Background:

From newspapers and magazines to paper wrappings and fillings, paper is everywhere and most of it is ending up in our landfills creating a staggering amount of paper waste. Producing paper not only takes a lot of energy but it also involves cutting down excessive amounts of trees. As we all know, deforestation is one of the main environmental problems we’re facing nowadays.

Our response:

Replacing the printed programme with the mobile app will not only reduce printing waste, but the mobile app also provides improved functionality, more information and faster navigation through the Meeting.

Background:

Between 33-50% of all food produced globally is never eaten, which not only results in economic losses but also causes environmental damages. All the resources that went into creating the uneaten food are wasted (land, water, labour, energy, manufacturing, packaging, etc). Moreover, when food waste goes to landfill, it decomposes without access to oxygen and creates methane.*

* https://olioex.com/food-waste/the-problem-of-food-waste/

Our response:

The option to choose whether you want to have lunch included in your ESPID ticket not only lets you save on registration, but it also allows us to prepare adequate food quantities ahead of the Meeting and reduce waste during lunch.

Background:

As of 2018, about 380 million tons of plastic is produced worldwide each year.* However, the chemical structure of most plastics renders them resistant to many natural processes of degradation. Plastic pollution can afflict land, waterways and oceans. Living organisms can be harmed either by mechanical effects, such as entanglement in plastic objects, or through exposure to chemicals within plastics that interfere with their physiology.

* http://oceanlife.kakou.org.uk/public/plastic-pollution/

Our response:

We will provide recyclable cutlery for ESPID 2020, which is not only more convenient and pleasant to use, but will also help us do our bit in reducing plastic pollution.

Background:

Carbon dioxide emissions are the largest contributor to human-induced warming, and, therefore, are one of the most critical signposts to watch.

Global carbon emissions reached an all-time high in 2018, an extraordinary watermark in Earth’s history that underscores the need for faster and stronger action to address accelerating climate change.

https://www.wri.org/blog/2018/12/new-global-co2-emissions-numbers-are-they-re-not-good

Our Response:

In accordance with ESPID’s mission to be more environmentally conscience, ESPID encourages sustainable travel to the Meeting.

Air travel is the fastest-growing contributor to global warming and avoiding a flight when there are easy alternatives is often the biggest single thing that any individual can do to cut their carbon footprint and limit their own impact on the environment.

If you travel to the Meeting by train from outside the Netherlands instead of plane, ESPID will give you a free ticket to the Networking Event. This ticket can be claimed at the Meeting, by showing your travel receipt at the Registration Desk.

ESPID delegates will also benefit from a Eurostar discount. Stay tuned for more updates on how to claim your discount.

Read more on traveling by train

ESPID 2020 has collaborated with Donkey Republic to give you discounted bicycle rental whilst in Rotterdam. As part of the ESPID Meeting’s going green initiative, there will be some bikes at the meeting venue, and Donkey Republic have an extensive coverage around the city.

To use the rental service, download the Donkey Republic App in the app store or in Google Play, and use the ESPID discount code.

For full instructions and to access the discount code, click here