April 02, 2009 06:02 AM Eastern Time 

Disney Store Unveils a Bouquet of Earth Day Activities; In-Store Events, Promotions and Products Celebrate Recycling and Conservation

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Disney Store North America unveiled its comprehensive lineup of Earth Day activities and promotions designed to educate families about the impact they make by recycling and provide everyone with the opportunity to engage in replanting an endangered rainforest through The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees Campaign. These initiatives build on The Walt Disney Company’s recently announced long-term environmental goals to reduce emissions, waste, electricity and fuel use, as well as the company’s impact on water and ecosystems.

“To serve the growing demand of eco-conscious consumers, through efficient and intelligent use of the Earth’s limited resources by bringing sustainable products from a niche business into mainstream.”

To add to the Earth Day celebration, Disney Store will also introduce an exclusive assortment of environmentally friendly tee shirts and tote bags made from Sustainable Solutions Group’s RETHINK fabric, a new textile created from recycled water bottles.

“Disney Store’s Earth Day 2009 participation continues Disney’s long-term commitment to protecting the environment,” said Jim Fielding, President, Disney Store Worldwide. “From merchandise made from recycled and organic materials to projects to promote environmental awareness with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and The Nature Conservancy, Disney Store is proud to help bring attention to preserving this magical place in which we live.”

Disney Store’s Earth Day 2009 celebration will include these exciting programs:

• Plant a Billion Trees Campaign: Disney Store and Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy have planted one tree to match the number of earth friendly reusable tote bags that have been produced; these bags are available for purchase at Disney Store locations nationwide. Disney Store donated 96,000 trees (one for each tote bag) to help The Nature Conservancy reach its goal of planting a billion trees by 2015 in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, one of the world’s most endangered rainforests. The tote bags feature a special Earth Day design, are made from 100 percent recycled materials and retail for an SRP of $2.50 each. Please visit www.disney.com/conservation to learn more. Disney Store in the United Kingdom recently joined forces with local charity the Woodland Trust to create “the Magical Wood,” a 50 acre site which will be replanted through in-store fundraising efforts, and Disney Store locations throughout the continent of Europe will be planting trees locally, making this a truly global campaign.
• Recycling is Magic: Plastic Bottle Recycling Campaign (April 22, Earth Day): According to the Web site Earth911.com, “In 2006, Americans drank about 167 bottles of water each but only recycled an average of 23 percent. That leaves 38 billion water bottles in landfills.” On April 22, 2009, Disney Store locations nationwide will host a plastic bottle recycling program called “Recycling is Magic.” To help educate children on the benefits of recycling, Disney Store is inviting everyone to bring in empty plastic bottles and toss them into a unique recycling bin. On April 22, while supplies last, guests can exchange three empty bottles for a free commemorative Earth Day reusable water bottle, an approximate value of $8.50.
• Earth Friendly Products --Three Plastic Bottles Equal One Magical Tee Shirt: Families will get a first-hand look at how recycling is a magical process when they see Disney Store’s new earth friendly tees (SRP $12.50 for kids and SRP $16.50 for adults) and totes (SRP $19.50) made from RETHINK fabric from Sustainable Solutions Group. To make the fabric, plastic water bottles are cleaned, smashed, recycled and combined with cotton or other materials, turning what was once waste into something useful. The soft, wrinkle resistant shirts and durable tote bag feature an exclusive Disney Store Mother Earth design. Each shirt also features a label letting the consumer know exactly how many bottles were used to manufacture it. Disney Store’s other earth friendly products include adult and children’s tee shirts made from organic cotton (SRP $12.50 - $16.50), stainless steel, reusable water bottles (SRP $12.50), organic cotton gardening aprons for adult (SRP $39.50) and kids (SRP $29.50), and refillable ceramic mugs (SRP $10.50).

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America Earth Day Murals: Beginning April 13, 2009, special Earth Day murals designed by local children participating in Boys & Girls Clubs of America will be on display in Disney Store windows nationwide. Disney Store donated all the art supplies, instructions and recycled paper to Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. With the help of Disney VoluntEARS, the children will decorate squares of recycled paper that will be collected and assembled in 4 by 6 foot murals in Disney Store windows. The artwork will celebrate what Earth Day means to kids in their community.

About Disney Store North America: The Disney Store retail chain is owned and operated in the United States by Disney Store USA, LLC and in Canada by Disney Store Canada Inc. Disney Store is an affiliate of Disney Consumer Products, the business segment that extends the Disney brand to merchandise. Disney Store carries high-quality products, including exclusive product lines that support and promote Disney's key entertainment initiatives and characters. In 1987, Disney Store opened its first store in Glendale, California and, in doing so, originated the themed retail business model. There are currently more than 200 Disney Store locations in North America, each offering a magical shopping experience that can only be delivered by Disney, one of the world’s largest and most successful entertainment companies.

About The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 18 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 117 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.

About The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund: The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) is an awards program focused on the study and protection of the world's wildlife and ecosystems, involving communities and addressing human needs. The DWCF has taken Walt Disney’s legacy across the globe with $12 million in grants to more than 750 conservation programs in 110 countries. The DWCF is funded by Disney and donations from guests of Walt Disney World Resort (including Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park), Disney Vacation Club and Disney Cruise Line.

About Sustainable Solutions Group (SSG): Based in Seattle, SSG is at the forefront of the green movement. Its core business is the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of apparel, textiles and related products utilizing RETHINK Fabrics™ which include: recycled plastic bottles (Recycled PET), bamboo, Charcoal bamboo, cotton and other eco-friendly materials in the manufacturing process. Its mission statement is: “To serve the growing demand of eco-conscious consumers, through efficient and intelligent use of the Earth’s limited resources by bringing sustainable products from a niche business into mainstream.

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