There are many diverse ways to “green a meeting.” Here are a couple suggested “green meeting” practices. Many web resources are available, such as this U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/ site.

Communication/Registration:

• Consider offering Carbon Offset programs to attendees to offset their travel.
• Ask that attendees return badge holders at the end of the conference.
• Provide convenient and accessible locations for drop off.
• Eliminate or reduce paper used for conference agendas and/or programs.
• Offer materials on-line or on a disk. Communicate and encourage this practice with presenters.
• Print double-sided and use post-consumer content paper with vegetable or soy ink.
• Use water fill stations instead of plastic bottles.
• Use environmentally efficient office equipment on-site.
• Encourage and/or implement recycling and/or composting within the meeting venue.
• Serve buffet style meals, rather than individually boxed lunches.
• Request that venues not place Head Table water at podiums. Instead encourage speakers to bring own water bottles.

Transportation:

• Choose venues centrally located next to hotels and restaurant.
• Choose venues accessible by, and encourage, public transportation.
• If bussing for attendees is required, ask that shuttle companies adhere to idling ordinance.
• Provide directions to events using various public transportation and bicycle routes.
• Choose local vendors for products when possible to minimize transport and shipping impact.
• Ask vendors to utilize local inventories and partners.