Natural Products Expo West Sustainable Seminar Focuses on Achieving Harmony Among Unlikely Partners

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Jan 27, 2015) - Organic & Natural Health Association (Organic & Natural) in partnership with The Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund (AWR) and Aker BioMarine will host a special seminar on sustainability in business practices sponsored by New Hope Natural Media and moderated by Natural Foods Merchandiser at the Natural Products Expo West at 4 p.m., Friday, March 6, in Anaheim, California. The presenter lineup includes Alan Lewis, director of food and agriculture policy at Natural Grocers; Mark Epstein, chairman of AWR and executive director of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition; Andre Leu, president of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM); Michael Griff, commercial manager Americas of Marine Stewardship Council; and Tom Newmark, chairman of Greenpeace Fund USA and co-founder of Carbon Underground.

"This event brings together organizations that are committed to merging policy and action in a climate oversaturated with disparate campaigns for the sake of future generations," said Karen Howard, CEO and executive director of Organic & Natural. "You simply cannot have a meaningful conversation about organic and natural without addressing sustainability. Our intent with this seminar is to help retailers and manufacturers cut through the clutter of activism, research and commercialism of sustainability to get a transparent look at what is truly at stake and how all these groups can work together for a larger impact."

Some of the issues that will be addressed by the panel of speakers include new trends in sustainable partnerships such as the newly formed AWR; forthcoming developments in organic sustainability; deconstructing the eco-label; how sustainable harmony can be achieved on a global level between businesses, researchers, activists and consumers; and helping retailers determine what products really have a sustainable impact and value to their customer.

"We are headed toward a combined crisis of peak oil, climate change and population growth that will force major changes on agriculture and food. Thoughtful business leaders will anticipate these fundamental shifts and respond now with truly sustainable supply chain practices," said Lewis, who is also a board member with Organic & Natural. "The good news is that mainstream consumers are embracing these changes more than ever. The need to be completely transparent with consumers continues to grow, but so do the rewards from being transparent."

The Sustainable Harmony seminar is open to all Expo West participants and will take place in the Marriott Platinum Ballroom No. 2. The program will begin at 4 p.m., and questions for the panelists will start at 5:15 p.m., followed by an open-bar networking opportunity. For more information and event details visit www.organicandnatural.org.