AVA conferences moving towards more sustainable practices
22 Mar 2024The AVA is listening to member and stakeholder feedback and redesigning its conference offerings to include sustainable changes.
The head of AVA Education and Events, Dr Meredith Flash, said, "The AVA staff team is applying sustainability practices during the design, management, and running of AVA events."
"In addition to working with venues to embed sustainability in our major events, the AVA has moved from printed conference assets like registration brochures, handbooks, and printed proceedings to housing all conference information on the conference website," Dr Flash said.
Conference program apps and video or text electronic proceedings are now key features of AVA events.
AVA’s National Events Manager, Kandy Musgrave, said, "We have also removed conference satchels and the multiple printed items that went in them. We are working with our exhibitors and encouraging them to provide sustainable options like keep cups and drink bottles for conference give aways".
“The AVA conference lanyards use recycled materials. We have also moved to heavier weight paper for name badges to be able to stop using the plastic sleeves. Additionally, venues are chosen with accessibility and public transport options in mind”, Ms Musgrave said.
The AVA Conference 2024 venue, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), places a strong emphasis on sustainability and works hard to prioritise sustainability efforts within the business events industry. One example of sustainability improvements at MCEC is the replacement of disposable coffee cups at catered events with returnable double-wall insulated stainless steel cups. By introducing this system, MCEC will prevent the use of over 630,000 disposable coffee cups each year.
The AVA is continuing to improve the sustainability practices of its conferences and events, and welcomes feedback from delegates, sponsors, exhibitors, stakeholders and guests to help continue to shape future offerings. Please email feedback to events@ava.com.au
Image: Reusable cups available at water and tea/coffee stations at The Cube, Wodonga, the venue for the AVA’s 2024 Australian Cattle Vets Conference.
Image: Using Returnr coffee cups at the AVA Conference 2024, will contribute to saving 630,000 disposable cups from landfill.