Greening
Greening the Food Conference
Hazon is committed to integrating our values and mission into all of our actions. We “walked the talk” by making the following efforts to minimize the 2009Food Conference’s ecological footprint.
Transportation:
- Facilitate carpooling to the conference by creating online rideshare lists (click here to learn more about our rideshares for 2009)
- Provided incentives for participants who carpool to the conference
- Carbon neutralize all of our transportation emissions through carbon offsetting. We did this by calculating and balancing out the measured amount of carbon released through our transportation with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset elsewhere. In 2008 and 2009 we neutralized the Food Conference by supporting a project with the Green Energy Initiative in Israel.
Food:
- Served organic and local food wherever possible
- Highlighted local farmers who donate produce with speaking opportunities, blessings before meals and in conference materials
- Provided locally baked challah
Waste:
In an effort to reduce waste, we will:
- Encouraged participants to bring their own reusable mugs.
- Sold stainless steel/reusable mugs to those who don’t already have their own or might want to purchase a hazon mug for a friend or family member.
- Had clear and labeled recycling and composting bins throughtout the conference buildings.
- Food compost will be picked up by ALBA and local farmers will incorporate the leftover food into their compost piles.
- Encouraged participants to bring their own towels or to reuse the towels provided by Asilomar.
- Reduced paper consumption by asking presenters to limit their print outs to one page, double sided
- Printed all materials on 100% recycled paper with non-toxic ink
Education:
- Had a “green page” in our participant pack that will offer suggestions to participants about how to minimize their individual environmental impact at the Food Conference.
