Easy Tips to make your Meeting, Conference or Event More Green

By Mary Campbell, Pinellas County Extension Director, Urban Sustainability

Planning a meeting or event can be challenging. Look for ways to show your commitment to a better way of doing business through “green practices”. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Rather than sending paper invitations, send E-mail and/or set up a website. If you must use paper invitations, print them on recycled content paper.

Make a friendly announcement at the beginning of the program announcing all efforts to go Green and instructing attendees which items are recyclable and what bin each item should go in.

Make all copies two sided or offer any information and materials to those that request it via E-mail, DVD, or jump drive.

Provide recycling bins for paper, cans, and plastic in meeting rooms.

Do not use Styrofoam.

Provide wooden coffee stirrers and as apposed to plastic straw stirrers.

Use reusable name tags and provide a place to return them at the end of the meeting.

Offer beverages in containers that are reusable and serve water or other drinks in pitchers.

Include vegetarian meals, and have meals planned using local, seasonal produce.

Use china and linens to prevent waste; or use paper plates, napkins, cups, and utensils that are biodegradable or made from recycled material.

Instead of a buffet, offer plated entrees; this reduces the amount of wasted food.

Consider donating un-served food.

Offer snacks in bulk and not individually wrapped.

Serve food and snacks that require minimal serving containers.

Instead of individual packages of condiments (sugar, ketchup, cream, mustard, etc.), use a refillable pump condiment dispenser or recyclable containers.

Opt-out of offering straws.

Coordinate with the meeting venue to ensure that energy for lights and air conditioning will be turned off when rooms are not in use.

Purchase carbon offsets for attendees traveling to/from a conference or meeting (for example: carbonfund.org, terrapass.com).

Links:

US Environmental Protection Agency Green Meetings Initiative
EPA's "Greening Your Meetings and Conferences" page
Green Meeting Industry Council
MeetGreen
Bluegreen website for greening events and conferences