Corporate social responsibiltiy is fast becoming an expectation for organizations that plan corporate meetings or association conferences. So for those who may not be familiar, a few ideas can go a long way. If you're considering ways to turn your program into a green meeting, it doesn't have to be viewed as complicated. Simply adopt a few strategies and you can be on your way to eventually measuring the impact and showing a return on investment. But these tips will get you started if you're interested in sustainable events.
1. Sustainability Incorporated into Hotel Contracts
Courtesy of Meeting Professionals International
It's one thing to discuss sustainability or any other element of a program with suppliers, it's another to put your expectations in writing. Elizabeth Henderson, CMM, CMP, director of corporate responsibility for Meeting Professionals International, Calgary, Canada incorporates sustainability expectations into all hotel contracts for MPI programs. Wouldn't you like to see sample hotel addendum language you should consider? What does Henderson expect? Examples include:
- Recycling in guest rooms and common areas for glass, aluminum, plastic, paper and pallets.
- Towel/linen re-use program.
- Do not replace amenities unless empty.
- No polystyrene.
- Sustainable seafood.
- Shade grown coffee.
2. Sustainable Hotel Services
Whether it’s a morning seminar or a multi-day corporate conference, hotels are the most popular venues for meetings. So it’s reasonable to expect hotels to take the lead with identifying sustainability initiatives for corporate and social events. Julie Klein, director of environmental affairs for RockResorts, Vail, CO, explains that examples of sustainability at hotels include conserving energy and water, sourcing food locally, and relying on environmentally-friendly cleaning products, among others.