Happy Earth Day!
Today, and every April 22nd, is Earth Day. Over 40 years ago, the concept was developed to create awareness and appreciation for our environment. Since then, it has been celebrated by communities all over the world.
Sustainability has become a common theme in all types of businesses. As the economy begins its recovery, sustainable measures are moving from the backburner to the forefront once again. Companies can again begin to focus on adopting new technologies to help them eliminate excess (and cost). For example, a lot of airline miles are disappearing in favor of web conferencing and virtual event platforms.
What are you doing to make your events more sustainable? Whether your event is a six-person seminar or a full-scale conference, there are some easy things you can do to reduce the environmental impact of your events.
Active Network has been working with Shirley Click, managing director of CT-Live, which focuses on creating sustainable events that “won’t cost the earth.” Regarding online registration:
“We use a range of techniques to lower the footprint of our events, and Active Network, Events helps us through the use of its online registration system, which means we can ensure our whole invitation process is electronic rather than paper-based…Not only do online registration systems offer advantages in terms of efficiency, speed and accessibility, but they also have a sustainability angle as well.”
Your events can be go green with a few small changes here and there. If you have questions about how to make yours more sustainable, send us an e-note. We would love to help!
Let this Earth Day be the start of a more sustainable planet.
Written By: Michelle Nikolayevsky
Guest Post By:
Marina Antestenis, Marketing Manager
Active Network | Events
Tomorrow marks the 41st Earth Day Celebration! As such, a fundamental part of responsible environmental management is monitoring and reducing the carbon footprint of the events we manage. So how can you reduce the carbon footprint at your events?
There are wide ranges of initiatives that can be put into place to reduce an events carbon footprint, below are just a few ways, for more ideas check out our recent white paper.
Use paperless technology to manage and market your event.
Web-based registration and attendee management solutions are making it easier to manage any type of event online in a paperless environment. Take registrations online, send automatic emails to follow up and share reports digitally through a web link.
You can also market your event digitally through social media channels and emails. Email is, in most cases, more effective and less expensive than paper mailers, and even the most traditional event organizers are moving quickly to email technology to cut costs while reducing their environmental footprint. At a recent RegOnline users event, less than 10 percent of the room reported using direct mail.
Stay close.
One of the biggest carbon impacts comes from people traveling to/from the event followed by energy use at the event and waste production. If you have events that force your attendees to travel long distances, consider having more regional events that only require air travel for a few of your staff members. You can also try to arrange for the venue to be on or near a train stop to ease travel for attendees at your events. And if you have a large event, book all your sessions close enough that people can walk from venue to venue.
Choose a green hotel and vendors
Before you select a hotel and other vendors for your event, take the time to understand their commitment to the environment. For instance, make sure your hotel and venue are committed to green policies, including recycling and energy conservation. Consider hiring a green caterer. Many caterers are adopting green business practices, which include everything from cooking with seasonal and local vegetables to using recycled and compostable materials.
Go digital.
One of the most expensive, and environmentally impactful, pieces of an event is the stacks of hand outs that organizers and presenters print for attendees. Some organizations provide it on their web sites so attendees can review it online – or pick what information they would like to print.
Reuse. And Recycle.
When choosing materials for your conferences and meetings, focus on using materials that can be reused or recycled. For example, The CERES Conference used binders that featured 60 percent post-consumer paper content in the frame and 39 percent post-consumer steel in the rings. Plus, the conference printed its brochures with soy ink on recycled paper.
The best way to guarantee a greener event is to share your knowledge with others. Please pass along any tips you may have in the comments.
Written By: Michelle Nikolayevsky
