Green Meetings/Events

Take back the tap! I just came across, “Free Your Event From Bottled Water”, a Practical Guide to Take Back the Tap at Your Next Event. Although it was written in 2008, the material is still very relevant and useful today. Go Green! Click here to read the article!

Michigan-based event planners have a new option for green meeting and event transportation. The Night Move, Metro Detroit's Green Public Transit rents out 28- and 30- passenger shuttle buses for private events. The Night Move runs on B20 biodiesel, with emissions that cause 50% less harm to our ozone and our health. Think greener for transportation at your next event: http://www.thenightmove.com/.

Here are some simple, useful green meeting tips I picked up from Certain Software. Thought I would pass them along. Cheers!

GREEN MEETING TIP NUMBER 1
Choose host cities and event venues stratigically to minimize travel and transportion
Locating events in a location central to your attendee base can reduce the overall carbon footprint of personal travel and materials shipping. Keep public transit, group transportation and walking distance options in mind when planning on multiple venues and hotel blocks.

GREEN MEETING TIP NUMBER 2
Make the entire online registration process paperless
Online registration software completely eliminates the need to produce paper event marketing materials or registration forms. Gas guzzling shipping and waiting times are things of the past when you have dynamic, custom designed registration websites that are available 24/7/365.

GREEN MEETING TIP NUMBER 3
Downsize or eliminate collateral entirely
Design smaller scale printed show guides and supplements. Be revolutionary and eliminate printed show guides entirely. Make details available online before and after events or at strategically placed touch-screen kiosks with details during events.

GREEN MEETING TIP NUMBER 4
Encourage reusable water containers
You can keep tons of individual water bottles from crowding up landfills and even save on the energy that would be used to recycle them by encouraging reusable water containers. Give attendees an eco-friendly drinking container or logo jug that at registration that can be refilled at water stations located through out your event. If you are planning a small meeting or training, offer glassware service.

GREEN MEETING TIP NUMBER 5
Make notes and presentation handouts digital
During speaker presentations and program sessions, you can greatly reduce paper waste by encouraging attendees to take notes on their PDA device. Even more convenient, make presentations and handouts viewable or downloadable online after the event or email them to attendees.

GREEN MEETING TIP NUMBER 6
Choose give-aways that are made from recycled and/or biodegradable materials
Give-aways items are a great way to connect with attendees, and they can also be eco-friendly if they are made from recycled and/or biodegradable materials.

-- Mike Galle, Executive Producer/Creative Director

These green meeting ideas came across my desk today, so I thought I would share them.

A green giveaway for attendees: indoor herb gardens (3 small plants) on a wooden base customized with your corporate logo.

Eco lanyards: Name badge lanyards made of 100% corn. Even the easy to open clip attachment is made of sustainable materials.

If you would more info, just give us a call at 248.336.8600. Meanwhile, check back here for some overall green meeting tips from Special D's "Green Meetings Czar, Tina Jackman" later this week.