Friday, September 25, 2009

Conference bag

My closet is full of conference bags. I keep adding the new one beside the old unused ones. Mostly these are computer bags. And in all honestly, you only really need one. The one, that you anyway have with you when you go to the conference. I often see a pile of bags being left to the organizers as a objection to the idea. Hopefully we will see more of this happening in order to change the behavior.

The organizers of the conference very often assume that the participants expect to receive a bag from the organizers. Have they ever really consulted the users? I am sure many would say that they would rather not have the bag, but instead have a cheaper conference or compensate it with something totally new.

The most advanced organizations have changed to use bags that are made out of recycled materials or that can be recycled. Still these bags are not produced close to the event, so the logistical emissions remain.

It makes me still very sad to see that so many resources are put into producing, transporting and tailoring the bag, mostly in the other side of the world. There is no sustainability in that! The attempt is that nothing from the Solutions conference would not stay unused in the closet! You are able to see how we will succeed with it.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Welcome

This conference Blog focuses on how to organize a truly sustainable conference that benefits all engaged stakeholders. In most traditional conference preparations, the practical arrangements are separated from the content development. In this Blog they are all interlinked as the focus is on Solutions - local, together.

Through the upcoming months you are welcome to follow and join the thoughts behind the Nordic Conference on Sustainable Development in the Baltic Sea Region 2011.
My aim is to tackle the main topics of conference practicalities and content in this Blog. This gives you a change to be part of the process and express your own view on matters.