The #MeetGreenChat this month focused on “Sustainability as a Strategy for the Future (Sustainable & Safe)”. We wanted to start thinking about in-person events and what they could look like keeping sustainability and safety in the forefront of planning future conferences. The discussions on this topic were interesting, useful, and everyone had ideas that are worth considering.
What parts of an in-person event will change for safety but is also sustainable?
A1: Interestingly, the less material we use (such as printed signage to digital) means less points of contact along way, or transmission points…and also good for the environment! #MeetGreenChat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) June 3, 2020
A1. More virtual attendees (reducing flights), More outdoor meetings (reintroducing people to nature), Fewer business cards (reducing waste), and smaller / more regional meetings generally (reducing flights again). #MeetGreenChat
— Unwrapit (@Unwrapit_) June 3, 2020
A1) Lowered venue capacity => fewer possible attendees => less toilet tissue and paper towel consumption, for sure! 😲 Fewer combination and exchange of germs, also. 😷#MeetGreenChat
— Sonia Harris (@harrisonia) June 3, 2020
How could you change the registration process for safety that also makes it sustainable?
Q2 registration could be done completely online, saving paper and reducing contact between people #meetgreenchat
— Emily Barzinpour (@sunshineemily2) June 3, 2020
A2: Potentially a QR code for phone (like airlines) for access to sessions or exhibit hall- essentially dispensing with badges for the time being #MeetGreenChat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) June 3, 2020
A2) For events offering on-site registration, have tablets or kiosks available with some type of hand sanitizer that doesn't damage the screens.#MeetGreenChat
— Sonia Harris (@harrisonia) June 3, 2020
How could you work with the venue to provide food & beverage safely & sustainably?
A4: Abundant hand-sanitation opportunities before entering grab and go or food outlets. Also combined perhaps with additional information and education to attendees about chain of custody of service-ware or steps taken for safety. #MeetGreenChat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) June 3, 2020
A3) Still continue previous practices of sustainable food disposal but this time check for more immediate methods to deliver food to the needed recipients. (Personally, I would prefer giving the food to the waitstaff first – as the frontliners.) #MeetGreenChat
— Sonia Harris (@harrisonia) June 3, 2020
A4 Instead of having self-serve food stations, You could only allow trained food service employees to handle the food with gloves. It’s more sustainable than individually packaged food and still allows for buffet style with china (no disposables). #meetgreenchat
— Emily Barzinpour (@sunshineemily2) June 3, 2020
Q3. On the solutions side, BYO food would be safe & sustainable. Also, going #vegan is far safer upstream because no meat means no meat packing facilities, which we know from the news have been unsafe and hard on workers. Also far more sustainable. #MeetGreenChat
— Unwrapit (@Unwrapit_) June 3, 2020
A3 One solution could be a closed loop system with drinks cups, taking inspiration from the festival industry #MeetGreenChat
— MeetRoger (Roger Lehner) (@IMEXrog) June 3, 2020
Supply chains can affect your event, what are some examples you need to consider balancing safety & sustainability?
A4: In sustainability we are often trying to localize supply chains to reduce transport miles- perhaps there could be greater safety and transparency here as well- working with your local suppliers rather than national or global ones #MeetGreenChat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) June 3, 2020
A4) #Coffee and coffee breaks are what immediately came to mind! Need to exercise care on how we import coffee from countries with troubling, health-related headlines. (I think that was direct but PC enough. You think? 😉☕) #MeetGreenChat pic.twitter.com/rbCEX0m8fc
— Sonia Harris (@harrisonia) June 3, 2020
A4 if your event has reusable equipment like tables, chairs, A/V equipment etc. you’ll want to make sure that the suppliers are practicing sanitizing the equipment in between uses #meetgreenchat
— Emily Barzinpour (@sunshineemily2) June 3, 2020
A4. Transportation. Is it possible to equip attendees with bikes they can use throughout the event, instead of getting into Lyft & Uber vehicles, where others have been? #MeetGreenChat
— Unwrapit (@Unwrapit_) June 3, 2020
What does it look like when the supply chain is disrupted?
A5: My local grocery store : )) It has been stunning to see the systemic impacts of supply-chain disruption even three months in. Many products have been been extremely slow to return and steep fluctuations in supply and demand. #MeetGreenChat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) June 3, 2020
A5 A disrupted supply chain can lead to loss/delay of product/materials. If all of your suppliers are local, you have a better chance getting in contact with them and finding alternatives to your product rather than a multinational supplier. Again, local is best! #meetgreenchat
— Emily Barzinpour (@sunshineemily2) June 3, 2020
Are you prepared to provide a safety policy and what sustainable elements will be included in this document?
A6. It would be great to see some open source templates for safety & sustainability guidelines. Perhaps something for the #exhibitionsthinktank to advocate/produce. #MeetGreenChat
— Unwrapit (@Unwrapit_) June 3, 2020
A6: I am, and will be looking closely at food & beverage, waste management, donations, hotel accommodations and more! : ))#MeetGreenChat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) June 3, 2020
What are ways you can provide sustainable options for sponsors?
A7: A mix of old and new: carbon impacts for sustainable events could be sponsor offset, while sponsored PPP gear to support back of house waste sorting or sanitation could be a new frontier of sustainable sponsorships. #MeetGreenChat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) June 3, 2020
A7 Sponsors will likely want brand exposure at an event. If handouts/swag are not allowed, the host could offer more digital marketing at the event, like including blurbs about them in recap emails, or giving them screen time #meetgreenchat
— Emily Barzinpour (@sunshineemily2) June 3, 2020
A7. As you'll know, we're a big proponent of virtual & nonmaterial attendee gifts. Less waste. Contactless. Actually coveted. Think Calm app or Headspace for a year. #MeetGreenChat
— Unwrapit (@Unwrapit_) June 3, 2020
How do your exhibitors sustainably present to your attendees safely?
A8: This may be an area we see more digital opportunities- potentially less physical swag, print-outs, etc with a move to digital resources. Perhaps booths might have less of a build footprint as a result #MeetGreenChat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) June 3, 2020
Honestly, I'm not usually impressed with swag bags, how about you? And they have to be packed. I love @sunshineemily2 vision and inspiration. Maybe add discounts available on the event's app? #MeetGreenChat
— lillian lake (@llake) June 3, 2020
What are some sustainable and safe considerations around event waste management?
A9: One great bit of news is that recycling is considered an essential service and material recovery lines are open in the US. Curious to see if back of house onsite sorting might be impacted- hence the PPP considerations, etc #MeetGreenChat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) June 3, 2020
Any other thoughts?
A10: I wish I had a crystal ball! : )) And..very excited for our events to return safely and sustainably! #MeetGreenChat
— Eric Wallinger (@EricWallinger) June 3, 2020
A10. It's going to be a long, hard road to get to fully sustainable & safe events. And the human desire to connect F2F is so great that we'll definitely get there. Thanks @MeetGreen for your leadership in (sustainably) paving the way. #MeetGreenChat
— Unwrapit (@Unwrapit_) June 3, 2020
Oh, and can we talk about the name tags and lanyards? There has to be a better way. Lanyards aren't sustainable and to me, they're germ collectors. #MeetGreenChat
(apologies if someone mentioned this already!)
— lillian lake (@llake) June 3, 2020
As you can see there many aspects to planning a sustainable and safe event. It was great to start talking about the possibilities and I know in the coming months this will evolve and change over time. The discussions did give hope that we can continue with sustainable event goals by thinking out of the box. Thank you to everyone who joined today and we will see you next month on 7/1/20!
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