RBA Green Tool Kit: Waste Reduction & Recycling

Anyone who has ever organized a conference or meeting knows the monetary and environmental costs involved in such an undertaking.  Whether there are 10 attendees or 100, there are many ways to lessen the impacts of these costs.  The information provided below will offer ideas for you to implement for your meetings.

 

Learn How to Plan Green Meetings/Conferences

The Green Meeting Industry Council promotes green practices globally by offering educational programs in the form of training workshops and online resources. The Council is in the process of partnering with educational institutions to develop an accredited curriculum at the university level for green meetings.

 

EPA Information on Green meetings

Whether you are a meeting host, planner or service supplier, you can use this site to find the tips, tools and resources to make environmentally responsible choices.

 

Convention Industry Report

Guide to larger convention preparation to create Green Events.

 

National Recycling Coalition

Guide to all aspects of hosting green meetings

 

Green Council Member Contribution: Mina Malin, CMP, CMM, CFCS
President & Founder, Mina Malin Consulting Group, Inc.
mina@minamalin.com
www.minamalin.com
office# 845-639-0670 / cell# 845-608-2808

According to the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, sustainable packaging has to meet several criteria and address broad sustainability objectives with business considerations and strategies that address the environmental concerns related to the life cycle of packaging:

• It must be beneficial, safe and healthy for individuals and communities throughout its lifecycle;
• It must meet market criteria for performance and cost
• It is sourced, manufactured, transported and recycled using renewable energy
• It maximizes the use of renewable or recycled source materials
• Is manufactured using clean production technologies and best practices
• Is made from material healthy in all probable end of life scenarios
• Is physically designed to optimize materials and energy
• Is effectively recovered and utilized in biological and/or industrial cradle or crude cycles.

Resources / Articles:

• Sustainable Packaging Coalition
• Green Blue, a non profit institute that promotes green design principles
• McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry
• Design News: Engineering Green Packaging
• The move toward sustainable packaging will usher in material, design and machinery changes
• New Report Examines the Green Packaging Market in the U.S.
  

Green Council Member Contribution: Jessica Guilfoyle, Group M, jessica.guilfoyle@groupm.org

There are several practices that can be implemented to be considered a green printer. Because there are so many opportunities for commercial printers and sign shops to improve upon traditional printing practices, below is a short list of things to look for or ask about when investigating different printing operations with regard to their commitment to the environment. Other more involved considerations include targeted marketing for direct mail campaigns, water conservation/reduction programs, green HVAC designs, use of chemical free printing plates and a host of alternative energy options.

• Print operations should first comply with all local environmental regulations, then adopt
  pollution prevention and resource conservation practices
• Computerized pre-press operations: eliminates or reduces chemical use and saves water and energy
• Established solvent recycling program: reduces air pollution
• Use alcohol free printing: improves air quality for workers' health and safety and reduces
  chemical use
• Use of high-content recycled and 'tree-less' papers: saves trees and water; encourage
  agricultural development and keeps paper out of landfills
• Use low VOC or vegetable based inks: reduces air pollution and improved workers' health and safety
• Use and promotion of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) paper, which supports responsible
  conservation of the forests
• Sequence jobs by ink color: saves on ink waste
• Use energy efficient equipment: printing equipment manufactured today is far more energy
  efficient than even five years ago
• Implementation of workflow software: current software solutions available to the print
  industry eliminate the need for paper proofs utilizing color calibrated monitors and the internet to approve jobs before printing. This saves paper, ink, water, energy and labor costs
• Increased use of electronic media for quick messages or announcements such as e-blasts:
  saves paper, ink, water and energy

Resources / Articles:

• Sustainable Forestry Initiative®
• Becoming a Green Printer
• Opportunity Green
• Green Options - Heidi Tolliver-Nigro
• IPA - Neenah updates ENVIRONMENT Papers swatchbook
• SustainCommWorld - Conference & newsletter signup
• Green Printer Blog

Green Council Member Contribution: Jessica Guilfoyle, Group M, jessica.guilfoyle@groupm.org

Wireless phones and other small electronic hand held devices like beepers and PDAs are recyclable; as are their battery chargers and accessories. By properly disposing of these items, you can help the environment, help a charity and in some cases, get cash. Recycling can be done through drop off sites, mail back programs, the internet and charitable donation. There are several organizations and web sites that can help you through the process. All you have to do is terminate the service, clear the memory and in some cases take out the SIM card.

 

Resources / Articles:

• Wireless: The New Recyclable™
• Recycle My Cell Phone
• Wireless Recycling
• Cell Phones for Soldiers
• American Cell Phone Drive
• Recycling for Charities
  

Green Council Member Contribution: Jessica Guilfoyle, Group M, jessica.guilfoyle@groupm.org

Almost all of the document printing equipment an office environment uses plastic and metal cartridges that hold liquid ink or fine powdered toner to get an image onto paper. All of these cartridges can be refilled and reused instead being thrown away. There are several companies that provide services for consumers and businesses with an alternative to reduce the impact of millions of cartridges that are thrown away that end up in landfills each year. By making this choice, you are helping to protect the future of our environment. This proactive solution to waste reduction is a win/win for consumers, entrepreneurs and the environment.

 

Resources / Articles:

• Ink and Toner collection company
• Cartridge World recycling and refilling
• Fundraising solutions with cartridge collecting

Green Council Member Contribution: Jessica Guilfoyle, Group M, jessica.guilfoyle@groupm.org