Eliminating Single-use Plastics From A Conference

After creating a near plastic-free annual conference, the Australian Marine Sciences Association and event management organization Encanta created a tip sheet for other groups hoping to reduce the use of plastics at their meetings. In the tip sheet here, the AMSA and Encata share what they did, what they missed, what they learned, and what challenges remain. Convene is reprinting it here with permission. Read the full report at The Conversation.

What we did:

• Chose a like-minded event organiser who was willing to help source plastic-free solutions
• Advertising was done electronically, and we used cork coasters and small cardboard flyers at other conferences
• Stiff cardboard name badges with no plastic pockets
• Bamboo lanyards with metal clips (for name badges)
• 100% jute/cotton conference bags (can be repurposed as a shopping bag)
• No printed envelopes for registration packs
• Option to pre-purchase a KeepCup with an AMSA logo
• Espresso coffee carts with returnable Go2Cups (washed and returned fresh each day).
• Provided water jugs with glassware (or to refill personal water bottles)
• No packaged mints or lollies, plastic pens
• Provided sustainably sourced pencils and sharpening stations
• No printed abstracts (All abstracts were available online to delegates)
• Printed pocket program for daily use
• All required printing was done by The Big Picture Factory who use a solar powered printer and purchase sustainably sourced paper
• Delegates were provided with plates/silverware/glassware at meal times
• Vegetarian morning and afternoon tea catering breaks, whole fruit on some days
• All exhibitors, workshop organisers and additional functions, such as the student night and public lecture, were committed to reducing plastic waste for ‘free giveaway’ products and catering
• Delegates were asked to bring their own reusable water bottles and coffee cups
• Video projections were used for branding, conference dinner ‘underwater theme’
• Dates were omitted from new banners for reuse at subsequent events
• Non-plastic presents/wrapping used as gifts to plenary speakers

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