Green Event Planning is nowadays an established trend within the Irish Meetings Industry. Meeting planners are turning their attention to this paramount issue and making it easier to “Go Green” in Ireland.
Today, I would like to give meeting planners some useful tips to produce a green event:
1. Put it in writing
Establish an environmental statement or policy for the meeting. Share the policy with suppliers, delegates and speakers. Thus, they will help you make your event “green”.
2. Use paperless technology
Use new media and electronic technology to cut down your paper use. Create a conference web site; offer electronic registration and confirmation; and advertise using the web and/or email.
3. Look for venue initiatives
Ask your venue provider if they have local programmes to enable your travel, waste and energy to be offset through initiatives such as tree planting.
4. Signage
Use signage throughout to educate participants about recycling, composting, water and energy conservation, and menu selection.
5. Share Transport
How far is the venue from the airport, is there a shuttle service, can you share taxis. Being in a central location means hotels and social destinations are all within walking distance.
6. Lighten your Stay
Choose a conference or corporate venue that offers a linen reuse program and bulk dispensers for shampoos and soaps in guest suites.
7. Eat green
Have meals planned using local and seasonal produce. Ensure all leftover food is donated to a local food bank. Closely estimate food amounts through a careful head count to minimize waste.
8. Save energy
Coordinate with the meeting venue to ensure that energy lights and air conditioning will be turned off when rooms are not in use.
9. Conference Materials
If you need to use delegate bags source sustainable and environmental-friendly ones that are produced in the local area.
10. Spread the word!
Ask delegates to evaluate the sustainability aspects with a packet questionnaire to be returned at the event. Also post it on the website. Tell delegates and the media about your sustainable practices. You'll be surprised-Green efforts are contagious.
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