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Green Meetings Checklist

5 Easy Ways to Go Green

The biggest buzzword in Denver event-planning these days is green, which can include everything from finding ways to recycle the waste you produce to offsetting your carbon footprint. If you're not sure where to start planning a green meeting in Denver, here are five easy ways to reduce your impact:

  1. Shun Styrofoam – Request real china, flatware and linens when booking your event or caterer to generate less trash. If disposable products cannot be avoided, use biodegradable materials including paper, bamboo and corn-based plastics.
  2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Reduce: Be sure to order only the amount of food, printed materials and other giveaways that you actually need to reduce waste. Reuse: Use live, potted plants for décor instead of cut flowers and reuse them in your office, as giveaways or as prizes or gifts. Also, ask your food provider if they have a donation program for any excess food. Recycle: Ask your venue to provide recycling bins for paper, metals, plastics and glass as well as compost bins for organic waste.
  3. Bulk Up – Ask your food and beverage providers to serve sugar, cream and other condiments in bulk. Instead of water bottles and other single-serve beverages, serve drinks from pitchers and carafes.
  4. Be a Paper Pusher – Consider using chlorine-free, recycled paper and vegetable-based inks for your printed materials. Print on both sides of the paper whenever possible, and print only the minimum number of copies. Use technology whenever possible to reduce paper, including online registration and confirmation, digital meeting notes and minutes, and webcasting or video streaming. Remember to place paper-recycling bins at convenient places for your guests.
  5. Spread the Word – Environmental consciousness is contagious! Establish environmental standards and goals within your group and then promote them with anyone and everyone involved. Discuss your goals with all your vendors and ask if they have any suggestions. These might include moderating the air conditioning or heating and lights to save energy, donation programs, or many other green ideas.
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