|
Our Green Meetings Commitment Devon Knight Events has been planning
green and sustainable meetings since 2002. Our goal is to minimize the environmental impact of our meetings and to be socially responsible.Performance on sustainability initiatives is always a criterion for
venue selection. Whenever an opportunity arises, we use our green meetings knowledge to educate and influence our clients, meeting venues and suppliers. With the recent focus on the effects of global warming,
rising energy costs and heightened concern about the environment, there has been an exponential increase in attention to green and sustainable meetings practices. As we have done for the past half-decade and more,
we will continue to monitor trends and incorporate best practices in this evolving field into our meeting planning process. Some of the green initiatives and businesses that we consult in planning our meetings are: Restaurants and Catering Companies - Green Table Network
Food from Local Sources – 100 Mile Diet Seafood - Ocean Wise and SeaChoice Hotels -
Canadian Hotel Association's Green Key Eco-Rating Program Merchandise –
Fairware Carbon Offsets - Planet Air or Offsetters Here is an
example of the green meeting practices we implemented at a recent conference for 300 delegates on water supply, treatment and conservation. Our Sustainable Meeting Practices The conference
organizers are committed to minimizing the impact of our conference on the environment. Here are some of the things we're doing: Conference Planning
- Heavy reliance on email and the Internet for conference promotion and planning
- Online registration process used
- Double-sided copying done whenever possible
- Remanufactured printer cartridges used
- Waste paper recycled
- Program printed on 100% post consumer waste paper and with vegetable-based linseed oil inks
- Off-site venues selected to be within easy walking distance or bus travel from the conference centre
- Delegate bags made from an organic "fox fibre" which is an undyed organic cotton
Conference Operation Thanks to the Victoria Conference Centre and the Fairmont Empress Hotel for their help in implementing many of these measures:
- Tap water rather than bottled water provided at water stations
- A water bottle given to all delegates – use it and re-use it while you're at the conference!
- Recycling bins for paper, glass and aluminum
- Cream, sugar, jellies and jams in serving dishes, not individually packaged
- China service for breaks, lunches and receptions
- Organic kitchen waste recycled and composted
- Usable left-over food donated to a local shelter
- Boxes from box lunches and paper cups from courtyard water stations recycled
- Bike racks available at the conference centre
- Literature and hand-outs placed at "help yourself" tables rather than in delegate bags
- Speakers encouraged to minimize paper handouts, and to provide electronic information when follow up is requested
- Exhibitors asked to take left-over literature back to their offices
- Participants asked to return their badge holders so they can be reused
- PowerPoint slides used instead of signs and banners in meeting rooms
Conference Hotels (a sample of practices from all four conference hotels)
- Low-flow retrofits for showerheads and water taps
- Energy efficient lights
- Window film to minimize heating and cooling loads
- Recycling bins in guestrooms; hotel-wide recycling programs
- Pool water heated by recycling warm air from the pool area
- Courtyard fountain water recycled
- Non-toxic biodegradable cleaning products used
- Many items donated to charitable organizations, such as left-over guest amenities
- Towels and linens in guestrooms changed by request only
|
