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Pushing the Boundaries:
Facilitation Frontiers
Charles Sturt University, Bathurst - New South Wales, Australia 26-28 November 2008
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The Conference seeks to be 'people centred - planet conscious'.
Our Sustainability policy (‘Lighten the Load’) focuses on reducing the environmental footprint of the event by:
For information about offsetting impacts which cannot be avoided, see Sustainability: Carbon Offset Program
- reducing impact of the event, with attention to:
- minimising waste through the 4R’s (refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle)
- reducing energy consumption
- reducing water consumption
- offsetting impacts which cannot be avoided, choosing options to maximise environmental gain
- educating about, in, and for, the environment and heritage during the event
- maximising beneficial impact beyond the event with a legacy of environmental improvement and awareness
In collaboration with Charles Sturt University, the Conference is employing the following strategies to ‘Lighten the Load’:
Conference organisation and management
Advance notice is provided to participants, presenters, sponsors and exhibitors about the policy to ‘Lighten the Load’ and about what this means in practice
Registration materials request that participants respect and assist to ‘Lighten the Load’ as appropriate.
Paper use is minimised through the use of the World Wide Web and e-mail to promote and organise the event, with printing and mailing a last resort.
Conference information is published on-line in preference to printed material.
Electronic registration is available to participants, presenters, sponsors and exhibitors.
Any printed material is provided on paper that is recyclable and has recycled content, printed double-sided wherever possible.
In seeking sponsorship, preference is given to sponsors and exhibitors who demonstrate positive environmental values and practices.
Offers are declined from entities which are associated with environmentally damaging or unsustainable practices.
Encouragement is given to exhibitors who offer environmentally appropriate technologies and materials.
For all goods procured for the event, preference is given to the most environmentally appropriate alternatives that are available at a reasonable price and are locally produced. This embodies a willingness to pay more for demonstrated environmental responsibility.
Items such as office supplies, goods provided by sponsors, gifts, etc. which remain after the event are used, and not discarded. This may involve donation to community groups and schools.
Educational efforts are undertaken as part of the event to make participants aware of environmental impacts.
Participants, presenters, sponsors and exhibitors are reminded of impact reduction measures and other environmental opportunities during the event.
The program includes information about local environmental issues.
The event evaluation includes provision for participants to comment on the environmentally-friendly practices of the event and provide suggestions for improvement.
The approach to ‘Lighten the Load’ will be documented to provide a record and guidelines for future events.
Venue
Participants are advised to bring their own satchel, encouraged by awards for the most venerable or exotic satchel associated with a facilitation conference.
Registration packages are provided in a reusable holder with all items made from environmentally sensitive materials.
Brochures and handouts are not automatically distributed in packages or in session rooms. Materials are available for collection, with any residue returned to the provider for re-use.
Presenters are requested to employ re-usable dry markers, erasable boards or blackboards, overheads, computer projectors and slides instead of new paper flip charts, wherever appropriate. If new paper flip charts are provided, they are made of recyclable material with recycled content.
Presenters are requested to make hand-outs and session notes available electronically through a sign-up sheet or collecting business cards for subsequent e-mailing.
Participants are asked to bring their own pens and note-paper. Additional pens and paper are provided on-site for those who forget or run out of supplies. These are made from environmentally sensitive materials.
Reusable name tag holders are provided and collected for re-use at the end of the event.
Placards and banners are reusable or made from recycled materials
Gifts for presenters are durable, minimally packaged and made from non-toxic materials
Exhibit components are reusable and, if practical, made from used or recycled materials.
Recycling and composting systems are in place throughout the venue, with convenient and well-marked receptacles.
For the duration of the event, the venue is supplied with 'green energy' from renewable sources.
To the greatest extent possible within the available infrastructure:
- Conference facilities and equipment items are managed to not use energy when not in use.
- Lighting levels are set to provide the minimum level necessary for comfort, safety and accessibility.
- Natural ventilation is preferred.
- Facilities are equipped with water-efficient devices e.g. tap and shower flow regulators, dual-flush toilets.
Food & Beverage
Disposable-free food and beverage services are used wherever possible.
Disposable dishes, cups, cutlery, straws, stir-sticks, etc. are avoided.
Single portion package items (tea, coffee, sugar etc.) and single-serve containers are avoided.
‘Food miles’ are reduced by purchasing from local suppliers wherever possible.
Food wastage is avoided by offering self-serve or pre-selected courses and meal sizes.
Surplus usable food is donated to charitable organisations where possible and permitted by local health regulations.
Inedible organic waste is composted.
In choosing decorations and display materials, preference is given to items which can be re-used. Used decorations may be donated to local schools or charitable organisations (as agreed prior to the event).
Accommodation
Participants are encouraged to take up accommodation which provides: recycling bins in accessible locations; optional sheet and towel replacement; soap and shampoo in dispensers rather than one-use disposable packaging; energy efficient lighting; and water efficient appliances.
Transport
Planning seeks to minimise impact of transport use (primarily from fossil fuel use and carbon emissions).
The venue has been chosen partly for its direct proximity to accommodation, with in-town alternative accommodation within reasonable walking distance of the campus.
Participants are encouraged to walk, pool vehicles or use public transport through provision of information and maps on the conference Web site.
Where appropriate, systems to facilitate car-pooling or provision of shuttle buses may be arranged to transport participants between the venue and the city commercial centre, airport or railway station, to avoid individual transport in taxis or rented cars.
Participants are provided with information and links to encourage them to offset the carbon emissions of their travel to and from the conference. See Sustainability: Carbon Offset Program
Activities
Optional activities are available which connect participants to aspects of the natural environment with minimal impact.
Other optional activities are intended to leave a positive environmental legacy beyond the time of the event through the propagation of native trees and shrubs for carbon offsets and habitat restoration.