Saving the Planet… in your slippers?
According to the EPA, the construction sector tops the list as the most wasteful industry in the U.S. Who follows closely behind? One would assume that either manufacturing or automobiles come in second. But to anyone who’s ever attended a conference, it’s not surprising to hear that it’s actually the trade show industry.
To their credit, event and meeting planners are trying their best to green the industry. Exhibitors are passing out biodegradable pens and recycled chotchkies. Planners are insisting on biodegradable paper cups to replace evil Styrofoam. Attendees are occasionally rushing the floor to collect free stress balls in re-usable cloth bags.
Question is, are these changes enough for the second-highest polluting industry in the country? And if not, what can the industry do?
When Unisfair hosts a virtual trade show, meeting or job fair online, there is a significant reduction in pollution. Sure, we may not be replacing traditional trade shows, but we are trying to show our clients what it feels like to throw an event that is, by all accounts, nearly waste free. Think about the last conference you attended or staffed. Would you really miss printing, distributing and tossing brochures? Do you actually wear those branded light-up lapel pins more than once? And really, are the overhead lights all that flattering?
So we’d miss the snacks, free happy hour wine, and morning donuts. And we’d definitely miss the promotional after-parties! But you’ve got to admit, there’s something pretty sweet about attending a conference while saving the world… all in your slippers.
