Planning a memorable, yet nature sensitive business conference March 31, 2008

Here are some things to think about when planning a conference or larger meeting:

 

 

 

Signs and Banners

Most conferences use large banners or signs to advertise for their event. These signs and banners have traditionally been made out of PVC, but there are starting to be more options for alternative material signs and banners. PVC has been found to be toxic because of its off gassing properties, and its production causes considerable amounts of pollution. Some examples of non PVC banners and signs are Eco-Flexx 100% Recycled Billboards, and Green Banners.

 

Travel

Travel effects from people coming from all over the world to attend business conferences are another great concern when it comes to the environmental impact of conferences. Assuming that most people are flying or driving to the conference, they are using fossil fuels to get them there, and this causes large amount of carbon emissions which contribute to global warming. Conferences with concern about this issue have started to offer carbon offsets to conference participants which balance out the carbon emissions from conference transportation by undergoing some other activity such as planting trees that will sequester carbon in the air.

 

Food & Drink

When somebody goes to conferences that keep participants there for most if not all of the day, the conference is generally assumed to provide food and drinks for participants. This creates another environmental problem because it is difficult to estimate the exact amount of food and drinks that will be required. Generally a large conference will end up with its fair share of wasted food and drinks by the end of the conference. One solution for this would be to arrange ahead of time to donate the leftover food and drinks to a food kitchen or some other organization that could use the items. Another is to compost the leftovers. Also, try not to use bottled water, disposable plates, cups, napkins, and utensils because this will all add up to big piles of trash that will be sent to the landfill. If you have to use disposable items, consider using ones that are biodegradable or recyclable.

 

Handouts

An important strategy for a Greener Conference is to minimize the amount of materials that are distributed at the conference. Every conference I have been to had so many paper handouts, pamphlets, schedules, brochures and packets that are distributed; you end up needing an extra bag just to tote them all around. Try to make as much of this material electronic instead of printing out all the materials. If you have to print things out, make sure that you are printing double sided, and are using paper that has recycled content, or is third party certified for being sustainable.

The leading authority on Green Meetings is the Green Meeting Industry Council. They provide some great resources on their website for planning a Green Meeting. The Convention Industry Council released a report on Green Conferences that can be found here.

An interesting article from CNet News.com takes a look at what some of the largest conferences in the country related to Green and Sustainable industries did to reduce their environmental impacts. Other great resources for tips, suggestions, statistics, and other information include: BlueGreen Meetings, Meet Green, the Sustainable Business Network, and The Conference People.

Start a Grassroots Green Movement at Work March 26, 2008

With economic uncertainty looming high for many companies, as an employee you may find your senior leadership unwilling to provide funding for eco-initiatives. While high-priced eco projects like carbon offsetting may be out of reach, there are several great ways to start a grassroots movement in your workplace to make some eco-inroads.

1. Start a Green Leaders Group at your Company

A grass-roots movement needs a solid base of supporters to get off the ground. Begin by publicizing a meeting for people interested in developing eco-initiatives for your workplace. At the meeting, brainstorm some ideas for small tasks you can tackle as a group. Assigning leaders from different departments is a great way to ensure that the eco-buzz permeates the entire company. If there is a central web portal for your company, consider posting a ‘press release’ to let people know that this group has formed, and let everyone know who the green leaders are.

2. Organize a Mug Drive to Decrease Styrofoam/Paper Cup Usage

We all have mugs at home, but many people will just simply forget to bring in a mug to work. One great initiative to get your eco-campaign started is to organize a mug drive. Ask people to donate a dollar to purchase a mug, or see if any vendors that your company works with would be willing to donate mugs (check with your HR department — many health care providers would be good bets for donating to this cause.) When the mugs arrive, consider putting signs up around the water cooler asking people to consider using a reusable mug instead of a disposable cup.

3. Work with your IT Department to Set Printers to 2-Sided Default Printing

With the switch of a button, your IT department most likely has the ability to set all printers in your company to 2-sided default printing. Not only will this small change help save your company money, but will help save paper too.

4. Create Better Signs for Recycling Bins; Create a 2-Sided Paper Bin Next to All Printing Stations

Make sure that paper recycling bins are properly marked. Consider taking an empty cardboard box and labeling it “2-sided paper” and place it next to each printer station. Encouraging people to use 2-sided scrap paper will be great for your paper saving initiatives!

5. Consider Purchasing “These Come from Trees” Stickers

This website sells stickers that say “Remember: These Come from Trees.” These stickers are great to put on paper towel dispensers in the bathroom or kitchen, by printers, or anywhere where you see paper waste occurring. You can access the sticker website by clicking here.

Overall, these are just several ideas to jump start a grass-roots eco initiative in your company. Starting a Green Leaders group or Green Team will help you tap into other like-minded people within your company, and other ideas are bound to come up! Good luck!

Rent a product, help the environment March 17, 2008

Chances are, if you’ve heard of the term ’service economy’, you have heard it used in the context of services (versus products) being provided to the general public. The term is also used in the business context to refer to the services that are offered with a product. The entire package is more of a ‘business solution’ approach than just a product. For example, a business may rent or lease a copier or carpet rather than buy it. The vendor will then install and service this product over the life of the lease.

By purchasing these services rather than the objects themselves, the business is not responsible for the care or disposal of the rented items. As a result, the vendor has a vested interest in the maintenance of its product, and is more likely to install, service and dispose of the product by the most efficient means possible. The vendor is also more likely to create a more durable and upgradable product in the first place, since this will lower replacement costs. This, in turn, results in reduced demand for energy and raw materials, since less products need to be manfactured, thereby decreasing the negative impact on the environment.

Thus, one of the steps business owners can take to make their business more environmentally-friendly is to rent rather than purchase a material good. In the business place, items such as carpeting and copiers are perfect examples of the potential for a service-based economy. One company that has been at the forefront for many year is Interface. Others that have joined, in the copier and computer sectors, include IBM and Xerox. You can also check with local companies that may lease or rent a wider range of electronics, such as Natco in the DC area.

Regardless of who you use, make sure to ask how they dispose of the product (they should have a take-back program), and if leasing electronics, request that they be Energy Star certified.

Colleges Leading the Way to a Greener Future! March 10, 2008

It appears that college greens are going green. A new trend of environmentally-friendly college campuses is sweeping the nation. Instigated by students, the movement calls for colleges and universities to practice the principles their students learn and advocate. The push reflects the growing sustainability movement and a world-wide call for action to combat climate change. But, most of all, college greening is a manifestation of student demands for attention towards environmental issues such as water conservation, waste reduction, organic foods and clean energy.

As large institutions with considerable buying power, college campuses have begun the greening process by altering purchasing habits. After all, college campuses consume a wide range of goods and services as well as a great deal of energy. Some schools have focused their efforts on the purchase of alternative energies such as wind power. Harvard University, for example, is the ninth-largest university purchaser of green power in the country, according to the EPA. Other colleges, like Middlebury College in Vermont, have plans to adopt alternative technologies such as the use of bio-mass as an energy source. Students and college facilities’ staff have engineered a method to promote energy conservation through dorm wars or dorm energy competitions with bragging rights for the dormitory that saves the most energy. Another initiative on college campuses is composting in the dining halls. By taking an environmentally-conscious approach to their operations, institutions of higher education can serve as examples of sustainable living for private and public entities on all scales.

Although the college greening movement is moving in the sustainable direction, some may argue that it’s just getting started. And yet, additional initiatives by students indicate that the trend is built to last. As well as energy conservation and composting, college students are encouraging their institutions to support environmental studies departments and integrate environmental education into the general curriculum. New leaders and followers of the environmental movement will be born out of these changes. A sustainable future is on the way, coming soon to a college campus near you!

Put Sunglasses on Your Windows: Get Solar Shades March 5, 2008

Tired of the sun in your eyes at work but still want to have some natural light? You (or your office manager) can reduce the exchange of heat and the effects of glare in the office by simply installing solar shades or some form of window treatment. Sun or solar shades are an easy addition to the windows in your workplace and increase comfort and productivity with the added bonus of saving energy and, with that, money. If you aren’t convinced, here is a more complete list of the benefits:

• Reduce glare

• Filter harmful UV rays

• Reduce fading of interior furnishings

• Provide daytime privacy while preserving visibility

• Reflect solar radiation to maintain cool indoor temperatures

• Retain heat to maintain warm indoor temperatures

Many shades now available are made of flexible films like mylar or various fabrics that can be set on rollers or motorized. Further, numerous varieties of solar shades exist including those that may be installed internally as window treatments or externally as awnings. Learn more and browse solar shades with the following websites:

• Sun-Shade Systems

• North Solar Screen

• Vale Shade

• The Shade Store