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Continuing the Conversation

infocomminternational-0613By Allen Weidman
Sustainability Officer, InfoComm International

As InfoComm International’s sustainability officer, I read the column A Different Type of Green Show Checklist by Midori Connolly with great interest. Since InfoComm 2013 is right around the corner, I believe the column provides a great opportunity to engage in an open conversation about InfoComm’s role in sustainability issues, particularly how it relates to the InfoComm show.

I particularly want to discuss some of the column’s key points.

Attending trade shows makes you less sustainable.

Trade shows are a great way to cut down on the number of business trips you make in a year. You can consolidate trips to many vendors into one stop to see a wide range of technologies, gain certifications, receive valuable industry training and more. It is widely accepted that it is considerably greener to make one trip, rather than many.

Booth carpet is carelessly thrown out.

Carpet at the InfoComm show is not treated as waste — it is recycled. Thanks to the sustainability ethic of our show decorator, Freeman, booth carpets are 95 percent recyclable. Aisle carpet is manufactured with 25 percent recyclable materials and is re-used up to five times before it is 100 percent recycled.

Waste is the number one sustainability consideration at the InfoComm Show

While InfoComm is concerned about waste created at the show, the leading sustainability challenge of the event, and for our industry, is power consumption. Through exhibitor education, InfoComm encourages participating vendors to power down when equipment is not needed or the show floor is closed.

Beyond the show, InfoComm encourages the industry to limit power consumption by following the ANSI/INFOCOMM 4: Audiovisual Systems Energy Management Standard. Through many hours of volunteer effort, InfoComm has encouraged the industry to do its part to reduce energy consumption.

Signs and banners are cast away

All directional signs at InfoComm are printed on 100 percent recyclable material. They are reused or recycled whenever possible.

Moving Beyond the Myths

InfoComm is committed to limiting the environmental impact of our event, and it truly takes a village to make it happen. Some of the practices you might not be aware of include:

  • All batteries used in InfoComm 2013 productions will be properly recycled.
  • All used plastic shipping materials collected during move-in and move-out will be recycled.
  • No idling engines are allowed at the loading dock.
  • All InfoComm promotional materials are printed on recyclable materials with soy inks. InfoComm reduced the volume of direct mail pieces and printed handouts at InfoComm 2013 by ten percent, compared to last year.
  • The InfoComm Show App allows attendees to track show information with no paper. InfoComm was one of the first shows in the world to adopt a show app in 2008.
  • All exhibitor press kits distributed in the press room are required to be electronic and paperless.
  • Exhibitors can distribute materials through a QR Code Program and online, through InfoComm iQ.
  • All education handouts are distributed electronically.
  • Badges are recycled.
  • Show bags are multi-use and recyclable.

In short, InfoComm is steadfast in its commitment to promoting sustainable practices at our events. While it is unrealistic to think that our show will ever be completely green, we are dedicated to following many sustainability best practices, benchmarking our efforts, hiring vendors, like Freeman, that are focused on sustainability, developing new electronic solutions for attendees and exhibitors, and aiming for continuous improvement year-over-year. Through exhibitor education, implementation of a robust corporate sustainability policy, participation in worldwide efforts to promote sustainable events and more, InfoComm International plans to offer the great events everyone expects, while minimizing the show’s impact on the environment.

In addition, InfoComm’s commitment to sustainable trade shows extends beyond our own footprint. We have committed time and resources to the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) through participation on its board to learn from the best in the business, while also conveying the AV industry’s support for sustainability. InfoComm and the AV industry clearly want to demonstrate their support for sustainable trade shows while offering our help and leadership for others to benefit from.

Now, let’s go on with the show!

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