VoiceCon Pursues Purchasing Policies and Operational Practices That Support the Rational and Sustainable Use of Environmental Resources

VoiceCon San Francisco 2009 is doing the following:

• Eliminate printed conference books—speaker presentations are available on the web
• Exhibits only registration pass is available exclusively online
• Registration and housing are managed online and confirmations are sent electronically
• Badges are printed as attendees check-in, not pre-printed or mailed
• Recycle bins for badges, badge holders, program guides and lanyards are available during the event
• Event brochure will be available online and will not be printed or mailed
• Emphasis on electronic marketing instead of postal mailing
• Eliminating the amount of paper products used in the exhibitor packages by consolidating information
• Recycled padding and carpet on the exhibition floor
• Signs and banners are made of recycled and biodegradable materials
• Program guide printed on recycled paper with soy based ink

Champion Exposition Services—VoiceCon’s General Contractor

• Provides carpet with recycled content and recycles worn carpet to manufacturer into PVC piping and septic tanks
• Carpet padding is 95% recycled urethane and it is used 20-30 times before being repurposed as packing material
• Partners with convention facility to maximize recycling efforts
• Recycling and recovery program
• More details about Champion’s environmental efforts

Moscone Convention Center—VoiceCon’s Event Location

• Recycles nearly 2 million pounds of material from the exhibit floor and lobby areas annually, with nearly 20% of that total as donations to local non-profits
• A food composting program captures all organic materials from the food service operation.  Compostable serveware and utensils are used for all concessions and catering locations
• Uses the latest and most energy-efficient lighting fixtures throughout the facility as well as use of daylight sensors to control prefunction areas
• More details about the Moscone Center’s environmental efforts

VoiceCon has partnered with hotel properties that have green initiatives:

Hotel Palomar, Hotel InterContinental San Francisco, Marriott Courtyard San Francisco and Hilton San Francisco Market Street all have the following in place:

• Use of energy efficient bulbs
• Recycling programs for bottles, cans, paper, cardboard and newspaper
• Implementation and auditing of low flow systems for faucets, toilets and showers to reduce overall water usage
• Guests have opportunity to decline daily replacement of bed and bath linen thereby reducing laundry volume and conserving water, electricity and cleaning chemicals

City of San Francisco

“San Francisco’s Environment’s mission is to improve, enhance, and preserve the environment, and to promote San Francisco’s long-term wellbeing by developing innovative, practical and wide-ranging environmental programs in recycling, toxics reduction, environmental justice, energy efficiency and commute alternatives.”  www.sfenvironment.org

• San Francisco recovers 69 percent of the materials it discards, bringing the city ever closer to its twin goals of 75 percent landfill diversion by 2010, and bringing the city to zero waste by 2020
• In 2002–2003 with funding provided by the California Public Utilities Commission, SF Environment and its partners helped over 4,000 small business owners reduce their lighting electricity loads by upgrading from older fluorescent and incandescent lighting to newer, energy efficient fluorescent lighting
• The city installed an air monitoring station which evaluates the current measure of air quality so that residents can take action to improve the overall conditions on the public health and environment of the community.