Building an environmentally sustainable world is a massive undertaking, but big change starts with individual action. Panelist Marge Anderson said the meeting and event industry holds significant potential to shape how we think about, talk about and implement sustainable practices in our personal and professional lives.
“Our events can really change what people want and what people demand,” she told a Tuesday afternoon breakout session. The U.S. Green Building Council member, longtime MPI volunteer and associate director of the Energy Center of Wisconsin described how the meetings and events industry can play a key role in shaping behavioral changes and dialogue around environmental sustainability. Anderson introduced participants to a range of recent popular trends that have resulted in environmentally minded behavioral changes.
Water bottle use, for example, has shifted significantly from mass-produced plastic to reusable stainless-steel models in only a few years. Meetings and conferences have reflected the trend—once-ubiquitous plastic bottles are gone, and tap water is everywhere. Re-usable canvas grocery bags also have shot up in popular use during a short time period. Anderson said these trends inspire voluntary action—change spurred by individual action.
“The big question for sustainability is, how do we define our next voluntary action?” Anderson said. The work of meeting professionals can drive new support for sustainable action like energy conservation, supporting local industries and supporting food security initiatives.
While change comes with compromise, the effects can change the world.
“We’ve been making budget trade-offs for years,” Anderson said. “With green, we’ll just apply the same skill set.”