VERTigo Green Meetings Guidebook (ebook)

Here's just a peek into the ebook's many treasures:

This handbook has several sections:

•  The Top Ten (Plus 1!) Things You Can Do to Green Your Event
•  Planning a green meeting checklists
•  Resources
•  Policy statements
•  Case studies

Do Just One
Sometimes including something new can be daunting.  We recommend that you pick one thing and follow this process:

1. Set your objectives.  For example, you might say “Reduce the use of paper by 75%”.
2. Decide how you will measure your progress.
3. Measure your success.
4. Plan for the future.  What other steps can you take next time to improve the sustainability of your event?

Top Ten (Plus 1!) Things You Can Do To Green Your Event
Here are the top ten easy things you can do to make your meeting greener.

1. Offer bulk condiments for things like sugar and cream
2. Do not use disposable items like plastic or paper coffee cups or paper plates
3. Offer water in jugs.  Do not offer bottled water …but offer re-usable water bottles.
4. Offer local food choices and stay away from endangered species (such as Chilean sea bass)
5. Donate left-over food to local programs such as Food Runners
6. Ensure the accommodation offers in-room recycling of towels, sheets, plastic, paper and bottles
7. Eliminate hand-outs.  Offer information on-line or burn a CD
8. Eliminate give-aways that are not edible or re-usable
9. On-line registration and confirmation for both delegates and media
10. Ensure you publicize your environmental efforts to stakeholders
11. Go carbon neutral

Planning a Green Meeting
There are many areas through which your event impacts the environment and creates an “environmental footprint” (a measure of non-renewable consumption).  These can be broken down into these areas:

•  Development of policy or specific goals
•  Allocation of responsibility
•  Planners:

o Venues/Facilities
o Food and Beverage
o Transportation
o Suppliers
o Sponsors
o Delegates
o Presentations/Office Management
o Education
o Environmental Partners
o Carbon Neutral

•  Suppliers
•  Contracts