Green features of the conference include:
- Our Purpose
- Providing best practices and resources for career development and sustainable development
- Venue
- MassWildlife headquarters is a LEED-platinum building adjacent to a 1000-acre wildlife management area with fields, woodlands and hiking trails
- Food & Beverage
- Whole, local and/or organic, delicious, nutritious food
- Food Rescue
- Unserved food donated to a local shelter
- Zero Waste
- Food/paper waste composted
- Paper/cardboard recycled
- Dishware & Utensils
- No disposable plastics or styrofoam
- Bringing reusable bottles/mugs encouraged
- Reusable glasses provided as needed
- Minimal paper products (simple SFI certified plates, napkins) provided, one per person
- Reduced packaging – sugar and milk are served in bulk containers, and not individual packets.
- No bottled water; tap water only
- Food served on reusable trays
- Linens
- Washable table cloths for food tables
- Reduced materials/handouts
- Limiting handouts honors our environmental mission.
- No presenter handouts – Presentations posted on the website after the conference
- Sponsor materials are reusable posters & banners
- No paper pads, pens, or other freebies distributed
- Conference guide provided online. Some one-page, double-sided conference guides that are printed on recycled paper will be available
- NOTE1: About 100 sheets of paper were used for last year’s conference including the signage, handouts, printed guide and administration. Very good!
- NOTE2: The 2017 conference generated LESS than one pound of trash, one five-gallon bucket of compostable food and paper waste, and one pound of recyclable paper and cardboard.
- A/V
- State of the art screen/desktop, wireless mouse/keyboard, and travel drive
- No projectors or laptops needed (i.e. wireless rooms)
- Transportation
- Carpooling encouraged and assistance provided upon request
- The carbon offset for all building energy and transportation to and from both our annual conferences is a donation to a local Massachusetts environmental organization. Former recipients: Climate Action NOW, Green Marlborough, Home Energy Efficiency Team, Live Cooler, Mass Climate Action Network, Mass Green Network, Project Green Schools, and Toxics Action Center.
- Outcomes
- Connecting people and resources for career advancement and sustainable development
- Green event standards that set a good example for others