ACC Sustainable Events Initiative

• Events Industry Council Best practices and standards for sustainability in the events industry
• Sustainability Standards
• Principles for sustainable events
• Centre for sustainable events
• EPA Green Meetings
• Harvard Sustainable Meeting and Event Guide
• Exordo Sustainable Event Ideas Blog
• Sustainable Conference Management Agency

Event Marketer - Brands Tackling Event Food Waste Challenges

• Focus more on vegetarian plant-based, chicken and fish dishes (v. beef).
• Compost, recycle, trash options with signs that guide attendees
• Compostable packaging
• No plastic straws or single use water bottles
• Compostable or recycleable dishware

Events Council - Nonprofit Organisation Goodr Helps Businesses Eliminate Food Waste

• Goodr (https://goodr.co/) - Operates in Philadelphia, Chicago, and other cities.

Accounting for Sustainability - General Guide

• Destinations- in general, we do not consider a destinations sustainability program during our review of it.
• Hotels- sustainability practices have not been considered in the evaluation process; in general, most hotel chains have a program, which varies across brands.
• Food & Beverage- aimed to eliminate single use water and order bulk beverages or food when possible.
• General Services Contractor
• Signs- we have reduced the overall number of disposable signs in the last few years. Alternate materials have not been explored.
• Décor (draping, carpet, furniture)- all of these items are reused, materials are standard. LED lighting is used when an option.
• Linen Rental - no consideration provided to linen materials or shipping of them to venue.
• Booth designers - no consideration of the company's practices other than items included in the booth are mostly rented and reusable.
• CLE cards - not a huge quantity, but no consideration for sustainable printing practices and materials.

Things we have been doing:

• Digital signs- we have been using these more in the past few years.
• App- we have had an app for the last several years and had already planned to stop producing, dated, print advance and onsite program guides.
• Reusing items (décor and signage)

• During COVID, the meetings are virtual, so that really removes many event practices related to sustainability.
• We can recommend home practices, but assuming that we will return to in-person events at some point in the next year, below are some immediate changes that could be made.
• Hotels:
  
  • Promote the hotel’s efforts to our attendees via our meeting website
  • Food & beverage- though single use items are expected to return for sanitary reasons, we can advocate for sustainable products and offerings (bamboo coffee stirs, compostable plates and cutlery, boxed waters, among other needs)
• General Services Contractor:
  
  • Signs- consider available sustainable products as budget allows
  • Shipping- use recycled or biodegradable shipping materials
• Décor- request sustainable options
• Digital Signs - use more often
• Discontinue large print pieces (advance and onsite program guides) by using digital options.
• Travel - provide guidelines for considerations, travel in shared vehicles, or public transportation.

• Destinations - target destinations based on their sustainability practices and facilities.
• Hotels - target working with brands and properties that align with our sustainability needs.
• Food & Beverage - work to change habits of our attendees through education (more vegetarian offerings, elimination of non-sustainable offerings (excess food, juice).
• Vendors - explore vendors (design, AV, printers, linen rental) that have sustainable practices and products.
  
  • Audiovisual - steaming sessions online reduces our carbon footprint.
  • Inquire about our AV companies products and practices.
  • Ask our AV company to use energy efficient technology when possible.
  • Try new options like project mapping.