Pumpkins may still be orange, but Halloween is turning green, according to HP and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), who today announced the “Going Wild with Pumpkins” online photo contest. The contest, aimed at raising awareness of wildlife and environmental issues, offers fun pumpkin-carving activities for families to enjoy together.
Press Release
As part of the contest, participants can select one or more of the specially-designed, wildlife-themed, pumpkin carving stencils now available at www.worldwildlife.org/pumpkins. The stencils feature endangered species and wildlife scenes, including an African landscape, Monarch butterfly, dolphin, polar bear, sea turtle and the WWF panda. Participants are encouraged to go to the Web site to print the stencils and learn more about on these endangered species.
To enter the contest, participants must take photos of their carved pumpkins and upload them to www.snapfish.com/goingwildwithpumpkins by October 29. Now through October 29, the general public can log on to Snapfish.com to vote for their favorite photos. Winners will be announced on October 31 and prizes will be awarded to submitters of the top-100 rated photos, including the Grand Prize of an HP Photosmart photo printer and digital camera. Winning photos will be featured on the Snapfish and WWF web sites.
“Parents are aware of issues affecting the environment and want to make a difference in the world around them,” said Terry Macko, vice president of membership and marketing, WWF. “This contest offers them a chance to teach their kids about nature in a fun and engaging way.”
“Working with a worldwide leader in conservation is instrumental in HP’s global citizenship efforts,” said Susanne Sonderhoff, marketing manager, Social and Environmental Responsibility, HP. “This is just another example of HP’s work with WWF to increase environmental awareness.”
In addition to the contest, HP and WWF encourage everyone to have a fun and “green” Halloween this year. Following are WWF’s “green” tips for Halloween:
1. Decorations. Instead of buying materials for decorations, gather supplies, arts and crafts throughout the year. Turn stockings with runs into spider-webbing, make cardboard boxes into tombstones and reuse decorations from the previous year.
2. Costumes. Make your own! Keep old clothes that can be used as parts of costumes–like worn t-shirts and black pants – and make a game of turning old clothes into costumes. Let your kids’ imaginations run wild!
3. Parties. Cut down on waste by avoiding disposable cups, plates and cutlery. Use regular dishes or buy biodegradable ones. Use a marker or apply cute labels to identify cups so party-goers can keep track of theirs.
4. Treats. Buy locally produced foods, candies and treats. Look for goodies with minimal packaging or those packaged in recycled materials.
5. Trick-or-Treat Bags. Use household items to collect candy in. A bucket, pillowcase, or bag can be decorated inexpensively at home – and reused year after year.
6. Pumpkins. Buy pumpkins from local farms or farmers’ markets. Better yet, grow your own — kids love to watch them grow!
7. Jack-o-lanterns. Don’t throw away all the goodies from inside your pumpkin. Toast the seeds for tasty treats. Make pumpkin pie or muffins with the fruit – or compost it.
8. Transportation. Trick-or-Treat by walking around your neighborhood instead of driving to another destination.
9. Compost and Recycle. From party food to treats to pumpkins, consider composting all organic matter and recycling other items.
10. Reuse. Reuse as much as you can from year to year. Instead of throwing away a box, use it to gather and keep your decorations for next year. Plus, you can surprise your family and friends by quickly pulling out your box and throwing an impromptu Halloween party any time of year!
For additional information on the contest, including official rules, please visit www.snapfish.com/goingwildwithpumpkins. Also, to find out more about how HP and WWF are working together on environmental issues, go to www.hp.com/go/wwf.
HP and the environment
For decades HP has worked to manage its environmental impact by adopting environmentally responsible practices in product development, operations and supply chain. The company strives to be a global leader in reducing its carbon footprint, limiting waste and recycling responsibly. HP’s efforts earned it recognition as one of Fortune Magazine’s “Ten Green Giants” in April 2007. More information about the company’s work in relation to the environment is available at www.hp.com/environment.
About WWF
For more than 45 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The largest multinational conservation organization in the world, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF’s unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level, from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature. Go to worldwildlife.org to learn more.
About HP
HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world’s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $100.5 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended July 31, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.