Ways we are making our event more sustainable

With the help of our suppliers, vendors, and partners, GBTA is on a journey to make Convention as sustainable as possible. And for the first time ever, we will be calculating our emissions related to this annual event so that we can benchmark our progress. Read more about our detailed sustainability initiatives below.

Measure 

• Working with Thrust Carbon to calculate emissions related to Convention

Decarbonize 

Transport

• Travel to Convention: Encouraging all staff to book direct flights, in economy class, where possible
• During Convention, encouraging staff and attendees to walk, seek out hybrid or electric vehicle options, or utilize public transport
• During travel to and from Convention, encouraging staff and attendees to utilize public transport or green options
• Offering shuttle routes for attendees and detailed shuttle info to drive usage

Food & Beverage

• Providing one fully vegan meal at Convention
• Removing all red meat from entire event

Reduce Waste

Materials

• Using digital signage where possible and recycled materials for printed signage and graphics
• Encouraging recycling of signage/stands/other materials
• Providing an option for exhibitors to donate used materials to a local charity
• Eliminating 14,600 square yards of aisle carpet
• Electronic proofing of badges prior to printing onsite
• Providing recycling/composting bins in various locations throughout the Convention
• Launching digital business cards for GBTA staff at Convention
• Increasing use of the GBTA mobile app, and utilizing electronic mail for marketing and communication purposes

Food & Beverage

• Donating excess edible food to local charities
• Offering recyclable and compostable box lunch packages
• Utilizing food waste that cannot be donated as animal feed
• Composting pre-production food scraps and attendee plate scraps
• Supplying used kitchen grease to be processed for biofuel

Regenerate

• Offsetting emissions that could not be mitigated
• Facilitating donations to Cool Effect, a non-profit organization that is reducing carbon emissions, via the GBTA 5K Run/Walk and an optional donation at registration

Engage & Mobilize

• Using suppliers with sustainable policies/practices in place
• Hosting our first-ever Sustainability Pavilion to help travel buyers and suppliers learn about sustainable solutions
• Offering a quiz for attendees to learn about GBTA’s sustainability efforts in an interactive way
• Building one-stop-shop for sustainability in the attendee app
• Utilizing a Green Ribbon to encourage attendees to commit to reducing their emissions and waste during Convention

San Diego Convention Center

By attending an event hosted by the San Diego Convention Center (SDCC), The Center of Hospitality, attendees support one of the most innovative, large-scale sustainability programs in the United States. The SDCC has demonstrated industry and community leadership by pioneering pathways for large venues to achieve continuously improving levels of sustainability stewardship. Below are some of the initiatives attendees can enjoy during their visit to the SDCC.

Walkability & Mobility

• Alternative Transportation Programs - Fostering visitor and building occupant use of multiple alternative transportation options to and from the SDCC

Food

• Center-to-Table Gardens - New indoor vertical gardens producing fresh, delicious vegetables and herbs from the Westwood Lobby. In partnership with Centerplate, our exclusive food service partner, the SDCC is proud to be a leader in innovative urban agriculture.
• Food Donations - Assisting clients who send over 25,000 pounds of food annually to local community organizations like Second Harvest of Central California, Christian Service Center, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
• Composted Food Waste - Food scraps that can’t be donated are recycled into electricity and fertilizer.
• Natural Gas - 85% use of natural gas for cooking in SDCC kitchens.

Energy

• District Energy Program - The SDCC is part of an innovative chilled water production agreement with OUC Cooling which provides energy efficient and environmentally friendly air conditioning to Convention District hotel participants.
• Renewable Energy - The SDCC campus provides five different solar energy programs used by clients and other stakeholders for demonstration, training and research.
• Building Efficiency - The SDCC incorporates natural lighting, advanced technology and employee ingenuity to achieve buildings which are 87% more energy efficient per square foot than similar buildings.

Water

• Low Impact Development - Aesthetically pleasing and innovative stormwater treatments are used on campus and redirected to natural waterbodies.
• Water Efficiency - Bathrooms use 15% less water than building codes mandate and 100% reclaimed water is used to irrigate the SDCC's 400-acre campus.

Waste

• Waste Reduction - SDCC works with clients and contractors to reduce event waste by 53% since 2004.
• Recycling Receptacles - Our recycling and waste bins on campus were made from used plastic milk jugs and 100% solar energy.

GBTA invites you to learn more about the sustainability efforts at the San Diego Convention Center here.