-for-profit membership association, the NASFT has always placed a high level of importance on taking care of our members, our industry and our environment. In 2004, we started to compile a list of all the things we were doing with the Fancy Food Shows since 1999 that were considered “green”. We realized then that we had all the makings of a very strong environmentally-conscious program in place. Since that time, we have made efforts each year both inteally and with our show suppliers and venues, to take our efforts even further in producing a premiere event that leaves as little of a footprint as possible in the cities we hold our shows. With the help of our staff, board members, members, attendees, convention centers and show suppliers, we are reaching and surpassing our goals year after year.
For the 20th year, NASFT Fancy Food Show exhibitors donated their remaining specialty products to City Harvest, a leading anti-hunger organization. This year's donation was an amazing 204,100 pounds.
Efforts:
The Fancy Food Show re-uses about 90% of the signs and banners you see at our shows. The remaining signs and banners that will be thrown out are instead donated to local schools for their art programs.
Each year, the NASFT and the Fancy Food Shows donate over 300,000 pounds of food to the cities and surrounding areas of New York and San Francisco. Through an extensive food collection program, each year we have been able to provide over 300,000 people in need with meals.
The NASFT encourages all show attendees and exhibitors to walk to their hotels if feasible. This allows us to reduce the number of shuttle buses and promotes a healthier lifestyle. We provide fun facts about the walk including steps, distance & calories bued.
Green Exhibitor Guide – for each show, we produce a guide that provides exhibitors with tips and suggestions for greening their participation in the Fancy Food Shows.
Think Green onsite exhibitor communication – a reminder put in each exhibitor’s booth during the set-up of the show about the green initiatives we have in place at the show.
All Fancy Food Show badges that are collected at the end of the show are recycled.
Exhibitors are encouraged to donate their food scraps in collection bins located in designated areas throughout the show. These scraps are then donated to a Food Composting program.
All paper, plastic, aluminum and cardboard collected at the Fancy Food Shows are recycled.
Official Fancy Food Show bags are 100% compostable and 100% recyclable.
The NASFT encourages exhibitors in the Fancy Food Shows to utilize eco-friendly serving/sampling supplies and provides links to companies where they can order those supplies.
In 2006, the NASFT and its staff agreed to do away with individual bottles of water and instead utilize a water cooler machine.
The NASFT has a very tight inventory control system in place for the literature, magazines and directories you see at the show. The system has allowed the NASFT to streamline our orders in such a way that there is very little leftover to recycle.
The NASFT were pioneers in the online Exhibitor Manual – one of the first in the tradeshow industry to do away with all hard copy versions. This saves about 600,000 pieces of paper and 4000 3-ring binders each year.
The NASFT uses china service at all Fancy Food Show events when possible. When it is not feasible, eco-friendly serveware is utilized.
The NASFT uses large containers for condiments instead of individual packets when available.
With the NASFT’s online virtual press office, we are encouraging our exhibitors and member companies to spread their news online rather than using paper-based options.
All of the carpet that the Fancy Food Shows is taken back to a warehouse, cleaned and used for the next show.
If you have questions or suggestions for us, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Roger Grant at 646-878-0137 or rgrant@nasft.org
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