We are starting to see GREEN again!

I am not sure if it is the spirit of St. Patty’s Day or the rising double digit temperatures this week, but Toronto is finally showing some green patches and boy does GREEN ever look good after a long winter.

We strive to incorporate GREEN initiatives into all our events and meetings but is “GREEN” as commonplace as we want to think it is…….or do we have to train ourselves to think about it.

According to MeetGreen®, a three-day conference with 300 people will create waste equivalent of the mass of 33 small cars, use water resources that could fill one half of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and create enough green house gases to fill 25,175,000 basketballs.

The meetings and event industry is making huge strides and we have a variety of documentation to support these initiatives but are they overwhelming?

Are we as planners really doing enough?   Here are some small steps that can help you get started on taking those giant steps:

• Eliminated bottled water from your meetings and events
• There are so many alternatives now like Hydration Stations with fruit infused water
• Say yes to locally sourced menus
• Yes it may mean a bit more money added to your budget but it is Fresh (literally)
• Provide white boards instead of flip charts in meeting rooms
• and no/low odor markers
• Add a section in your next hotel RFP that asks to review the venue’s sustainable achievements
• Your final decision may not be based solely on their policies but it is a great way to educate yourself
• Give an eco-friendly award to the greenest exhibitor
• Fun and great publicity for your green policy
• Ask aNd Logistix about our paperless Registration Solutions
• We are ahead of the pack with our customized web-based applications that provide real-time reporting, email marketing and dynamic online conference, event and seminar registrations. 

§   Reduce Administrative Costs

§   Cut Down Data Entry

§   Eliminate User Errors

§   Automate Form Validation

§   Provide Secure Transactions

§   Manage and Access Real-Time Reports Anytime

§   Process Credit Cards

§   Improve Productivity

2011 will bring increased attention to the sustainability initiatives of our industry. GREEN event practices will be standardized, formalized training will become available, and industry-sanctioned certification programs for green event managers will be a reality—don’t get left behind

Check out these NEW ideas on how to incorporate some GREEN into your spring at home, the office or at your next event:

Get Educated!

• New ISO 20121 Event Management Sustainability Standards
• Canadian Standards CSA Z2010  - Which was built on the work of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
• APEX-ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standards

www.conventionindustry.org           

www.iso.org         

www.csa.ca          

www.meetgreen.com

Spring Cleaning at its GREENest!

ENJO has created an innovative cleaning system using only water. ENJO is cleaning without chemicals!

http://www.enjo-canada.com/

GREEN has never been so cute!

3seams creates opportunities for people to purchase clothing for their children while at the same time supplying a child in need with an identical piece.  Each piece of clothing is made in sets of two.  One piece goes home with the buyer and one is donated by 3 seams to an organization that ensures a child in need will receive it.  http://www.3seams.com/

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com/