Have you thought about how you can make your next event or conference more green and environmentally friendly?

Our very own Amy Eddy offers these suggestions, based on her work with her clients, as well as planning her very own conference in Santa Barbara last year!

Ideas for your next event:

• Instead of providing paper coffee/plastic water cups, why not offer your venue’s ceramic mugs and water glasses.  
• Individual drink cans and bottles can be expenses, not to mention a large waste!  Have you thought about offering pitchers of water/ice tea/lemonade & glasses for your guests?
• Although may be an added cost, offering cloth napkins instead of paper napkins not only helps the environment, they also elevate your event.
• We’ve all sampled from the candy and mint jars hotels set out on their meeting room tables – instead of the individually wrapped candies, what about filling those bowls with bulk candies or snacks (with a scoop of course!) 
• When snack time rolls around, your guests are hungry!  Instead of those individual bags of chips or individually wrapped granola bars or yogurts at breaktime, try offering plates of veggies & hummus and fruit platters or a granola and yogurt bar
• Have your sponsors advertise on the big screen with compelling video content & QR codes instead of offering take-home trinkets
• Instead of one-time use ID lanyards, use repurposed materials to create name tags that are unique and reflect your event theme
• Gently remind your venue throughout the planning process that you intend to create less trash and offer zero single-use plastic items.  You may have to remind them several times, but it will be worth it in the end!

Cheers to continual improvement and helping our environment!