All I Really Need to Know about Green Meetings I Learned from Fatherhood

I am a proud father of two beautiful girls; Emily age 4 and Leah 8 weeks.  I am also a proud member of the Green Meeting Industry Council and currently a founding member and Co-Chair of the Programs Committee for GMIC – Colorado Chapter.  As my life evolved deeper into fatherhood and into green meetings – I started to notice some quirky parallels between the accidental lessons in sustainability through parenting and the green meetings movement.  So by now I trust all have been inundated with “Green Meeting Lists” but trust me – the below is not certified or standardized by the EPA, APEX or LEED, just some thoughts by a blurry eyed and sleep deprived dad in the meetings industry learning how to survive with two girls (and the wife) in the house.

1. Hand-me downs (internal) – items reused from sibling to sibling:  clothing, car seats, toys, etc.  Stinks no doubt for kiddo #2 and beyond but good for sustainability and costs.  Green Meeting Reference:  reusing left over conference bags, signage, décor, centerpieces, name badges, etc. for next year’s annual or other one-off meetings.
2. Hand-me downs (external) – items donated from friends and family with kids: strollers, bouncy chairs, pac-n-plays, swings…you name it.  All of these necessities are scattered throughout our house and again offer huge cost savings.  Green Meeting Reference:  donating left over conference bags, signage, décor, centerpieces, name badges, etc. to another Association or an organization in need such as a youth shelter, local school or boys and girls club.
3. Reusable Baby Bottles –whether for formula or mom’s magic those baby bottles get reused again and again.  Green Meeting Reference:  Reusable Water Bottles – dump the need for plastic bottle water and offer attendees a conference take away while reducing your footprint.
4. Carpooling – what kiddo under 16 doesn’t carpool?  Think about it.  Green Meeting Reference:  Implement a ride-share program (especially for regional meetings) or guide/encourage attendees to utilize public transportation in the city of your conference.
5. Craft Projects – think milk carton birdhouse or paper towel tube telescope.  Stimulates creativity and beats the TV babysitter.  Green Meeting Reference:  Repurpose meeting materials by donating banners, conference bags, signage, décor, exhibitor tchochkies to organizations that repurpose these items like R.A.F.T. (Resource Area for Teaching ) http://www.raft.net/. One visit to an operation like this and you’ll see how green meetings can transfer outside the industry and into your local community.
6. Kid’s Meals – offered at almost every restaurant with smaller portions, limited menus at a value price.  Green Meeting Reference:  be vigilant on setting your guarantees and order sensible, portion controlled, plated meals.  No need to SUPERSIZE or go for the Renaissance Festival Buffet – this will save in wasted food and costs.  Banquet and Catering departments could reduce waste and their food distribution cost/footprint by creating “best of show” menus.
7. Home Gardening – although success rate might be low, food from the garden is “delish”.  Not to mention a good (OK –dirty) way to get the kids outside and a nice way to teach responsibility (somebody has to water right?)  Green Meeting Reference:  Easy – when creating your menus, think local and organic.
8. Wishing Well / Water fountain – ever walk by a water fountain feature with your kid…bet you’re diving into your pocket for some spare change.  And with every penny cast, a wish comes true (in theory).  Granted, some “wells” are self-serving but many donate contributions to a charity.  Green Meeting Reference:   Part of a sustainable meeting or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is giving back to the community, creating a legacy and leaving the host city a better place.  Charity events should be coordinated to not only do good, but offer an emotional return to the participant.
9. Stroller Walk – what better way to sooth a crying baby than taking a walk with the stroller (OK, punkin’ seat on dryer works too) and burning some carbs?  Green Meeting Reference:  A trendy market niche is LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability) so to appeal to this attendee type, incorporate a healthy twist into your conference program…perhaps this is an organized fun-run, providing walking/running maps in the conference area or encouraging attendees to walk to/from their hotels to the convention center.
10. Ice Cream Cone –What a great concept this is; a container that actually can be consumed with no waste!  And what better treat for a kid than an ice cream cone in the dog days of summer.  Green Meeting Reference:  I am not suggesting you provide edible conference bags, but do look into bags made from sustainable materials or go without conference bags (do you dare?).  Consider a meeting without the “paper program”, offer speaker presentations on-line, post-event rather than giving wasteful handouts.  For “to go” meals, offer reusable lunch bags instead of paper boxes. Or do you we really need a paper sleeve for our hotel room key?

Ultimately, as a father, my real hope is to leave the future brighter and the world a better place for my daughters – and isn’t that what sustainability is all about?  Now, off to squeeze in a nap before the next diaper change or game of Candyland.

Keep it Green!

Mike Smith, CMP

This is the first in a two-part series from Mike on Greening for Meetings.  Next week we will feature an interview with the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, with some insights from the hotel perspective.