MeetGreen: Activating the future
Eric Wallinger, Director of Sustainability at MeetGreen, IMEX America’s sustainability consultant on three key areas of focus for event sustainability.
Since 2011, IMEX America has become a true fall tradition in our industry. Much like the season, it’s a time to reflect on the year gone by and collectively look ahead.
MeetGreen has been honored to have helped partner with and support IMEX America on its sustainable events journey for the past 15 years. In the spirit of this year’s Impact 2.0 IMEX Talking Point, we’re sharing three key areas we see as central to navigating the present and activating the future.
High ROI meetings—make your carbon count!
With over 31 years of data and footprint metrics from meetings and conventions, we know firsthand, the environmental impact our productions can carry. Emissions from air travel are significantly higher than any other source, which makes IMEX America's hosted buyer trade-show model a source of inspiration. While there’s no easy cure-all solution, organizations that reduce one-off travel and consolidate their business meetings, often achieve the highest return on carbon incurred, while also potentially lowering their emissions. In short, if we can’t fully eliminate event air travel, we can be more strategic and purposeful in our carbon choices.
Green can be green—less waste all around
While sustainability services can sometimes come with added costs, one of the most significant trends we’re seeing is the growing recognition of the link between financial and environmental savings. For example, eliminating aisle carpeting in a standard 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall could save a client approximately $200,000 in carpet-related costs and eliminate an estimated 15,000 pounds (7.5 tons) of carpet from being manufactured, transported, and potentially disposed of post-use. That’s a win for budget and planet.
Client advocacy—a key driver for sustainability in events
Since MeetGreen opened its doors in June 1994, we’ve witnessed tremendous change across the US and globally. We’ve navigated six presential administrations, countless economic cycles, pandemics and major shifts in environmental policy. External forces ebb and flow but the constant driver of change and innovation in sustainable events has been the power of the planner and client advocate.
Advocates like IMEX, lead within their industries, prioritize measurement and push the sustainability dial forward. They research and develop new initiatives to improve environmental performance and use their buying power to drive change with venues and vendors.
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