Pleasant Grove, Utah—(February 27, 2019)—doTERRA, the world’s largest essential oils company—in partnership with the Salt Palace Convention Center-led Green Team Committee, Visit Salt Lake, Utah Food Services, and PSAV—is proud to announce that the 2018 global convention achieved an industry-leading 90 percent landfill diversion rate of materials redirected from landfill or incineration. This achieved the “zero waste” threshold of 90 percent or higher, a goal many strive for in the events industry. doTERRA also participated in the Salt Palace’s energy offset program by purchasing 200 solar renewable energy credits, produced by the facility’s rooftop solar array, offsetting the estimated 200 megawatts of energy needed for the convention, one of the largest single-event needs of 2018.

The Green Team Committee’s donation program sends leftover event material to a list of more than 100 Salt Lake community partners such as 501c3s, educational institutions, local arts and theatre programs, and faith-based organizations. More than 28,000 pounds of material were recycled, 600 pounds of florals composted, and 400 vegan meals served to attendees, while 600 pounds of extra food from the event—equivalent to almost 500 meals—fed those in need throughout Salt Lake. 

“Our event clients are key to the success of our sustainability initiatives,” commented Chance Thompson, Senior Manager, Sustainability and PR for the Salt Palace and Chairperson of the Green Team Committee. “Materials management is the area where clients can help out the most, so we put a lot of energy into that area of the operation. doTERRA was one of our earliest partners in this, achieving a 45 percent diversion for its 2017 event. To double that in just one year is a remarkable effort.” 

“Environmental stewardship and sustained community development are vital components of doTERRA’s mission,” said David Stirling, doTERRA founding executive, chairman, and CEO. “We are proud to be not only the largest single-company convention in Utah for the third straight year with over 30,000 attendees, but now the largest green event that’s ever taken place at the Salt Palace Convention Center. This accomplishment would not be possible without the help of the Salt Palace and our numerous other partners. We are committed to constantly improving our sustainability efforts on all fronts.”

Having celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2018, doTERRA represents the Salt Palace and Visit Salt Lake’s largest annual convention, bringing to Utah’s capital city more than 30,000 attendees and generating a direct economic impact of nearly $28 million* on the Salt Lake community.

doTERRA was awarded a Community Impact Award by Utah Business magazine’s Green Business of the Year program for its work in ethical and sustainable supply chains. The Green Team Committee partners, along with their other partner in Mountain America Exposition Center, were also awarded a Community Impact Award for the more than 200,000 pounds of event material donated in 2017. (2018 also brought these partners the IMEX-EIC Innovation in Sustainability Award, recognizing the Green Team for sustainable leadership in the global events industry.)

The Green Team Committee partners are also launching a media campaign and roundtable discussion leading up to Earth Day 2019 and the 2019 doTERRA convention to educate the community on how sustainable event planning can support the economy, our community and the planet. 

To view additional information, see the doTERRA 9.12-9.23.2018 Sustainability Report here. For photography of the event’s sustainability efforts, click here.

*Total visitor spending figures are based on surveys of convention delegates conducted by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. Surveys conducted by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute over the last five years indicate the average delegate spends $933 while attending a convention in Salt Lake.

About doTERRA

doTERRA International is an integrative health and wellness company and the world leader in the Global Aromatherapy and Essential Oils market. doTERRA sources, tests, manufactures and distributes CPTG Certified Pure Tested Grade^® essential oils and essential oil products to over five million doTERRA Wellness Advocates and customers. Through responsible sourcing practices, doTERRA maintains the highest levels of quality, purity and sustainability in partnership with local growers around the world through Co-Impact Sourcing^®. The doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation^®, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, offers resources and tools to global sourcing communities and charitable organizations for self-reliance, healthcare, education, sanitation, and the fight against human trafficking. Through the life-enhancing benefits of essential oils, doTERRA is changing the world one drop, one person, one community at a time. To learn more, visit www.doterra.com.