Think Green and read off the screen GOLD COAST CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE GREEN EVENT GUIDE

Think Green and read off the screen GOLD COAST CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE GREEN EVENT GUIDE

Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) Green Event Guide Sustainability is not just something we should practice every now and then, or only when we are at home or in our offices. Living sustainably is not just an occasional habit but a lifestyle that is ingrained into our daily actions. As sustainability has gathered momentum in the events community with clients becoming more aware of the environmental impacts created by their conventions and exhibitions, the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) has committed to not only leading industry towards a greener way of conducting events, but also adhering to the best environmental practices for venues. That s why we ve put together the Green Event Guide to help our clients lower the carbon footprint of their event or simply become more aware of green industry practices. GCCEC s Green Event Guide illustrates that planning a green event doesn t need to be complex or expensive in fact sometimes it s the most simple and inexpensive initiatives that help to not only reduce costs but also boost the morale of the client and enhance the reputation of the company.

Holding a Green Event doesn t need to be difficult or complicated in fact GCCEC already has a range of best practices set in place that will automatically make your event greener simply by holding it at the Centre: GCCEC has worked with local suppliers to change the way goods are being packaged and delivered. Most suppliers are now using cardboard boxes that are recycled onsite. Installation of new external and stair tread LED lights have cut usage from 18W per unit to 3W per unit. The Centre uses 100% recycled paper throughout all printers and faxes. Leftover packaged foods are donated to local food banks. GCCEC is located walking distance from more than 1,600 accommodation rooms. Taps throughout the Centre are fitted with flow restriction devices and water sensors are installed through all the bathrooms resulting in a reduction of water use from approximately 30 litres per minute to six litres per minute. Light sensors are installed throughout public restrooms. Menus consist of 85% locally grown and organic ingredients. All used printer cartridges and toners are recycled through Australia Post and Planet Ark. Being green doesn t just end at a series of guidelines written for clients, but is ingrained into the corporate culture of the GCCEC, allowing us to truly operate on a greener level.

Why hold a Green Event? There are many advantages of holding a green event, both for the organisation involved and the environment. A few of the major benefits include saving resources and reducing waste, enhancing the transparency of the client s company and boosting the morale of delegates. Some of the many others include: Cutting back costs Something as simple as eliminating paper or opting for local produce can cut back on the costs of your event. Excelling benchmark practices; enhancing brand and reputation As clients become more aware of the effects of their actions on the environment, they come to expect a certain benchmark of eco friendly performance. Holding a green event will not only enhance brand and reputation, but meet and excel the expectations widely accepted as standard practice. Encouraging market transformation The Centre works closely with its suppliers to reduce their environmental footprint, encouraging the development of sustainable industries. Hosting a sustainable event encourages market transformation and inspires other companies to implement similar practices. And last but not least, you are helping the planet.

Your quick Green checklists A green event is not always easy to visualise. The following green checklists suggest ways to reduce the environmental footprint of your event through simple steps. Event Production o Limit the number of disposable and non recycled products sourced as part of the event. o Choose locally sourced materials contained in minimal packaging. o Choose infrastructure that can be reused / recycled post event. o Use reclaimed materials and vintage items where possible. o Choose organic centerpieces such as flowers or fruit, or centerpieces that can be reused. Communications and Marketing o Choose green printing and design suppliers (recycled stationary and paper, vegetable inks and double sided printing). o Avoid metallic ink, varnishes and lamination as these products cannot be recycled. Limit or avoid using glossy paper which is harder to recycle. Did you know... Vegetable ink, an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum based ink, is made from a variety of vegetable oils such as corn, walnut, coconut, linseed, canola and soy bean. Vegetable inks take longer to dry, but unlike petroleum the oil they are derived from are renewable resources making it easier to recycle.

Your quick Green checklists Communications and Marketing o Assess if promotional materials such as banners and posters can be reused from previous years. o Check the environmental credentials of preferred suppliers. o Encourage delegates to register and access event information online. o Send event confirmations electronically unless requested otherwise. o Ensure your event communication includes a green message reminding people to think before printing. o Consider podcasting the event to reduce softcopy notes. o If printing, choose recycled content paper containing post consumer fibres and ensure all printed conference material is double sided. o Recycle any communication materials including name badges where possible. GCCEC will provide recycling facilities at your next event. Did you know... Each year Australians consume approximately 1.7 million tonnes of printing and writing paper, the equivalent to tens of millions of trees. By using recovered fibres, recycled content paper can help lower the quantity of paper disposed to landfill and consequently reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as methane. The manufacture of recycled content paper also consumes significantly less energy and water as compared to the manufacture of paper from virgin fibres^. ^Information sourced from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage

Your quick Green checklists Food and Beverage GCCEC requires attendance numbers confirmed two weeks before the event as part of catering requirements. This is also a major contributor in helping reduce food waste. The Centre s menus consist of 85% locally sourced products and vegetarian and vegan meal selections are available as greener options requiring less energy input as compared to livestock farming. Exhibitors and Exhibits o Ensure exhibits are made from recycled materials. The Centre works with preferred exhibitor suppliers who use environmentally friendly materials. o Promote the green considerations of the event to exhibitors. Accommodation o Encourage delegates to select local accommodation GCCEC is located within walking distance of 1600 accommodation rooms. o Ask delegates to reuse towels and linens in their hotel rooms, and to turn off lights upon exit. Travel and Transport o Promote carbon offsetting to delegates who are flying. Optional voluntary carbon offset costs a small fee when booking flights. o If delegates are hiring a car encourage them to choose a model that has good fuel economy. Most major hire companies now offer high efficiency and/or hybrid car options. o Promote mass transportation and car pooling options before and during the event. o Consider video conferencing options for those delegates who cannot travel to the event.

Your quick Green checklists IT o Advise delegates to enable sleep mode on laptops and any other equipment at the event. o If purchasing electrical equipment opt for products displaying a higher Energy Star rating. o Consider hiring reconditioned laptops to reduce costs and waste. o Ensure any electronic waste (including print cartridges) from the event is recycled. A number of companies will recycle computer waste for free. Gifts and delegate conference materials o Opt for eco friendly, biodegradable, recycled products such as organic and/or carbon neutral food and wine. o Choose locally crafted organic gifts over those made from synthetic materials. o Avoid using wrapping paper with foil, glitter or cellophane as these materials can t be recycled. o Consider gift certificates to reduce the risk of unwanted gifts. o Offer conference materials as individual optional items to reduce consumption. Leftover or unwanted conference materials such as satchels and pads can be donated to underprivileged schools or shelters. Tip: Instead of a synthetic gift, why not choose an eco friendly one? For local, interstate and international events, a number of companies are offering environmentally friendly gift ideas made from recycled materials.

Three Easy Steps to a Greener Event As this guide has illustrated, holding a green event doesn t need to be complex or expensive to be effective. The following three easy steps can help you walk a little greener, illustrating the carbon saving as a result of each step. 1. Choose from local accommodation houses within walking distance to the event 500 delegates each cutting back on 5km of car travel over a three day conference is 857kg CO 2 e (carbon dioxide emissions) in savings, the equivalent of a car driving from Melbourne to Townsville. 2. Use online registration as an alternative to paper The use of online registration by 500 delegates saving 500 sheets of paper is the equivalent of 3.8kg CO 2 e, or a 20W light bulb running for over 200 hours. 3. Reduce conference materials distributed at the event Conference packs containing promotional materials, pens, pads and brochures often have a short life span and are not wanted by all event participants. Cutting back conference packs typically containing a satchel, pad, brochure and a CD by 50 per cent for 500 delegates is the equivalent of 232kg CO 2 e, or a fully laden articulated truck travelling for 125 kilometres. * All calculations are based on a three day conference for 500 delegates. Equivalent carbon dioxide emissions (CO 2 e) for the three scenarios have been calculated by Life Cycle Strategies and are accurate as of April 2011.

Further information: For further information about how to make your event more environmentally sustainable we have listed some recommended websites: o The Green Pages: Green directory and news source listing upcoming green events, green products and various other green related information. www.thegreenpages.com.au o David Suzuki Foundation How to Host a Sustainable, Carbon Neutral Conference or other Event: Play a positive role by making a large event low carbon or even carbon neutral. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what you can do/reduce yourcarbon footprint/how to host a sustainable carbon neutral conference or otherevent/ o Sustainable Events Planner: A helpful bridge between event organisers' lingo and sustainability speak. Provides helpful directions to products and services providers to make an event more sustainable, and connects the event planner with experts to discuss and answer queries. http://www.slf.org.au/eventplanner/ o Australian Green Directory: Latest news, information, products and services relating to all things green. Allows users to access some of Australia s leading suppliers of green products and services on both a local and national scale. www.green.com.au