Over 50% of participants on the GMIC webinar, Simple Steps to Choosing a Green Destination, yesterday include environmental criteria in their RFPs to meeting venues. Another 34% occasionally include criteria and only 13% are not making the request. Venues verify there has been a marked increase in organizations asking about environmental initiatives. Here is a quick list to include in your request for proposals if you are not already doing so.

Request the meeting venue implement the following procedures and practices during the meeting:

• Minimize energy use by reducing the lights, power and heat/air-conditioning during move in and move out times in the exhibit hall and turning off lights in meeting rooms when not in use.
• Purchase green or renewable energy (solar, wind, tidal).
• Provide collection bins, facilities, staffing and training necessary to recycle all glass containers, aluminum and steel cans, plastic bottles, table coverings, pallets, paper (newspaper, cardboard and other office paper), and grease.
• Conserve natural resources by purchasing and providing all paper bathroom supplies with minimum 35% post-consumer recycled content paper.
• Minimize pollution and human exposure to toxic compounds by using environmentally responsible cleaning products for carpets, floors, kitchens, and bathrooms bearing a third-party verified eco-label.
• Minimize air pollution by cleaning parking lots, sidewalks and driveways without the use of two-cycle combustion engines.

By |2026-05-26T22:27:22+00:00March 10th, 2011|Best Practices, Green Meetings, Tip of the Week|0 Comments

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About the Author:

Nancy J. Zavada, CMP Fellow, President, MeetGreen, is internationally recognized as an innovator in the sustainable event field. Nancy founded MeetGreen, a sustainable events agency in 1994. MeetGreen is certified as an ISO-20121 and Women-Owned Business. Nancy oversees sustainable initiatives for corporate and non-profit organizations. She co-founded the Green Meeting Industry Council in 2004 which is now part of Events Industry Council and has authored three books on sustainable events.

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