The Summit : A Sustainable Event

The organizing committee is dedicated to making the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives an environmentally sustainable event. Environmental consultants from the company Takt-etik are supporting the summit in...

The organizing committee is dedicated to making the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives an environmentally sustainable event. Environmental consultants from the company Takt-etik are supporting the summit in its efforts to be certified under the Bureau de normalization du Québec's (BNQ) standa

The organizing committee is dedicated to making the 2012 International Summit of Cooperatives an environmentally sustainable event. Environmental consultants from the company Takt-etik are supporting the summit in its efforts to be certified under the Bureau de normalization du Québec’s (BNQ) standard for responsible event management 9700-253.

Here are some measures in place to reduce the event’s environmental footprint:

  • – choosing a LEED-EB certified site with the highest standard of environmental management, especially with regard to water and energy;
  • – offsetting carbon emissions by Carbone Boréal, a research project conducted by the Chair in Eco-advising at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi;
  • – choosing cooperatives, social enterprises and local suppliers to make a social and economic contribution to the region;
  • – collection and recovery of recyclable and compostable materials;
  • – target of 150 grams of waste per person per day for the entire event;
  • – using dishes, water pitchers, reusable water bottles and bulk dispensers to considerably reduce the amount of waste generated;
  • – Redistribution of surplus food to two community organizations in Quebec: the Maison Lauberivière and to the work of Madame Brissette.

COMMUNICATION AND PROMOTION

In order to minimize its environmental footprint, the Summit focused on using digital communications such as the use of electronic newsletters, its website and its online collaboration platform. Members of the organizing committee also reduced their travel by favouring teleconferencing. Communication tools and promotional items for the event have also been the subject of special attention:

  • brochures and the program for participants are being printed on high grade recycled fiber, EcoLogo certified, that are locally produced;
  • banners for the Summit will be recovered after the event to be reused;
  • daily newsletters for the Summit will be made from recycled paper and will be 100% recyclable;
  • participant’s bags are reusable and handmade by Petite Mains, a Montreal company working towards the social and professional integration of primarily immigrant women;
  • spouse’s bags are reusable and made from durable cotton, made in Québec by LilyEcolo, which entrusts the making of bags to Québec-based seamstress cooperatives;
  • headscarves worn by Summit volunteers are made from organic cotton, made in Québec by Message Factory;
  • blueberries or cranberries, covered in a 64% dark chocolate are grown by farmers from Québec cooperatives;
  • Vispak reusable water bottles are BPA free and are in a unique folding style reducing the size and shipping weight, a significant ecological attribute.

You are invited to contribute to this effort:

  • giving priority to public transit or carpooling, where possible, to get to the Québec City Convention Centre and using the on-site shuttle service;
  • paying particular attention to sorting your waste at the recycling islands and watching water and energy use in hotels;
  • taking only the documentation that you really need.
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