Eco Your Meetings

Bringing people together for meetings, often for multiple days at a time, can create a "host" of environmental impacts—from the smog and greenhouse gas emissions associated with air and ground travel to the paper, plastic, and food waste associated with feeding attendees.

Environmentally responsible meetings are not only good for the earth, they're great for business. Many clients ask, "What IS a green meeting?"   A green meeting incorporates environmental considerations throughout all stages of the meeting to minimize the negative impact on the environment. The creation of a green event must consider all aspects of the planning process.

An aspect of business sustainability is making informed choices regarding green meeting planning. This includes everything from site selection to meeting materials to catering.   Every choice can significantly reduce the environmental impact of the event.

When planning a meeting, we encourage clients to leverage the small business resources available. For instance, asking current vendors if they offer eco friendly alternatives is a first and easy step in planning a green meeting.

Planners are encouraged to ask about programs that can reduce environmental impacts of the meeting. We advise clients to consider the following areas in planning a meeting with eco awareness:

• waste management and recycling
• water conservation
• energy efficiency

In our professional consulting in the area of business sustainability, we share with clients that planning or supplying a green meeting gives a business a competitive edge, a great reputation, and can save time and money in the process.