Green Meetings-10 Easy Tips
Here are 10 easy tips you can apply to any meeting to make it more environmentally responsible.
(1) Put it in writing. Establish an environmental statement or policy for the meeting, and get buy in for it from the meeting host organization's management. Share the policy with suppliers, delegates and speakers. You'll be amazed at how far they'll go to help you make your event Blue Green.
(2) Use paperless technology. Use new media and electronic technology to cut down your paper use. Create a conference web site; offer electronic registration and confirmation; and advertise using the web and/or email.
(3) Meet close. Reduce distances traveled by speakers and delegates. Choose a host city that's close to as many delegates as possible, and within the city choose a venue and hotel that are close to the airport and within walking distance of each other.
(4) Practice the 3Rs. Ask your hotel and meeting venue to provide visible and accessible reduction, reuse and recycling services for paper, metal, plastic and glass.
(5) Bulk up. Have your food & beverage service provider use bulk dispensers for sugar, salt, pepper, cream and other condiments.
(6) Lighten your Stay. Choose a hotel that offers a linen reuse program and bulk dispensers for shampoos and soaps in guest suites.
(7) Eat green. Include vegetarian meals, and have meals planned using local, seasonal produce.
(8) Close the recycling loop. Have all printed materials published on recycled paper, using vegetable-based inks, and on both sides of the page.
(9) Save energy. Coordinate with the meeting venue to ensure that energy lights and air conditioning will be turned off when rooms are not in use.
(10) Spread the word! Tell delegates, speakers and the media about your success. You'll be surprised - Blue Green efforts are contagious.
(This information was obtained from the www.EPA.gov site)
We offer the following links as you continue to develop guidelines for running environmentally-friendly events:
· Convention Industry Council- Green Meetings Report offers Best Practices for event planners. Go to: http://www.conventionindustry.org/projects/green_meetings_report.pdf
· Green Meetings Policy, National Recycling Coalition-guidelines on how to include recycling and waste prevention in requests for proposal, plus contract addendum on green meeting policies. Go to: http://www.nrc-recycle.org/resources/library/nrcgreenmtgsguide.pdf
· Green Meetings Industry Council- information and tools to provide you with the green edge in creating meetings and events. Go to: http://www.greenmeetings.info/
· Oceans Blue Foundation- promotes initiatives for environmentally responsible tourism. Go to: http://bluegreenmeetings.org/HostsAndPlanners/index.htm
· Green Seal -whose mission is to achieve a more sustainable world by promoting environmentally responsible production, purchasing, and products identifies environmentally responsible lodging properties. Go to: http://www.greenseal.org/findaproduct/index.cfm