EuroMEEting - Genetic Alliance UK
EuroMEEting - Genetic Alliance UK
EuroMEEting - Genetic Alliance UK
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GREENING THE EUROMEETING<br />
15<br />
GREENING THE EUROMEETING<br />
TOWARDS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CONFERENCE<br />
Geneva is a city which takes its responsibility for the environment seriously, from<br />
renewable energy production to its efficient public transport system. This commitment<br />
to the environment extends to the Palexpo Convention Centre who share the DIA’s<br />
commitment to an environmentally-friendly EuroMeeting. Waste recycling for some<br />
events at Palexpo has now reached levels of nearly 80%. Other measures include the<br />
provision of all of Palexpo’s energy needs by hydro-electric power and/or solar panels<br />
on the roof of one of the halls and an electrical charge port for two-wheel vehicles in the<br />
parking area which may be used free of charge.<br />
Using practical, innovative, and often very simple measures, the EuroMeeting’s carbon<br />
footprint has been successfully reduced. We will be practicing the 3Rs in Geneva: Reduce,<br />
Recycle and Reuse.<br />
We will offer you an environmentally-friendly conference bag when you collect your<br />
badge (which of course, we will recycle at the end of the meeting if you return it to us).<br />
Recycling bins will be placed throughout the building. The meeting will be paperless<br />
wherever possible, and all EuroMeeting publications will be printed on FSC-certified<br />
paper, which means that they are sourced from well-managed forests and recycled wood.<br />
Working with exhibitors is an important part of the EuroMeeting, and we look forward to a successful partnership in 2011. The Greenest Exhibitor Award,<br />
now in its third year, aims to raise the awareness of exhibitors of this growing movement in the conference and exhibitions industry. We make it easy<br />
for exhibitors to recycle. Additionally, we ensure that stand carpets, for example, are recycled for use in other products such as pots and containers, and<br />
untreated wood is compacted, to be reused as medium-density fibreboard panels used by furniture manufacturers.<br />
The European office members will travel to the 2011 EuroMeeting by train. DIA will offset the air miles of other staff travelling to the EuroMeeting<br />
with a Swiss non-profit foundation, "myclimate" – The Climate Protection Partnership (www.myclimate.org), and we encourage all our participants and<br />
exhibitors to support our greening initiative by considering offsetting their miles. All participants will receive a free Geneva public transport card when<br />
checking in at their hotels. This promotion of public transportation helps to reduce congestion as well as pollution.<br />
We commit to not using disposable cups, plates or cutlery. There will be water coolers throughout the building, reducing the need for individual bottles of<br />
water. Locally grown food will be used wherever possible with participants able to eat healthily as low down the food chain as possible, with vegetarian<br />
options on offer.<br />
If you have any suggestions or creative ideas on how we could do more, please contact Dermot Ryan, EuroMeeting Manager at<br />
dermot.ryan@diaeurope.org.