Disney Stores to Celebrate Earth Day in a Grand Way

Disney Stores across the nation will be celebrating Earth Day 2009 with a variety of in-store promotions and events. Instead of trying to explain all of the activities planned, here is the press release.

DISNEY STORE UNVEILS A BOUQUET OF EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES; IN-STORE EVENTS, PROMOTIONS AND PRODUCTS CELEBRATE RECYCLING AND CONSERVATION

Tee Shirts Made from Recycled Water Bottles Make a Splash

PASADENA, Calif., April 2, 2009 – 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 (www.plantabillion.org). 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 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.