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The Sustainable Technology Showcase brought together more than 150 business people, scientists, and investors all with one focus - to build an economy based on reuse and new use of materials that don't pollute, poison, or exploit irreplaceable resources.
"We have an opportunity to make Ithaca and Tompkins County the epicenter of the clean technology revolution," said Stuart Hart, head of the Center for Global Sustainability at Cornell University and one of the conference's most enthusiastic sponsors. Hart and others work to foster business applications for sustainable inventions and technologies that arise from university research. Examples include plastics made from plant material, self-sustaining production of biogas, and a cotton-candy-like biodegradable pesticide.
Owners of existing businesses detailed the foundation for their success, from the production of cost-cutting solar energy cells imbedded in a flexible, thin film to non-toxic plant food packaged in reused soda bottles. Tucked into each conference program packet was a free yellow or purple toothbrush, courtesy of Recycline. The modern-looking toothbrushes, made from recycled yogurt containers, are themselves recyclable.
"The customer demand for environmentally-friendly products is growing, with no signs of letting up," said David Rinard, a corporate director of Steelcase, Inc. One of the products Steelcase makes is what Rinard called a "chair with a conscience" - an office chair that is made from 44 percent recycled content, is environmentally benign, and that can be disassembled with common tools into 99 percent recyclable materials.
"But it's not just the end-product that contributes to a clean economy it's the entire process," Rinard explained. Steelcase "smart loads" its trucks, for instance, to assure there are no empty runs. The company has reduced and reuses packing materials. It uses nearby suppliers, has eliminated the use of toxic cleaning compounds in its facilities and uses manufacturing materials that don't off gas harmful indoor air pollutants.
The sustainable technology conference, held at the Women's Community Building, was the brainchild of Gay Nicholson, program coordinator for Sustainable Tompkins, which sponsored the event along with 15 community businesses, organizations, departments at Cornell, and the Chamber of Commerce.
"I knocked on a lot of doors," said Nicholson. The response she received from the business and academic communities was encouraging, she said, and the turnout at the conference was beyond her expectations. "Not only did an amazing number of people show up, they networked all afternoon long. I truly feel as if we have started something that will benefit both the regional economy and our futures."
Wendy Skinner
