Our most recent #MeetGreenChat discussions were about “Sustainability Lessons Learned at Home, Work, and at Events”. We wanted to discuss the different ways sustainability can be integrated into our lives, whether at home, work, or at events. Large scale versus smaller scale environments or vice versa. Is it possible to implement these strategies and what are the challenges? The discussions of this topic were interesting and eye opening.
What sustainable practices have you seen at work or at events that you do at home?
A1 buy fewer things made of plastic, epicycle, conserve water #meetgreenchat
— Mary Klida (@MaryKlida) November 6, 2019
A1 Controlled thermostat temps, use of refillable water bottles, and use of china and cutlery for meals. #MeetGreenChat
— April Hammel (@aprilhammel) November 6, 2019
A1 I am really liking some of the upcycled snacks out there. #MeetGreenChat
— Conference Care Package (@Confcarepackage) November 6, 2019
A1) There's the shared effort of conserving electricity. I love natural light! I'm frequently turning off lights when I leave a room. Although I haven't built in the system that automatically senses movement, I would be interested in doing that for my office. #MeetGreenChat pic.twitter.com/lHhxTvaQkS
— Sonia Harris (@harrisonia) November 6, 2019
What are the challenges to scaling it down at home?
A2 a current challenge is the other way round: I buy F&B in refills for at home but we don’t (yet) for the office
— MeetRoger (Roger Lehner) (@IMEXrog) November 6, 2019
A2 finding good products to replace single use products #meetgreenchat
— Mary Klida (@MaryKlida) November 6, 2019
A2: We have a young child, so have entered into more high-volume food service, parties, school gatherings etc that we were used to. Confronted with more disposables! #meetgreenchat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) November 6, 2019
What practice is too difficult to implement at home but you would like to?
A3 It's our hope to eventually take the leap and install solar panels on our roof. #MeetGreenChat
— April Hammel (@aprilhammel) November 6, 2019
A3: I wish I could get a personal snapshot of our family's waste volume and diversion rate : )) #meetgreenchat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) November 6, 2019
A3 being more conservative with the thermostat is hard for me. I like cozy #meetgreenchat
— Mary Klida (@MaryKlida) November 6, 2019
A3 – home compost bin is a big struggle for us. Any good ideas from fellow #eventprofs ? #meetgreenchat
— Milda Salciute, CMP, CED (@IMEXMilda) November 6, 2019
A3 Milda, have you tried worm composting? I did it in the basement in a previous house and it worked great! We've got room outside now, but I miss my worm friends from years ago! 🙂 #MeetGreenChat
— Della Green (@MeetGreenDella) November 6, 2019
What do you do at home that you would like to incorporate at work or at an event?
A4 haha my previous answer is better suited here: buying stuff from refill stores for example cleaning products or supplies for our office dos #meetgreenchat
— MeetRoger (Roger Lehner) (@IMEXrog) November 6, 2019
A4 My family has a collection of reusable water bottles that we frequently use. I love it when I see people bringing their own water bottles to events and hope to see this trend grow in the future. One small change can have enormous impacts. #meetgreenchat
— April Hammel (@aprilhammel) November 6, 2019
A4 It is much easier to switch to a renewable energy energy supplier at home #MeetGreenChat
— Legacy (@LegacyTheTeam) November 6, 2019
A4 Reduce food waste. We have almost none at home. I am also very frugal #MeetGreenChat
— nancyjzavada (@nancyjzavada) November 6, 2019
Eating fresh healthy food at home is pretty common. How can you plan an event that includes this on the menu?
A5 I like the blender bikes at events that use local produce. #smoothiesforeveryone #MeetGreenChat
— Conference Care Package (@Confcarepackage) November 6, 2019
A5: One way we have had some success on this front, is by actually reducing to sheer volume of food options on the menu. Essentially simplifiying and driving quality of the ingredients by lower quantity of choices. #meetgreenchat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) November 6, 2019
A5 Build your menu with sustainable and locally sourced food. Whatever grows in the region should be showcased on your menu. #MeetGreenChat
— April Hammel (@aprilhammel) November 6, 2019
At home do you change your soap out every day? How could hotels change this service for their guests?
A6. We use refillable soap dispensers at home. It would be nice to see more hotels implement the same practice to reduce the amount of soap they have to dispose of after one use. #MeetGreenChat
— April Hammel (@aprilhammel) November 6, 2019
A6 @cleantheworld recycles hotel soaps and many venues are moving to big bottles attached to the wall like at gyms. #MeetGreenChat
— Conference Care Package (@Confcarepackage) November 6, 2019
A6: One strategy we have taken at home for our refillable dispensers is actually mixing the refills with a little water. That way it extends even longer. #meetgreenchat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) November 6, 2019
At home do you change out your sheets and towels every day? How could the hotel change this service and get their guests buy in to participating?
A7 This is the thing I would take from home to conference if I could! Even though many hotels have programs, it's often not implemented unfortunately. I leave the do not disturb on my door when I leave as a preventative measure. #MeetGreenChat
— Della Green (@MeetGreenDella) November 6, 2019
A7 We reuse towels and do not change out sheets every day. I see more hotels implementing reuse programs so now the education needs to shift to the guests so they understand how significant the impact can be if they elect to reuse as well. #MeetGreenChat
— April Hammel (@aprilhammel) November 6, 2019
A7 No! Does anyone? Maybe this reveals my less than savoury home habits…Saw an amazing idea once where a hotel offered guests a free glass of wine/beer at the bar if they did not have a daily towel/sheets change. Win win #MeetGreenChat pic.twitter.com/6jSw9yTS0z
— Legacy (@LegacyTheTeam) November 6, 2019
A7 Hotels should charge extra for changing sheets daily and pass some of the money on to housekeeping #MeetGreenChat
— nancyjzavada (@nancyjzavada) November 6, 2019
A7: One way Marriott drives buy-in is by planting a tree for those who forgo room cleaning for two days. #meetgreenchat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) November 6, 2019
A7 I'd love to see the reaction at home if I left a Do Not Disturb sign on the door in the name of sustainability… 🤣 #MeetGreenChat
— Legacy (@LegacyTheTeam) November 6, 2019
A7 I’ve stayed at a hotel where you get a £5 voucher for the hotel bar for every night you reuse sheets and towels #MeetGreenChat
— MeetRoger (Roger Lehner) (@IMEXrog) November 6, 2019
Do you use disposable plates cups, or cutlery at home? If so, why and what’s a better alternative?
A8 Not for years #meetgreenchat
— Mary Klida (@MaryKlida) November 6, 2019
A8 in the convention center all of our disposable dinner ware is also composable and we send most of the food court waste to the compost company. #meetgreenchat
— Mary Klida (@MaryKlida) November 6, 2019
A8 I've taken it a step further and gone to re-usable napkins for everyday use, too. I buy the kind you don't have to fold so you take the out of the washer, stack them up and use them again. For me, this eliminates the temptation of grabbing a paper napkin. #MeetGreenChat
— Della Green (@MeetGreenDella) November 6, 2019
A8 Disposable tableware a big NO to me at home & I hope it will become a norm. There are some great alternatives to plastic such as biodegradable palm leaf plates or bambo plates & straws #meetgreenchat
— Milda Salciute, CMP, CED (@IMEXMilda) November 6, 2019
What are some challenges that can take place in sustainability when the number of people grows?
A9: We find it challenging to sort through waste in detail when attendance is high. 20,000 attendee events harder than 2,000. It is very possible but just requires more cost and labor. #meetgreenchat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) November 6, 2019
A9 the more people involved, the better organized the procedures need to be for sustainability and everyone needs to participate! #meetgreenchat
— Mary Klida (@MaryKlida) November 6, 2019
A9 communicating effectively to everyone, for example to bring reusable bottles, cups and bags to an event #MeetGreenChat
— MeetRoger (Roger Lehner) (@IMEXrog) November 6, 2019
A9) We already have a problem when it comes to more locations to discard bulk trash. When the population gets even larger, so will this problem. #MeetGreenChat
— Sonia Harris (@harrisonia) November 8, 2019
What are some of your favorite sustainable practices at home, work, or at an event?
A10: I love food donation and exhibit hall material donation when I am onsite at events. Very inspiring to me when it takes place and a real win for sustainability! #meetgreenchat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) November 6, 2019
A10 I love creating new dishes out of leftovers. It's like being on a home version of "Chopped." #MeetGreenChat
— April Hammel (@aprilhammel) November 6, 2019
A10 Mine are pretty simple but effective: a – I love using my reusable coffee mug from @stumptowncoffee b – having reusable metal straw with me (thanks @MeetGreen for this amazinf present) #MeetGreenChat pic.twitter.com/x5N6GKWZiD
— Milda Salciute, CMP, CED (@IMEXMilda) November 6, 2019
A10) My favorite home sustainability practices:
⭐ instead of 4 individual water bottles, I keep a ½ gallon jug of water next to my bed
⭐ for quick lighting needs, I keep a battery-operated push light next to my bed and it usually fits the job#MeetGreenChat— Sonia Harris (@harrisonia) November 8, 2019
The discussions were lively & interesting to hear point of views from a variety of backgrounds. We want to thank everyone who joined us this month and we look forward to chatting on 12/4/19 on the “Season of Giving – CSR Projects”.
If you have a topic you would like us to add to next year’s list of tweet chats please let us know.
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