The Greening of Oracle OpenWorld

Oracle is continuing its efforts in support of the environment by "greening" Oracle OpenWorld, based on the principles of Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Oracle took several important steps toward reducing the conference footprint last year, including diverting 57 percent of all Oracle OpenWorld 2007 waste from landfill, reducing print materials, and donating 2,000 pounds of unused food to local charities. This year, Oracle has significantly enlarged the program, working with San Francisco, Moscone Center, event hotels, partners, exhibitors, and attendees to create an event with the lowest possible environmental impact.

Oracle OpenWorld - Greening the Conference (PDF)

San Francisco: Partners in Green
Exhibiting Green
Communicating Green
Showing Green
Measuring Success

San Francisco: Partners in Green

San Francisco, host to Oracle OpenWorld for several years, has made clean technology fundamental to its development strategy and, under the stewardship of Mayor Gavin Newsom, has launched one of the most aggressive, informed environmental programs in the world. Naturally, this makes the City a perfect partner for creating the greener conferences toward which Oracle strives.

Make it sustainable: San Francisco boasts one of the best recycling programs in the country; the city currently recovers 69 percent of the materials it discards, with the goals of 75 percent landfill diversion by 2010 and zero waste by 2020. It's also not hard in San Francisco to find food and beverage services that provide local, organic, and vegetarian options and use china and linen service rather than disposables—key requirements for green event catering.

San Francisco's Moscone Center, which has been instituting green programs for years, has replaced all disposable food and beverage products with biodegradable items, boasts the most aggressive waste diversion program of any convention center in the country, and claims to have the largest public solar-generating project in the nation on its roof, in addition to maintaining an impressive list of energy-efficiency/green building programs (for more on Moscone Center's green efforts, go to http://www.moscone.com/community/sustain.html).

In its drive to run events with the smallest possible negative impact on the environment, Oracle looks for destinations and venues that, like San Francisco and Moscone Center, are committed to such green practices. In fact, Oracle has devised a detailed list of green requirements to be met by event venues, catering services, hotels, and exhibition producers looking to host, produce, and serve at Oracle events.

Green hotels: Several of the Oracle OpenWorld preferred hotels have earned a Green Rating for such practices as energy and water conservation, recycling, towel and sheet programs, and durable service goods. Oracle's policy for hotel selection now includes several additional criteria, including provision of clearly marked recycling containers, reduction in waste of consumable amenities, and use of environmentally sound cleaning products.

Green Transportation: San Francisco offers several hotels within walking distance of Moscone Center, reducing the need for gas-emitting transportation. Public transit, high-occupancy shuttle services, alternative-fuel or hybrid taxis or buses, and car-pooling programs are readily available. Oracle also plans to reduce shuttling at its events where acceptable and use shuttle providers that operate greener fleets.

Exhibiting Green

Oracle is extending its green requirements to exhibition producers as well, giving preference to producers that, among other things, reduce lights and power use during move-in and move-out in the exhibition hall; provide online exhibitor kits/service to reduce printing; use recyclable, environmentally responsible signage products, carpets, and packing and shipping materials; offset transportation emissions with a carbon offset program; and provide and manage a donation area for exhibitors to collect donated items.

Exhibitors are encouraged to follow green best practices as well, including recycling cardboard, freight boxes, and plastic wrappings and other recyclable items during move in and move out; using soy/vegetable-based ink and post-consumer, recycled paper in printed pieces; providing giveaways made of recycled, responsibly grown natural fiber and nontoxic and biodegradable materials; and designing booths and displays using environmentally responsible materials and energy-efficient lighting.

Communicating Green

Oracle is committed to using online methods of communication wherever possible and appropriate in its drive toward paperless meetings and events. This includes taking advantage of electronic ticketing and reservation systems and using online registration, online agendas and exhibitor kits, digital and recyclable signage, downloadable speaker presentations and handouts, and electronic event evaluation.

Showing Green

Onsite at Oracle events such as Oracle OpenWorld, you'll see increased focus on use of biodegradable name badges, holders, lanyards, and exhibit hall bags; energy-efficient copiers and fax machines; and printers that use recycled and recyclable printer cartridges. You'll find well-marked recycling bins throughout conference venues, collection stations for badge holders, and materials available in digital and online rather than printed form. You will also find no plastic water bottles onsite. Full-conference attendees will be provided with refillable water bottles. All other attendees are encouraged to bring their own reusable water containers.

Measuring Success

A case study of Oracle's green efforts at Oracle OpenWorld 2007 demonstrated Oracles progress toward shrinking its event footprint: 57 percent of all waste was diverted from landfill, 2,000 pounds of food was donated to San Francisco charity, 80 percent of exhibitors used online kits, print materials used 10 percent post-consumer recycled-content paper and soy-based inks, and shuttles and other transportation focused on using greener vehicles. Oracle OpenWorld 2008 ups the ante, implementing voluntary and mandatory best practices that are effective, measurable, and repeatable and continuing Oracle's leadership in protecting the environment.