Sustainability at the Meeting

Sustainability initiatives –  environmental quality at SETAC events 

SETAC’s mission is to support and facilitate the development of principles and practices for the protection, enhancement and management of sustainable environmental quality and ecosystem integrity.

We are convinced that not only we should strive towards organising sustainable events, but that SETAC, as organiser of large events, can play a role in having more sustainable products and initiatives in the meeting industry. Although the influence is sometimes limited, we think that every step is important.  

A sustainable event balances environmental, social and economic responsibilities. Our objective is to organise events in a way that minimises potential impact on the environment.  

When considering travelling to Seville not only think about the ecological footprint but also about the ecological handprint, being the positive impacts of our event for a sustainable future. Networking, collaboration and working together in our committed community can make a difference, both globally, for defining the actions of the future, and locally, with the impact on the local economy when bringing our congress to Seville.  

Below you will find a list of initiatives that are in place for the SETAC Europe 34th Annual Meeting:

Destination (& transport)

We advise all participants to take direct flights, if possible, to decrease the impact. To reduce your environmental footprint, make sure you plan additional meetings during your stay in Vienna to reduce decentralised travel during the year.

Vienna has extensive train connections across Europe, with options like night trains and express services arriving at Vienna Hauptbahnhof and Westbahnhof. Both are directly linked to the ACV via public transit. The Austria Center Vienna (ACV), as well as all major tourist areas, are easily accessible by a range of sustainable and convenient transport options.

Please have a look at the Venue and City or the Travel to Austria webpages for more detailed information on transport options within and to Vienna.

Venue

FIBES has implemented a Quality & Environmental policy. This policy is based on norms UNE 187004:2008, UNE-EN ISO 9001:2015, UNE-EN ISO 14001: 2015 and ISO 20121:2012.

The development of the Quality and Environment policy aims to comply with the aforementioned applicable regulations and the commitment to continuous improvement of the activities carried out, in order to guarantee the use and enjoyment of all the facilities and services of the Congress & Exhibition Center -FIBES- in the best conditions, ensuring customer satisfaction.  

FIBES has introduced a series of sustainability guidelines and criteria to reduce the negative impact of holding events on the environment and people, concentrating its actions on reducing: 

  • the increase in waste;
  • energy and water consumption;
  • the generation of atmospheric pollution (CO2 footprint).

These sustainability guidelines and criteria are translated into a series of good practice measures, in constant execution, which are a maxim in improvement processes. In this document, we collect the list of measures with a brief explanation thereof, which affect the following areas: 

  1. waste;
  2. restoration;
  3. lighting;
  4. air conditioning;
  5. irrigation system;
  6. condensation batteries;
  7. refrigeration;
  8. automation;
  9. others;
  10. CSR.

At the venue, SETAC uses as much digital signage as possible.

Catering

  • At the meeting, vegetarian and vegan options are served.
  • Seasonal, local food to reduce the impact on the environment and stimulate the local economy.
  • Where possible, Fair Trade-certified products are served.
  • Organic, biodynamic food from farmers that are committed to animal welfare, MCS- or ASC-certified seafood.
  • Numerous initiatives to avoid food waste.
  • Mineral water is provided (please bring your own reusable bottle!).
  • Biodegradable cups and dishes are used to avoid all use of plastic.

Accommodation

Socials

  • When choosing the menus for our socials we always ask for sustainable local food.
  • We do not print tickets for social events.

Delegate Materials

  • When asked about requiring a conference bag, 85% of our participants indicated that they like to receive one. We have, therefore, kept our bags but we ensure their reusability at other SETAC events by not printing any meeting logos, destinations, or dates on them. Bags that are not used are given to local schools and/or charity organisations.
  • We have considerably reduced the number of pages of the programme book and continue to lessen unnecessary printed information by providing some information on the virtual platform instead.
  • All meeting announcements and invitations are electronic.
  • Any eco-friendly notebook that is not used at the meeting is donated to local schools and/or charity organisations.
  • Badges are eco-friendly and the lanyards are reused at future meetings.
  • Flags and banners are reused every year.
  • We use as much digital signage in the congress centre as possible and keep any printing fabric at a minimum.

Exhibition

  • Prior to the meeting, exhibitors will receive instructions encouraging them to reduce waste as much as possible, including a message of reconsidering their policy regarding gadgets, etc. SETAC’s policy on sustainability will be integrated into the exhibitor’s manual.

As a participant, you can also contribute to making a difference! Here are some ideas:

  • Try to reduce the number of flights and use public transport for your home – airport travel
  • In Seville, use public transport
  • Find a sustainable hotel in the area through: www.green-key.org
  • Bring your own bottle to refill with tap water
  • Use the waste bins in the correct way
  • Put your badge and lanyard in the special bins or drop it at the registration desk
  • Reuse the towel/soap in your hotel
  • ……… and so much more!

 

If you have any ideas on how we could improve our efforts in organising a more sustainable meeting in the future, please contact the SETAC office ([email protected]).