Our Principles of Conduct
Inclusivity
Always enrolling others and considering their thoughts, opinions and diverse cultures in our work.
Integrity
Making decisions everyday which stay true to our values.
Stewardship
To take care of the Earth’s resources and humanity.
Transparency
Being open and honest in all our communications, openly sharing so others can learn and strive for a sustainable future.
Priority Issues
MeetGreen acknowledges that event planning has significant impacts, which are both negative and positive. Since 2007 we have collected extensive event footprint data for over 104 event projects. We’ve learned the typical conference event attendee produces:
We strive to work with our clients and their suppliers to influence footprint reductions in all of these areas so that we can continue to enjoy events in ways that are also more environmentally and socially responsible. While our company may be small, our influence is significant, especially given our clients are also committed to these goals.
As a sustainable event management and consulting agency, MeetGreen’s fundamental business operations were forced to shift dramatically in 2020 due to global disruptions and restrictions related to COVID-19. These challenges presented opportunities both for innovation and new advanced metrics, as well as continued ongoing assessment against previous corporate historical baselines and categories. For the following Annual Report for 2020, all yearly comparison data should be considered under the unique circumstances of the past cycle. In 2020 MeetGreen supported:
We monitor our success in addressing sustainability issues and living our values by measuring. The MeetGreen® Calculator scores for our two primary types of event projects: conference management (hired for planning services) and sustainability (hired for sustainability services). Given that 100% of MeetGreen-managed events were moved to digital formats in 2020, measurement of sustainability impacts shifted to an “UnCarbon” carbon saved comparison between virtual and in-person formats for each project. The summary infographic below helps illustrate the significance of these savings impacts and that how we meet matters.
Goals
MeetGreen is committed to continuously improving against the following goals by 2020 as well as continuously improving what we do, and how we do it.
Improve event project sustainability by:
Operations
MeetGreen’s office footprint is roughly equal to one American home. We employed 13 full-time equivalent positions in 2020.
Office Energy Use
MeetGreen has one primary office location in Portland, Oregon. We operate a virtual office model where staff are permitted to work from home if desired. We provide transit subsidies to staff who commit to use transit over personal vehicle travel. A heating system conversion in 2008 and an office move in 2015 led to shifts in energy use noted below.
Office Waste Production
MeetGreen separates waste through an office recycling and composting program which is complimented by heightened reuse efforts that include reusable cups, service ware, utensils and napkins available office-wide.
Since MeetGreen’s waste, recycling and compost streams are charged by pick-up and not uniquely weighed per property by its municipal waste hauler, diversion rates for the corporate office are therefore directly linked to those of the City of Portland for that respective year.
As an environmental services firm committed to a healthy planet, MeetGreen seeks to reduce, reuse and recycle its waste to a higher standard than regional averages and has regularly confined its landfill waste to one 13-gallon trash bag per month. MeetGreen’s internal office practices have been third-party verified by Portland’s Sustainability At Work program and certified at its highest “Gold” tier.
Office Water Use
MeetGreen’s office includes washrooms and kitchens for daily staff use. MeetGreen purchases BEF Water Restoration Certificates® equal to our operating footprint. This allows us to contribute to restoring the economic, recreational, and ecological vitality of national freshwater resources.
For more information, including how to support WRCs yourself.
Business Travel
Due to the nature of our business, MeetGreen has a significant air travel footprint. The following graph summarizes annual air travel distances across all workers since 2007. MeetGreen has the most control over discretionary air travel, which we aim to minimize by encouraging webinar participation where possible as an alternative to panel presentations, carefully targeting networking trips and taking advantage of regional professional development opportunities. In contrast, client requirements are more difficult to control, and can cause air travel to fluctuate year-to-year.
Due to COVID-19, in 2020 MeetGreen project travel decreased by 100% with 272,873 km of staff travel avoided through convening digitally.
Company Carbon Footprint
As a virtual company with a single office, and projects taking place throughout the world, it is no surprise that air travel is the most significant part of our company’s carbon footprint.
Social Responsibility
MeetGreen’s approach to social responsibility employs policies and training for staff, community service and project work. We conduct ourselves ethically according to our motto “Be a Good Human”, and commit to abide by the laws impacting our activities, and exceeding requirements where regulatory guidance may be lacking.
Healthy Work Approach
Event planning is consistently ranked in the top five “Most Stressful Occupations” and MeetGreen is striving for a healthier approach. We manage events in a strategic manner and keep our team’s focus on anticipating needs and following an agreed upon plan constantly updated during the planning cycle. In short, there are very few “emergencies” which need immediate attention.
To stay refreshed, focused and in a state of well-being, our team is not expected to respond to planning requests evenings and weekends unless it is immediately prior to an event or they are onsite and giving it 100% of their attention.
We share our philosophy to invite conversation and inspire others to join us in our commitment to employee well-being.
Training
As early adopters of the UN Global Compact, MeetGreen staff receive orientation and training regarding the following upon hire, and a minimum of once every two years:
- Ethics
- Risk management
- Accessibility
- Privacy
- Fairness, anti-harassment and anti-discrimination
- Human trafficking, child labor and slavery
- Corruption/bribery
Community Service
MeetGreen finances and encourages service by staff. Service often includes voluntary involvement in industry committees that supports event sustainability. Staff projects and donations in 2020 have benefited:
Assurance
MeetGreen is independently certified to meet the requirements of ISO 20121: 2012 for the planning and delivery of meetings and conferences and the provision of sustainability consulting services. Our company is a signatory to the UN Global Compact and reports annually on our progress. Measurements are collected by MeetGreen staff, using direct-reported data from vendors. Carbon footprint is independently calculated and offset by Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
Archived Reports
