| 2009 OE Sustainable Textiles Conference |
| Overview | Agenda | Current Sponsors | Sponsorship Opportunities | Registration Fees | Logistics | Exhibit Space | Register | Companies Attending |
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21st Century Sustainable Textiles: A Deeper Look at Key Issues October 20-22, 2009 Seattle, Washington USA |
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| Press Release-October 30, 2009 Organic Exchange Broadens Strategic Direction to Include Sustainable Textiles |
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 | |
 Workshop Session provided by Mike Brown from Brown & Wilmanns |
 Conference Dinner | |
| Organic Exchange Presents – A Sustainable Textiles Conference | ||
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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:
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