The green product race is on. Every day, new products hit the market  claiming to be green. Exhibit floors across the country are being  invaded by companies showcasing their latest green innovation.  Unfortunately, many of those products are, relatively speaking, old  news. Many of the biggest sustainable design conferences and expositions  in 2009, and so far in 2010, have lacked anything truly new and  astounding. Where, then, are the products just barely rolling off the  production line? Those just waiting to be launched? Those still in  research and development?

The most effective way to be in the know is to build a green network.  This is also the most important part of building a green library. When  you have access to artists, manufacturers, researchers, and information  providers who have within their reach the latest material intelligence,  specifiers themselves can become part of the creation process and be in a  position to design new and proprietary products. This session will  showcase some of the newest green materials released, suggest strategies  for ferreting the most innovative R&D and finding leading-edge  sustainable material manufacturers, and provide tips for how to work  with these companies to develop materials as of yet unimagined.