Environmentally Aware
Meetings and Events
Imagine that you are attending a workshop, a seminar or a conference. You get there via public
transportation. As you enter the building or hotel, you are reminded by staff that “we are an eco
friendly facility.” That is a gentle reminder for you to turn off lights in your room if they are not in
use. It means to reuse your towels for more than a day, it means that materials are printed on
double sided sheets and your name tag will be reusable.
The beverages will be served in reusable mugs, perhaps with the names of sponsors on them.
Sugar and cream are served from servers as opposed to paper packets and you may even be asked
to discard your food into composting bins.
Environmentally aware meetings are happening more and more each year and each day. Companies
are becoming more conscious of conservation and reducing waste.
KMT Management Services is one such company. We are gradually informing our clients early in the
event planning stages that we will incorporate as many eco friendly tools as possible into their
event. Our efforts are under way and appreciate your cooperation with our efforts. We are told that
any step forward is in the right direction. We are not where we want to be but we are certainly
taking the right steps to get there. We communicate with the Environmental Protection Agency and
other organizations that provide information for individuals and businesses who are committed to
making changes and meeting responsibly.
Here are some things that can be done:
- Use reusable water bottles
- Order on-site water coolers to refill the water bottles
- Limit the promotional inserts in conference bags (they generally get thrown away)
- Compost leftovers
- Use bulk and porcelain containers for sugars and cream
- Have attendees order materials instead of distributing bulk handouts
- Use print kiosks (I first saw this at a SITE conference in Monterey, Ca)
If we all work together, we can make a difference. Thank you for supporting our efforts to produce
dynamic, exciting, productive, sustainable meetings.
Please email us for more information or if you would like to inquire about our services. We can be
reached at kmtmanagement@sbcglobal.net
Other Green Resources
Center for Environmental Leadership in Business: www.celb.org
Conservation International: www.conservation.org
Convention Industry Council’s Green Meeting Task Force: http://www.conventionindustry.
org/projects/green_mtgs.htm
Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov/oppt/greenmeetings
Green Meetings Industry Council: www.bluegreenmeetings.org (also has online public forum)
Green Seal: www.greenseal.org
International Association of Conferences Centers Green Task Force: www.iacconline.org
International Ecotourism Society: www.ecotourism.org
Native Energy: www.nativeenergy.com
Sustainable Travel (carbon offset programs): www.sustainabletravel.com; www.carbonoffset.org
Terra Pass: www.terrapass.com
U.S. Green Building Council: www.usgbc.org
Sustainable Meetings and Conference Report
http://www.aashe.org/heasc/documents/HEASCSustainableMeetingsConferencesReport_Oct-2007_2.
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