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Annual Conference and Tradeshow Green Strategy

Green Meeting Strategy
OWWA/OMWA is committed to minimizing the waste, water, energy consumption, and air emissions at the Conference by making environmental considerations and evaluating the environmental impact at all stages of planning.
Our Objectives
  1. To actively engage all participants to assist in reducing the environmentally harmful impact of the conference, while still maintaining valuable education and networking opportunities.
  2. To purchase local products and use local service providers whenever possible.
  3. To leave a positive impact on the local community.
  4. Reduction: Waste produced by conference organizers and attendees will be minimized where possible.
  5. Reuse: Encourage the reuse of products where possible.
  6. Recycle: Ensure that conference facilities recycle as much material as possible.
What the Conference Organizers are Doing
General
  • Give purchasing priority to recyclable and post-consumer recycled products.
  • Communicate the sustainability statement to all stakeholders and request input and participation.
Conference Promotion/Registration
  • Reduce paper usage as much as possible though the use of the web and e-mail for promotion of the conference and events.
  • Minimize paper with the use of on-line registration.
  • Reuse envelopes for delegate registration materials.
  • Use re-usable/multi-use name badge holders.
Food, Beverage and Catering Services
  • Eliminate the use of bottled water throughout the conference.
  • Use cloth, ceramic and glass instead of paper and plastic where possible.
  • We will serve locally produced, seasonal food & beverage products where possible.
  • Leftover food will be composted.
 
What Delegates Can Do
  • Consider car-pooling to the Conferences from local destinations.
  • Use appropriate recycling bins located through out the facility (readily available and clearly marked).
  • Let registration staff know if you are not able to attend some meal functions to avoid left-overs.
  • Take advantage of hotel linen re-use programs.
  • Turn hotel lights off and close drapes when not in your room.
  • Recycle or refuse morning newspaper delivery.
  • Make suggestions to us on other ways you would like to help.
What Exhibitors Can Do
  • Consider the use of public transportation or car-pooling to the conference from either the airport or local destinations.
  • Take advantage of hotel linen re-use programs.
  • Turn hotel lights off and close drapes when you are not in your room.
  • Use recycled or consumable products as giveaways when possible.
  • Do not use give away items made from endangered or threatened species.
  • Select decorations and display materials that can be re-used or consider donating these items to a local school or charity for use in craft projects.
  • Bring only what you need for the event and return un-used items for future shows.
  • Print collateral materials on double-sided, post-consumer recycled paper.
  • Use on-site recycling facilities for paper, cardboard, metals, glass, plastics and wood.
  • Re-use packing boxes and supplies where possible.
  • Share your environmental strategies with us!

 

 

 

Past Conference Reviews:

 

2008 Conference Review

 

2007 Conference Review