The Green Ghost

Is anyone else feeling a little green around the gills? It just seems like the topic of greening meetings and events has taken on the proportions of an Arctic ice shelf floating in an ocean of global warming. 
 
There's no escaping it because you can't be against it. Of course it's the right thing to do. Of course we should make every effort available to reuse, renew and recycle, at home, the office and meetings and events. Every day I get another press release about a facility earning Green Lodging Michigan certification, installing energy saving equipment, winning awards for green initiatives. But what I hear from some of those suppliers about planners may surprise you (or not).

"No one's asking for green events," one told me. Another said the same thing: despite all their green offerings, planners aren't asking for or about them. Maybe the operative term missing here is "yet": according to George P. Johnson's latest EventView report, 61% of respondents plan on implementing or have already implemented green initiatives within the event function.

C'mon, planners. The suppliers are making it easy for you, but they can't do all the work. Let's start walking the walk and make it a point to incorporate at least one green initiative in your next function.