Greening Your Meetings and Conferences

1. Greening Your Meetings and Conferences

2. Greening Your Meetings and Conferences The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines green meetings as organized and implemented in such a way as to minimize negative impacts on the environment and promote a positive social legacy for the host community.

3. Greening Your Meetings and Conferences Bringing people together for meetings, often for multiple days at a time, can create a "host" of environmental impacts—from the smog and greenhouse gas emissions associated with air and ground travel to the paper, plastic, and food waste associated with feeding attendees.

4. Greening Your Meetings and Conferences Did you know that in Fiscal Year 2000, the federal government spent more than $9 billion on travel for mission-related business around the world? Did you know that 93,000 federal employees are traveling on any given business day to 8,000 locations across the country? Did you know that federal travelers use 24 million room nights of hotel space in the United States annually? Did you know that an average hotel purchases more products in a week than 100 families purchase in an entire year? Source: EPA

5. Greening Your Meetings and Conferences The EPA mission is to protect human health and the environment, and to ensure that all Americans are protected from significant risks to human health and the environment where they live, learn and work… May 1, 2007, The EPA erected a new milestone in the march toward a greener government. (CFR 1552.223-71 EPA Green Meetings and Conferences). EPA gives green meaning to its meetings - changed its acquisition rules to give preference to facilities which consume less and manage their resources in environmentally positive ways.

6. Greening Your Meetings and Conferences14-pt Check-list 1)A recycling program 2)A linen/towel reuse option that is communicated to guests 3)Easy access to public transportation or shuttle services 4)A policy to turn off lighting and air conditioning when rooms are not in use 5)Bulk dispensers or reusable containers for beverages, food and condiments 6)Reusable serving utensils, napkins and tablecloths when food and beverages are served 7)An energy efficiency program

7. Greening Your Meetings and Conferences14-pt Check-list 8)A water conservation program 9)Paperless check-in & check-out for guests 10)Use of recycled or recyclable products 11)Employee training on these green activities 12)Other "green" environmental initiatives such as receiving environment-related certifications, participating in EPA voluntary partnerships, supporting a green suppliers network, etc. 13)Food sources from local growers or a policy to consider the growing practices of farmers who provide the food 14)A policy to use bio-based or biodegradable products, including bio-based cafeteria ware

8. Greening Your Meetings and Conferences Key Sources of Waste and Pollution Marketing of Event and Registration—Paper waste associated with direct mailings among organizers, speakers, attendees, and venues. Travel to the Event—Greenhouse gases and other pollutants released via planes, trains, buses, and automobiles. Hotel Stays—Water usage associated with laundering; indoor air quality issues associated with building materials and cleaning products; paper, plastic, and material waste associated with single-use toiletries. Food Services—Waste from disposable coffee cups, plates, napkins, and plastic-ware; disposal of extra food; non-sustainable farming practices. Exhibition Halls—Landfill disposal of carpet; greenhouse gas emissions from shipping; waste from excess information materials and giveaways. Local Transportation—Greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants released from taxis or rental cars. Source: EPA

9. Greening Your Meetings and Conferencesare Sustainable Meetings “to create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony that permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations”

10. Greening Your Meetings and Conferences Whether you are a meeting host, planner or service supplier, there is an abundance of tips, tools and resources to make environmentally responsible choices for meetings and events. Open communication with your attendees, the hotels and all suppliers. Stay abreast of the new trends. Remember to think Green along with price and amenities. Greenmeetings are here to stay.

11. Greening Your Meetings and Conferences Government Regulations, Guidance and Policy Executive Order 13423: “Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management” of 2007 set policy and specific goals for federal agencies to ”conduct their environmental, transportation, and energy-related activities under the law in support of their respective missions in an environmentally, economically and fiscally sound, integrated, continuously improving, efficient, and sustainable manner.” Executive Order 13514: “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance”of 2009 enhances EO 13423 "to establish an integrated strategy towards sustainability in the Federal Government and to make reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) a priority for Federal agencies.” Source: EPA

12. Greening Your Meetings and ConferencesGovernment Regulations, Guidance and Policy www.epa.gov/oppt/greenmeetings http://www.epa/partners/index.htm(EPA voluntary partnerships). 48CRF 1552,223-71 EPA Green Meetings and Conferences. GSA FTR Guide to Sustainable Conferences www.gsa.gov//graphics/ogp/Guidance_sustainable_conferences.doc The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-11-35, Eliminating Excess Conference Spending and Promoting Efficiency in Government.

13. Greening Your Meetings and ConferencesThank you! Terry L. Branch US EPA 1445 Ross Avenue Dallas, TX 75202 214-665-6667 Branch.terry@epa.gov