Environmental Initiatives & the Annual Meeting

APHA is committed to reducing the environmental impact of the Annual Meeting and finding ways to be a more environmentally responsible association in all areas. New information (including environmental resources) will be posted on this page as it becomes available.  Here are some simple steps that Annual Meeting attendees can take to help offset or minimize the impact of the APHA Annual Meeting on the environment.

  1. Check out some Healthy Restaurant Options while in San Diego. If you are responsible for any catered events at the Annual Meeting, don't forget to ask for organic, locally grown and antiobiotic-free foods whenever possible.
  2. Take advantage of Linen & Towel reuse programs in operation in most APHA hotels. View the hotel descriptions in the online housing form to determine which hotels participate. Even if a program is not established, guests can request that their bed sheets not be changed.
  3. Now available - Carbon Offsets! APHA has teamed up with Native Energy to offset the carbon dioxide we produce as a result of travel to the Annual Meeting. For a minimal fee registrants can compensate for the impact of their travel  on the environment by supporting environmental programs aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Carbon Offset programs provide a quick and easy way for you to estimate the amount of greenhouse gases that are put into the environment as a result of travel to the Annual Meeting, and pay a small fee to offset those greenhouse gases. The good news: All projects through Native Energy are virgin projects which fight global warming while providing sustainable economic development opportunities for communities in need.  For information on why we chose Native Energy check out the report at Clean Air - Cool Planet (large PDF). Help us in our push to be carbon neutral purchase your carbon offsets today!
  4. San Diego has smokefree ordinances in place for restaurants and bars as well as public transit stations. 10 of the 16 official APHA hotels in San Diego are smokefree (see listing). As required by APHA Governing Council resolution, future annual meetings are to be scheduled in smokefree cities. The results of all credible peer-reviewed studies show that smokefree policies and regulations do not have a negative impact on business revenues.

ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES

For the 2008 Annual Meeting APHA would like to acknowledge the assistance and support of the APHA Green Meeting Committee with members from the Environment Section of APHA.

Learn more about Environmental Public Health. Look below to see what APHA is doing and what some of our partners are doing to respond to environmental concerns:

APHA Annual Meeting Environmental Initiatives:

  • Advance Program printed by Forest Stewardship Council certified print shop 
  • Advance Program printed on 30% post consumer recycled paper 
  • Advance Program printed with Enviro/Tech inks (higher recylced content than soy-based)
  • Reduced print quantity of Advance Programs to lessen environmental impact.  Increased focus on electronic marketing of Annual Meeting.
  • Offer and encourage Web based Registration and Housing to reduce use of paper
  • Online Program and Abstracts. Eliminated printed abstract book. Abstracts can be accessed on site or in advance from the Online Program web site.
  • Final Program printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks
  • Working with all APHA hotels to articulate their environmental policies and to encourage them to make a more aggressive push toward sustainability
  • Working with Shuttle bus company and the San Diego Convention Center to prevent buses from idling while waiting for passengers and to help reduce the amount of harmful particulate matter from diesel buses.
  • Identify, in online Housing information, which hotels currently have linen re-use programs in place to reduce use of water and electric.
  • Left over Annual Meeting tote bags donated to local charity
  • Meeting room signs reused year after year to reduce waste and cost
  • Exhibitors are encouraged to bring small quantities of printed materials on site
  • Exhibitor service kit is available on line and orders can be placed on line
  • Beginning this year APHA will eliminate large mailing to session presenters with session location and details in favor of emailed instructions, information

APHA Headquarters Initiatives:

  • All office paper has 100% recycled content
  • The Nations Health is printed on 100% recycled newsprint
  • Eliminated all sytrofoam cups in break areas
  • Recycle office paper, cans and bottles
  • Recycle toner cartridges with HP
  • All lights in the building except for emergency lights are on a timer system to save energy
  • Open work space allows natural light to enter each floor on 3 sides reducing need for spot lighting
  • Headquarters location close to Metro stop minimizes vehicular emissions
  • APHA participation in Metrocard program encourages use of mass transit system
  • Bathroom and kitchen paper products are made from recycled paper (paper towels, toilet paper, etc.)
  • APHA’s cleaning company uses only environmentally friendly cleaning supplies and products
  • "Take the stairs" program of staff awareness
  • Established a "Green Team" committee to brainstorm about how to be more green.
  • Brown bag screening of "An Inconvenient Truth" and other Enviro-film screenings (PDF)
  • Battery recycling program

Future Initiatives:

  • Free-cycle office supply program

General Services Contractor (GES) Waste Reduction Programs

  • Current carpet inventory made of 20% recycled material (up from 7% in 2005)
  • Aisle carpet is recycled to booth carpet, Booth carpet is recycled to cover piano dollies and line inside of shipping crates
  • Pallets are re-used and recycled
  • Carpet waste is provided to companies that make flooring for third world countries
  • Exhibitor service kits available online and via CD Rom
  • Printed version of service kits including covers, order forms and marketing slicks are all printed on recycled paper with soy based inks.
  • Aqueous (water-based) coatings are used instead of UV or varnish coatings.
  • Biodegradable waste basket liners & wastebaskets made of recycled material
  • Vegetable-based and water-based inks used in graphic department printers
  • Foam core recycling program to community schools
  • GES is a member of Green Meeting Industry Council

San Diego Convention Center - Environmental Efforts
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