Hosting More Sustainable Events Zina Murray February 2, 2010

What is sustainability? Dictionary Dictionary To maintain; to keep in existence To maintain; to keep in existence To strengthen the spirits, to comfort To strengthen the spirits, to comfort LSK meaning LSK meaning Environmental – responsible use of resources Environmental – responsible use of resources Economic – strong, independent Economic – strong, independent Social – just, fair, transparent Social – just, fair, transparent

How Green is your Client? Don’t care Don’t care Green fatigue Green fatigue Only the pretty, please Only the pretty, please Talking, dollars not walking Talking, dollars not walking Committed, checkbook in hand Committed, checkbook in hand

Sustainable Decisions Always trade-off’s Always trade-off’s Make less harmful decisions Make less harmful decisions Goals Goals Small in number Small in number Simple, low tech Simple, low tech Your business vs. your clients’ Your business vs. your clients’ Capture performance Capture performance

Keep it Simple Transportation Transportation Venues Venues Waste Waste Food - Spirits Food - Spirits Water Water Flowers Flowers

Transportation Transportation is a top greenhouse gas creator in total event footprint Transportation is a top greenhouse gas creator in total event footprint Reduce air travel, total vehicle miles Reduce air travel, total vehicle miles Guests and goods Guests and goods Creative transportation Creative transportation Eco-friendly vehicles Eco-friendly vehicles Chicago: Chicago: Bike messengers with trailers Bike messengers with trailers

Venues Chicagoland greenhouse gases: Chicagoland greenhouse gases: 70% buildings 70% buildings 20% transportation 20% transportation 10% industry/other 10% industry/other LEED LEED Leadership Energy Environmental Design Leadership Energy Environmental Design US Gov’t certification, like ‘organic’ food US Gov’t certification, like ‘organic’ food

LEED Venues LEED provides independent certification LEED provides independent certification Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum Minimum performance requirements Minimum performance requirements Recycling Recycling Energy efficiency Energy efficiency

Chicago LEED Venues Google - Illinois LEED Projects Google - Illinois LEED Projects Examples Examples Chicago Public Library, Notebart Nature Museum Chicago Public Library, Notebart Nature Museum Province Restaurant in CTA bldg Province Restaurant in CTA bldg Hotel Arista – Naperville Hotel Arista – Naperville 111 S. Wacker Dr., ABN-Amro Plaza 111 S. Wacker Dr., ABN-Amro Plaza

Non-LEED Venues Transportation impact Transportation impact Venue & transport are biggest footprints Venue & transport are biggest footprints Not LEED, but green warriors Not LEED, but green warriors Uncommon Ground, North Pond Cafe Uncommon Ground, North Pond Cafe Check sustainable features Check sustainable features Recycling Recycling Energy efficiency Energy efficiency Water conservation Water conservation

Questions?

Waste Source: Greenpeace

Waste

Waste Reduce or Eliminate 400 pounds waste for average wedding 400 pounds waste for average wedding 1.5 pounds food waste for each restaurant meal served 1.5 pounds food waste for each restaurant meal served Bottled water, any plastic Bottled water, any plastic Eliminate one-time use items Eliminate one-time use items Reuse Reuse Rent tableware, vases, linens Rent tableware, vases, linens Transportation impact much less than disposables impact Transportation impact much less than disposables impact Use recycled/compostable disposables Use recycled/compostable disposables Recycle Recycle Recycled goods have 50% smaller footprint than items made from virgin materials ( Recycled goods have 50% smaller footprint than items made from virgin materials (

Food Illinois imports 90% of its food Illinois imports 90% of its food Export $48B annually Export $48B annually Sourcing local food locally: Sourcing local food locally: keeps money recycling in our economy keeps money recycling in our economy creates more diverse local food system creates more diverse local food system makes us more secure in emergencies makes us more secure in emergencies

Food Bids from sustainable caterers Bids from sustainable caterers Free consultants Free consultants Relationships with local producers Relationships with local producers LSK recommends LSK recommends City Provisions City Provisions FIG Catering FIG Catering Lula Café Lula Café North Pond Cafe North Pond Cafe Uncommon Ground Uncommon Ground

Shedd Wallet Card

Spirits Koval Distillery – Ravenswood Koval Distillery – Ravenswood organic & kosher spirits organic & kosher spirits Northshore Distillery – Lake Bluff Northshore Distillery – Lake Bluff Death’s Door Spirits – Madison Death’s Door Spirits – Madison Illinois Craft Brewers Guild Illinois Craft Brewers Guild Illinoisbeer.org Illinoisbeer.org

Water 3 rd largest industry worldwide 3 rd largest industry worldwide Topped by oil and electricity Topped by oil and electricity 20% of world’s fresh water in Great Lakes 20% of world’s fresh water in Great Lakes Only replace 1% annually Only replace 1% annually Water shortages expected to escalate Water shortages expected to escalate

Making food with water Source: Water Education Foundation

Flowers Pollen - Lynn Fosbender Pollen - Lynn Fosbender Most flowers imported Most flowers imported Big transportation footprint Big transportation footprint Poor worker conditions Poor worker conditions 3 rd Party Certification – VeriFlora 3 rd Party Certification – VeriFlora Plant rental firms have short-term options Plant rental firms have short-term options

Event Plan Strategies Round I Round I Consider local vendors consistently Consider local vendors consistently Eliminate plastic Eliminate plastic Choose sustainable seafood Choose sustainable seafood Round II Round II Use biodegradable disposables Use biodegradable disposables Pressure venues/transport firms for eco-options Pressure venues/transport firms for eco-options Round III Round III Set measurable goals per event Set measurable goals per event Measure and report performance Measure and report performance

Question…please!