For the second year in a row, Invista said it will offset the carbon footprint associated with traveling for each attendee who visits its Antron carpet fiber showroom at NeoCon 2008. For each visitor to Merchandise Mart Suite 10-111 in Chicago, Invista will donate emissions reductions credits to Leonardo Academy's Cleaner and Greener Program, which retires the credits.

According to Bobby Berrier, Invista's vp commercial interiors, last year's effort netted 683 metric tons of carbon reduction credits. “We hope to top that total in 2008,” he added.

Leonardo Academy's Cleaner and Greener Program offers third party certification to organizations for sustainable initiatives. Taking into account the geographic profile of the anticipated 50,000 NeoCon attendees, Leonardo Academy has calculated the round-trip air and ground travel requirements of the average attendee and converted the estimate to carbon dioxide usage, using internationally recognized conversion standards. The estimate for 2008 is 0.67 metric tons per visitor.

Visitors to Antron's “Do the Right Thing” display will receive an electronic certificate endorsed by Leonardo Academy noting that the carbon impact of their NeoCon travel was offset by Invista.

“This is one example of our firm commitment to resource stewardship, waste elimination and environmental protection,” said Berrier. “These values are central to our culture, which guides every decision we make.”