Lean & Green: Trimming Conference Costs through Environmentally Responsible Practices

Many organizations have made strides towards “going green,” whether in small steps or grand gestures. But in a challenging economy, it’s easy to put responsibility practices on the back burner as other priorities demand attention. The good news is that environmental and fiscal responsibility don’t have to be at odds with one another.

Greening your meetings simply requires making thoughtful choices throughout the planning process that support your organizational priorities. Here are just a few tips to effectively manage resources – both environmental and financial! – for your next meeting or convention.

• Transitioning from paper handouts to web-based solutions saves printing and shipping costs, gives meeting content a longer shelf life, and allows delegates to share the value with colleagues.
• Switching from packaged foods to bulk items eliminates wasteful packing and reduces your food and beverage expenses.
• Finding a local school or charity to reuse conference bags and other materials is a positive contribution to the community, as well as a tax write-off.
• Including a carbon-offset donation on your registration form allows attendees to make tax-deductible contributions to support planting trees.
• Asking the chef to source food locally reduces food miles and provides attendees with fresher ingredients that taste better and cost les.
• Requesting that meeting facilities place recycling bins throughout your event won’t cost you a dime.

Going green isn’t just about saving the planet – making smart choices that can save your organization money make good business sense, too.