Not only Australians, but the world at large is more conscious of the environment, so take the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the well-being of our environment.

It isn’t difficult to get behind such an agenda by implementing your own ‘green’ policies and practices and showcase your organisation in a positive light.

Awareness and effort to create a ‘green meeting and event’, will give significant benefits to organisations that choose to implement such processes and will be reflected through:-

• Positive reputation in both business and the community
• Increased management and operation skills
• Enhance communication with stakeholders
• Highlight risk management awareness
• Improved benchmarked performance indicators
• Strengthened confidence from investor, insurers and financial organisations

Start thinking about how your organisation can contribute towards environmentally responsible event management

Promoting the Event

• Reinforce and publicise your environmental commitment.
• Make the transition by replacing printed materials with electronic marketing and flyers.
• If using ‘snail mail’, avoid duplicating the mailing list to reduce printed waste and postage costs -whilst at the same time, making your organisation appear more professional.
• Replace traditional paper handouts by supplying electronic presentations which have been burned to CD/DVD or captured to the web or electronically emailed to participants.
• Charge an additional cost for producing printed publications.

Encourage involvement for ‘greening’ your events

• Use on-line registration and electronic invoices/receipts - offer a discount for booking on-line.
• Analysis and survey event suppliers by requesting a copy of their ‘green’ policy. Check water conservation programs and energy and recycling policies - including hazardous waste disposal.
• Use email to communicate with organisations, suppliers, event management and other involved parties, (including rooming lists, event instructions and orders, accounts, registration confirmation, event contracts and other confirmation details)
• Educate staff regarding conservation and environmental awareness
• Update and communicate budgets electronically
• Book travel and accommodation on-line
• Reuse packing materials and boxes and use pallet delivery to reduce packing and transport costs.
• Use local talent and suppliers wherever possible to reduce transportation emissions and costs.
• When using several venues, consider proximity to encourage walking and reduce travel and associated costs.

Check with the Venue (s)

• Do they have an energy management program?
• Do they have a policy to use environmentally friendly products and re-usable linens, dishes and cutlery?
• Do they have a recycling program?
• Do they use ‘green’ suppliers and encourage them to implement their policies?

At the Event

• Encourage sponsors and others to eliminate paper inserts in satchels – better to consolidate these onto a CD/DVD - which is less likely to be discarded and is lighter to carry.
• Choose decorations and promotional material which can be reused, including living plants or decorative centre pieces.
• Use electronic signage wherever possible. Make printed signs generic for reuse at several events.

When selecting venues and suppliers, reinforce your organisation’s commitment to a ‘green event’ by informing them of your environmental policy and recommend strategies to be considered when running the event. Ask them about their environmental policies and practices.