May 12, 2008

Green Meetings Don’t Have To Cost More Green

Corporate social responsibility mandates are one factor that is leading to more green, and, for planners, more complicated meetings, CNN reports.

Some planners are asking for locally grown or organic food, or energy efficient convention centers that take water conservation into account. Others are implementing tree planting to offset the carbon footprints of air travel.

Many meeting planners are finding that while some green meeting elements cost more, the increase in efficiency can offset the expense. Using common sense, like pitchers of water instead of individual bottles can offset the price of other things that might cost more. Disposable plastic dinnerware can cost more than compostable serving pieces, because the high price of petroleum has increased the cost of plastic.

Democrats are requiring that transportation firms competing to provide transportation for the Denver convention offer flex-fuel hybrid vehicles. The Republican National Committee is also planning to make its convention in the Twin Cities as energy-efficient as possible.

The EPA’s procurement staff is beginning to ask hotels and convention centers a list of green questions that it will consider when evaluating bids for EPA business.

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