ASHE's Commitment to Sustainability
ASHE is proud of its leadership in advocating for health care facilities to embrace sustainability practices in their activities to optimize health care physical environments.
In an effort to model this behavior in our own practices, ASHE is actively working to employ sustainable practices in the production of its in-person conferences & exhibitions.
Over the next three years, ASHE is committing to improve its practices around the “dirty dozen” areas of waste within the in-person conference production space: Food, Food Packaging and Service ware, Coffee Cups, Vinyl Banners, Tabletops, Plastic Foam, Plastic Sheeting, Shrink Wrap, Name Badges, Adhesive Decals, Carpet, and A/V Waste.
In 2024, the ASHE event team will focus on implementing sustainable practices related to food packaging/service ware, vinyl banners, tabletops, and carpeting.
Food
At the 2024 International Summit & Exhibition on Health Facility Planning, Design & Construction (PDC Summit) taking place at the San Diego Convention Center (SDCC), will employ its Sustainable Food & Beverage program, which includes:
- Local sourcing of fruits, vegetables, seafood, and other products are core to the operation. SDCC purchases within a 150-mile radius (whenever season permits) and participates in local composting programs. The kitchens do not have in-sink garbage disposal units; instead, the team is trained to place all excess food scraps into the green compost bins.
- SDCC’s recycling program includes 4-stream waste receptacles divided into paper, recyclables, trash, and compost. We also prioritize the purchasing of products made with recyclable and biodegradable materials.
- SDCC employs water bottle refill stations throughout the lobbies on the upper and lower levels.
Food Packaging
- Reusable Cutlery/Biodegradable Materials: To reduce waste, SDCC uses reusable cutlery, dishware, linens and decorations, and when disposables are required, products made of recycled and biodegradable materials are used, such as bamboo plates.
- Leftovers: Leftover food is donated to a local food bank or soup kitchen when possible.
Service Ware
ASHE will also offer attendees reusable water bottles and water refill stations to avoid the use of plastic cups and disposable plastic water bottles. ASHE encourages conference attendees to utilize these reusable water bottles or bring their own to the event.
Name Badge
ASHE will be utilizing TerraCycle name badges for the event as well. The TerraCycle name badges will be recycled after the show is completed.
Vinyl Banners and Tabletops
ASHE will employ digital signage or recyclable cardboard signage whenever possible to replace the use of vinyl banners. Tabletop coverings will be utilizing reusable linens.
Carpeting
ASHE and its partner Expo Group utilize carpeting for the exhibition floor that is reused for multiple events to reduce carpeting waste.
And More
In 2024, ASHE continues to focus on reducing the paper it utilizes for its in-person events, and will be providing information on its products and services at its events through its mobile app, access to content through the use of QR codes, and follow-up information on resources enabled by badge scanning and post-event communications
Finally, ASHE continues to partner with the Expo group in the production of its in-person events. The Expo Group is a signatory along with over 120 other partners of the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge and to join the pledge for a Net Zero Carbon footprint, focused on fighting climate change with the ultimate goal of eliminating the event production industry’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
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