Sustainability

MPI’s Commitment to Sustainability

MPI has made the following commitment to sustainability and to sustainable events:

We recognize the immense potential impact our actions have on the communities in which we do business and make a deliberate commitment to the transformational power of meetings and events to support environmental, economic and social sustainability.

We will establish leadership and demonstrate commitment in the area of sustainable meetings by including environmental, economic and social factors in decisions we make on behalf of our members, and by making the best use of resources for maximum impact and alignment with our objectives.

We will educate and inform our members about our actions. We are committed to building our brand, supporting our mission and vision, and connecting our community in a sustainable way.

MPI WEC 2010 Sustainability Objectives

For more resources on sustainable events, click here.

Help us Identify Sustainability Issues in Vancouver–Participate!

As part of MPI’s ongoing commitment to sustainability at our events and continuing certification under the BS 8901 Sustainable Event Management System (launching as ISO20121, in 2012) we’d like to ask you to kindly give three minutes of your time to fill out these four questions on sustainability at WEC in Vancouver to help us define the key issues surround the event.

OPEN SURVEY

WHY?

A key aspect of the application of BS8901 is the engagement of stakeholders and ensuring collaboration in the definition of MPI’s sustainable event objectives and KPIs for WEC. As a one of our key stakeholders we’re taking this opportunity to reach out and inform you what we are doing, seek your guidance and knowledge as a stakeholder in the event and ensure that we leave no stone unturned in our search for sustainability.

Sustainability is not something we can achieve alone. It’s something we need to do together! Thanks for taking your time to be a part of this process.

British Standard 8901 for Sustainable Event Management

We have incorporated the principles of the first sustainable event standard, British Standard 8901, into how we work. This includes planning for the event, implementation of the event on-site, and a post-event review process that allows us to learn from our successes and challenges and incorporate changes into our next event. For a BS 8901 case study on the first MPI event to attain third-party certification, please click here. For more sustainability case studies of our past events, please click here.

Community Projects during WEC

This year, MPI is proud to announce our largest ever community project offering with four activities that allow as many people to participate as possible, make your choice or consider taking part in them all! All four projects are bringing fantastic benefits to the local community and we’ve designed the programs to make them as accessible to attendees as possible.

Union Gospel Mission Donation

Like most major cities, Vancouver has people on the street in need, some homeless some struggling with addictions. On behalf of all MPI WEC delegates visiting Vancouver, the MPI Local Host Committee has made a donation to the Union Gospel Mission, 616 E. Cordova Street. Union Gospel Mission provides meals as well as emergency shelter and clothing to those in need in downtown Vancouver. We wanted you to be aware of this during your visit.

Dress for Success

Help directly benefit the disadvantaged in Vancouver by participating in our clothes drive, just bring an item(s) of unwanted clothing from yourself or a family member to help women into employment.

Dress for Success® Vancouver is a registered Canadian Charity that helps low and no income women to transition into the workforce by providing professional attire. Each Dress for Success client receives a suit for her interviews and a small working wardrobe when she gets her job. The suits we give symbolize our faith in every woman's ability to succeed. The Dress for Success Vancouver Professional Women's Group program then provides ongoing support to help the client build a successful career. Former clients who have successfully returned to the workforce become members who meet monthly for a networking and education program. Monthly meetings focus on subjects such as the written and unwritten rules of the workplace, personal finance, communications and personal health.

Bring your gently used women’s business clothing, shoes and/or accessories to Vancouver! Every woman probably has something in their closet that can be donated to a woman in need. Who doesn’t have a suit in their closet that just doesn’t fit or maybe isn’t the right color? Or perhaps you are shoe diva who has a pair of great heels that were only worn once. What about that necklace or earring set you bought but just don’t wear anymore?

Men, we haven’t forgotten you! Most men can ask a spouse, friend or significant other if they have something to donate. Or, buy something new to help women transition into the work force.

Have something in mind? Pack it in your suitcase and bring it to the Convention Centre on Sunday and drop off your items in the Global Village. Or, take The Dress for Success drop off area will be open throughout WEC.

Dress for Success is always in need of the following good condition items:

Business suits (no more than 3 years old please)
Purses, business cases and umbrellas.
Outerwear (long and ¾ length coats – any season)
Tailored separates: jackets, pants and skirts
Blouses and tops (simple neck and shoulder lines, that will fit neatly under a jacket)
Conservative accessories: scarves, belts, and jewelry
Quality footwear that has hardly been worn
They are also delighted to accept unopened pantyhose, lingerie and grooming supplies.

Unfortunately, due to time and space restrictions, as well as the volunteer workload; they cannot accept shorts/jeans/t-shirts or any other casual wear, nor can they take eveningwear or items which are dated, soiled or need repair.

Different By Nature Community Service Project
Presented by: Salt Lake CVB

This community service project is another great opportunity to have a meaningful and positive impact on the local community and environment by going out and physically restoring Salmon habitats. This project is valuable for MPI and WEC attendees because it addresses an issue that has an impact on the environment, local culture, and the British Columbia meetings industry. Preserving wild salmon habitats is important for the local meetings industry. Not only is salmon a local food source, increasing environmental awareness has made local wild salmon highly sought by planners, delegates and visitors. For many, salmon is part of the experience of having a meeting in BC.

The Issue
Stream ecosystems are complex interactions among plants, animals, and their physical environment. Urban forest management has removed some of the vegetation needed to provide protection for salmon bearing streams - impacting the long-term sustainability of this west coast species.

The Activities
Working stream side in one of North Vancouver's forest parks, WEC attendees will be involved in various activities such as replacing invasive plants with native plants that provide critical shade, shelter and protection from erosion. We will be shown how to survey the area and identify species.

About Pacific Streamkeepers
This not-for-profit society is dedicated to training and supporting the volunteers required to protect and restore local aquatic habitat. They also provide education on the importance of watershed resources and encourage communication and cooperation in watershed management. For more information please go to: http://www.pskf.ca/index.html

Pacific Assistance Dog Society – PADS- Puppy Socialization

Pacific Assistance Dogs (PADS) raises and trains assistance dogs for people who are facing the daily challenges of life with a physical disability or who are Deaf or hard of hearing. These highly skilled dogs allow our clients to experience a greater level of independence and an enhanced quality of life. PADS is a charitable, non-profit organization located in Burnaby, B.C., with an office in Calgary. PADS services people in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. PADS relies entirely on fundraising, grants and donations to finance the care and training of our amazing dogs.

PADS trains 3 types of assistance dogs: Service Dogs for people with physical disabilities, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf or hard of hearing and Facility/Therapy Dogs for therapeutic placements in long term care, group homes, hospitals and schools or Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) settings. In addition to the critical skills/services the dogs provide on a daily basis, they also provide a sense of security and act as a social icebreaker to those who may otherwise feel marginalized by their disability.

MPI is excited to work with PADS and to sponsor one of their clients who works in the meeting and events industry to attend the full conference and participate in all the meeting’s activities. Their client will be accompanied by the service dog throughout the meeting.
MPI will also offer the attendees the opportunity to cuddle with the puppies. PADS will bring several dogs that attendees can spend time cuddling with, petting or just stare at and smile. These puppy cuddling sessions will give the dog some down time from their serious training. This cuddling time allows the puppies to explore the world and get acquainted with new surroundings and people. This is valuable socialization tool for these dogs.

Because there is no way of knowing exactly what kind of job the dog will eventually have, puppies must be exposed to as many different human situations as possible when they are young. They go to work with their puppy-raisers to learn the patience needed for human employment. They travel on every mode of transportation possible. They shop regularly with their raisers to learn that the meat counter in a grocery store, or the stuffed animals lined up in a toy aisle, are not provided for their personal enjoyment. They learn how to meet and greet people politely and with reserved interest, so that when they are eventually teamed with a client, they will know how to be steady and supportive at the client's side.

We hope that the attendees enjoy the participation in this event. With their help the puppies will become better socialized and assist early on in the puppies very extensive and highly involved training. This event will leave a lasting impact not only on the Vancouver community, but will help positively impact individual lives throughout Canada.

Sponsored by:

Clean the World – Recycling Soap

MPI has partnered with a non-profit organization that collects and recycles soap and shampoo products discarded by guests of the hospitality industry every day. The hotel you are staying at during WEC will take partially used soap that would normally be thrown away and give it to Clean the World. The soap is then taken to a soap recycling plant for sanitization and treated with a steam/pressure combination. Clean the World then tests the soap’s pH level and then the soap is cooled for packaging. Clean the World delivers these recycled product donations to homeless shelters, missions and impoverished countries suffering from high death rates due to acute respiratory infection and diarrheal disease to help prevent the millions of deaths caused hygiene related illness every day.

At WEC, once the soap has been given a new lease of life it’ll be give to Mission Possible, a community of hope and transformation in Vancouver‘s Downtown Eastside, which is creating work for those with multiple barriers to employment. Mission Possible believes that working works; that the human work ethic is stronger than poverty, drugs or bad luck. MP Enterprises, the enterprising arm of Mission Possible, currently operates a property maintenance and restoration business. It is an on-ramp to employment - success through dignifying work.

So far, Clean the World have collected, reprocessed and distributed over 380 tons (760,000 lbs.) of soap, shampoo and other amenities and we’re proud to be supporting their great work at WEC!

http://www.cleantheworld.org/

http://www.mission-possible.ca/

Education

At MPI, we make it a priority to provide WEC attendees with the latest content, news and tools for organizing sustainable events, here are some of the initiatives on site:

Corporate Social Responsibility Learning Track
The CSR track is designed to address multiple levels of proficiency in the field of Sustainability and will include three areas of concentration: Basic Sustainable Meetings, Measurement (Tools, Standards and Guidance) and Strategy (using CSR to give back to the world, aligning your brand and practical case studies on implementation). By attending CSR sessions at WEC, you will reinforce your knowledge of sustainable meetings which will increase your level of CSR awareness and competency. You will turn theory into practice by learning from case studies of major events and see how it really works. The majority of the content in this track has been created for intermediate to advanced level professionals that are ready to take the next steps in CSR. Please see the Education section of the WEC website for a list of CSR specific sessions.

Resource Exchange – Career Center
The Resource Exchange is an onsite opportunity at WEC for attendees to network and participate in an alternative learning environment outside of the education sessions. The Resource Exchange will have many education opportunities, including “Ask the Expert” sessions, one-on-one coaching, Global Training and Career Connections. Ask the Expert is a small, intimate session with a speaker or industry expert where attendees are able to ask questions. There will be multiple experts offering one-on-one coaching in multiple areas, including legal coaching, career and resume coaching and green meeting coaching. A new aspect of the Resource Exchange is Career Connections. This is an area designed for those looking for their next opportunity in the meeting and events industry. WEC attendees will have an opportunity to view jobs posted specifically for WEC attendees and network and speak with career coaches. Click here to check out schedules and make an appointment to meet with a coach or just stop by to experience the Resource Exchange.

Environment – Eight areas of “green meetings”

At all of our events, we consider the eight areas of “green meetings” as defined by the Convention Industry Council. These include: destination selection, transportation, venues, accommodation, food and beverage, communications, on-site operations and expositions. For sustainability case studies of our past events, click here. This year at WEC 2010, MPI’s and its partners’ sustainability efforts include:

ACCOMMODATION

Logo Key Cards - The sponsored logo key cards attendees will receive when they check into their hotels will be made up of pre and post industrial recycled PVC. (Please note two hotels use RFID card systems and these cards are not in this scheme.)

Conference Hotels - Our partner hotels are committed and contracted to participate in sustainable initiatives during WEC, if they weren’t already doing so! Click here to see what else our Conference Hotels are doing.

COMMUNICATIONS

Mailed Printed Brochure - MPI’s WEC conference brochure was printed on FSC certified paper and used soy based inks.

iPhone/Blackberry Application - We’re trying to cut back on printed materials at WEC and to help in the transiation we’re providing conference materials in real-time with the free WEC iPhone/Blackberry app. Easy to navigate, the app offers a searchable conference agenda, speaker information and profiles, access to the MPI Twitter feed and Facebook page, an attendee list and a direct connect to social networking site Pathable.

Signage - In an effort to reduce waste MPI has created many signs that are used for multiple events. For example the chapter lollipop signs that are used to help gather individual chapters during the General Sessions and Lunches are re-used year after year.

Digital Signage - Digital Signage will be used when possible to reduce the use of paper and cardboard.

Printing - This year MPI has decided to use a digital format for its conference guide. The guide information will be available through the MPI website and through a mobile application on both iPhones and Smartphones. We will share basic schedule information with attendees through a z-card. These are daily cards that give attendees an at-a-glance view of the day. These will be printed on FSC certified paper.

DESTINATION SELECTION

Vancouver has a well deserved reputation as one of the most sustainable cities on the Continent, in choosing Vancouver we took this into consideration alongside it being the location of a fantastic Platinum Leed certified Conference Centre. We’ve also selected as many hotels as possible within walking distance of the venue.

To learn more about Vancouver’s sustainability, visit: http://vancouver.ca/sustainability/.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

“Scratch” Kitchen - Behind the scenes in the production kitchen, the culinary team specializes in operating a "scratch" kitchen. The Vancouver Convention Centre has made its name by featuring fresh, local products including BC wines thereby limiting "food miles" consumed. Purveyors are asked to deliver goods in re-usable containers. In-sink disposals have been eliminated and organic waste is recycled. MPI’s Food service will be presented on china with cutlery and linen to reduce the use of disposables. Condiments will typically be served in bulk rather than individual portion packs. Food and beverage purchases are prioritized in this order: a) locally and organically produced; b) locally produced; and c) organic.

Food Donation - Non perishable food items at WEC will be donated to The Greater Vancouver Foodbank, who support those with the most need in the community. As a major sponsor of the Foodbank’s Canstruction event, Vancouver Convention Centre provide the space necessary for this competition and exhibition, which showcases giant sculptures made out of canned food, all of which will be donated to hungry families afterwards.

Welcome Reception - In an effort to promote a sustainability practice, we would like to encourage delegates to use the same glass/plates for refills. We will post signage at the bars/food stations. We need your help to be as sustainable as possible! Example: Help us save water and energy please keep your glass/plates for refills.

ON-SITE OPERATIONS

Flip Chart vs. White Boards - MPI will encourage speakers and MPI staff to use erasable Whiteboards over the use of Flipcharts. This will help reduce the amount of paper waste generated by WEC.

Note Pads - Note pads made of recycled materials and pens will be available but provided only on request. Pads and pens leftover after a meeting will be put back in stock for later requests.

Heating/Cooling Usage - We’re trying to save energy wherever we can! Depending on the complexity of a set-up prior to our event moving in, and as long as safety allows, only decreased lighting will be available during pre-move-in times. Only at the start of a general move-in full lighting will be in place. Similarly, no equipment will be powered up until pre-arranged times as necessary. HVAC system will not turned on during move-in or move-out times of an event.
A centralized electronic system controls the lighting in all meeting space. Schedule for lighting is based on actual meeting room use with allowances for pre-meeting set-up or post-meeting strike of equipment after an event. When meetings rooms are not in use, lights will be off. An electronic panel in every room allows for easy control of lighting to different levels when necessary.

Lanyards - PC/Nametag has created a custom lanyard made of reclycled polyester material for MPI’s WEC 2010. This lanyard can also be used again at MPI events held at the local Chapter level, and even at other large scale MPI events.

Registration Bags - We’re giving you the choice! WEC 2010 conference attendees have the option to not receive a registration bag. Currently, half of the registrants for the conference have chosen to not receive a bag, take part! For those that do want a bag, instead of selecting a product that had to be manufactured specifically for the conference, PC/Nametag offered an existing product that was already in stock. MPI will be utilizing 2500 bags that have already been manufactured. The bags have been manufactured by a supplier accredited to the Quality Certification Alliance (QCA) which requires compliance on social accountability and environmental stewardship alongside a number of other areas.

To find out more, click here.

TRANSPORTATION

Public Transportation - MPI encourages attendees to use Vancouver's brand new light rail rapid transit – Canada Line. Host Committee Volunteers will greet MPI delegates and direct to the Canada Line. It is located between the domestic and international terminal at the Vancouver International Airport. From the airport to downtown Vancouver, 26 minutes, one way fare of $8.75 CAN (cash, Visa, and MasterCard accepted). For additional details please see the transportation page.

Bike Rentals - Spokes Bicycle Rentals will be supporting the World Education Congress by offering a 20% discount to all conference attendees renting a bike from Spokes. To get this discount the attendees just need to present their WEC badge when returning from their rental to receive the discount. MPI and Spokes invite all WEC participants to explore Stanley Park and the Vancouver Seawall by bicycle. It’s a healthy, green and most of all fun way to discover this beautiful city.

All rentals from Spokes include a lock, helmet and route map. Credit card and photo ID are required for rentals. The rentals simply have a 1 hour minimum and rates are prorated to the quarter hour thereafter. Our half day rental is for up to six hours for the price of three. Our full line up of bikes can be viewed at our website www.spokesbicyclerentals.com

In addition to Spokes Bicycle Rentals, the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel offers complimentary bike rentals to its guests who are members of their President Club. Membership in this club is free and offers additional benefits. Ask about bike rentals at the front desk.

Shoe Check - The Vancouver Convention Centre is offering a shoe check for MPI Delegates walking from their hotels or wanting to enjoy a walk break during the day. Please go to the Information Desk, located directly ahead as you enter the Burrard Street Lobby in the Vancouver Convention Centre West. Pedometers, donated by the Vancouver Convention Centre, will be given to shoe check users and a prize will be given to the person taking the greatest number of steps towards a greener WEC.

Carbon Offset - We’re offering all delegates the chance to offset the entire Co2 generated by your travel to and from the event and participation onsite at the convention center and hotel. Your contribution will bring wind power to India providing a local rural population access to renewable energy and employment.

We have calculated that each delegate will contribute to 1tCO2e on average. This Carbon offset allows an individual or organization to offset the equivalent of its GHG emissions that cannot be reduced any further (“incompressible emissions”), by investigating in the GHG emission reduction projects in a developing country. This mechanism enables to reduce, in a developing country, a GHG volume equivalent to the one produced by the emitting country. Sign up through your registration!

Our carbon offset project for MPI events is a windmill Power Plant located in Devarkulam (India). Beyond positive impact on climate, this project provides the following sustainable development benefits:

Wind energy for generating electricity instead of fuel based power plants,
Alleviation of poverty by establishing direct and indirect benefits through employment generation
Improved economic activities by strengthening of local grid of the state electricity utility
Development of road network and improvement of electricity quality, frequency and availability as the electricity is fed into a deficit grid.
Investment of about INR 260 million to a developing region

This project is registered under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto protocol under #1053.

VENUES
Expanded Vancouver Convention Center West Building
The Vancouver Convention Centre's West building has achieved LEED Platinum status and offers some of the most advanced sustainable design features including: A 24,0000 sq. meter planted roof, on-site black and grey water recycling system, seawater heating and cooling, the most current energy management technology, natural lighting and ventilation and marine habitat in the foundation.