Last weekend I attended my first BlogHer conference in Chicago. BlogHer is a community of bloggers, almost all women, who come together annually to learn more about all aspects of blogging and social networking. There are panel discussions, computer lessons, parties, good food and networking for the 1,500 attendees.
I was very excited to attend. First of all I wanted to connect with fellow greenies or eco- bloggers because I have been reading many of their blogs for the past year and a half. There are many types of bloggers attending like nature bloggers, lesbian bloggers, personal bloggers, and mommy bloggers (the largest group). Second of all I wanted to learn some technical ways to improve my own blog.
I did meet many eco bloggers and was honored to be accepted by several of them who were volunteers on the Green Team. The Green Team consisted of volunteers that had ideas on making the conference greener. Earlier in the planning of BlogHer 09 they made many
great suggestions to make the conference more eco friendly. Some of these suggestions worked out but some did not. The suggestions included: reduce paper by publishing the conference schedule online, offer bulk water stations and give away reusable water bottles, provide a recycling room where attendees can leave unwanted swag, and place many recycling stations throughout the conference area. Go to the
BlogHer website to read them all. I plan on suggesting similar ones to other conferences that I have attended in the past.
Veteran attendees said that the conference definitely was greener but there were some bothersome problems. For example, there were plastic cups at the bulk water stations and the free reusable water bottle was plastic - although BPA free.
Pepsico, the main sponsor, was genuinely interested in suggestions from the Green Team and made an effort to meet with them. As a result of that pre-conference meeting, Pepsico decided not to hand out free bottled water (Aquafina). That is big! Instead they really promoted their flavored water, LifeWater. That is not good. On a positive note, Pepsico sincerely seems interested in being greener.
The most troublesome aspect of BlogHer was the giveaways by companies at the exhibition hall and at parties. Companies gave away a huge amount of promotional material and attendees were more than glad to have it. It was really kind of sad to see how people behaved. The idea seemed to be “If it is free, then give me three!”. Attendees could not get enough of this free stuff. I saw women hauling three shopping bags of loot from a sponsor’s party. One has to wonder if they really need it and how much of it ends up going to the landfill sooner than later. I would like to see people think twice about accepting this stuff. I would also like to see the companies think of other ways to promote their business - ways that do not generate so much waste.
Another troublesome aspect was the quality of the sponsors. It is a given that BlogHer must have sponsors in order to keep the costs low. I would like to see BlogHer choose sponsors that are more environmentally responsible, sponsors who model good nutrition and practice earth friendly behaviors. Think of the babies who were at the conference and their future world. A lot of the waste, especially plastic waste will be around for centuries. Producing promotional materials that are frivolous is actually trashing the earth.
This is part of the Green Team. They did a great job of greening the conference. Check out their websites and learn a lot. Start top left: Lynn from
Organicmania, Micaela from
Mindful Momma, Maryanne from
The Not Quite Crunchy Parent, Lisa from
Condo Blues, Beth from
Fake Plastic Fish, Diane from
Big Green Purse.
I was very excited to attend. First of all I wanted to connect with fellow greenies or eco- bloggers because I have been reading many of their blogs for the past year and a half. There are many types of bloggers attending like nature bloggers, lesbian bloggers, personal bloggers, and mommy bloggers (the largest group). Second of all I wanted to learn some technical ways to improve my own blog.
I did meet many eco bloggers and was honored to be accepted by several of them who were volunteers on the Green Team. The Green Team consisted of volunteers that had ideas on making the conference greener. Earlier in the planning of BlogHer 09 they made many great suggestions to make the conference more eco friendly. Some of these suggestions worked out but some did not. The suggestions included: reduce paper by publishing the conference schedule online, offer bulk water stations and give away reusable water bottles, provide a recycling room where attendees can leave unwanted swag, and place many recycling stations throughout the conference area. Go to the BlogHer website to read them all. I plan on suggesting similar ones to other conferences that I have attended in the past.
Veteran attendees said that the conference definitely was greener but there were some bothersome problems. For example, there were plastic cups at the bulk water stations and the free reusable water bottle was plastic - although BPA free.
Pepsico, the main sponsor, was genuinely interested in suggestions from the Green Team and made an effort to meet with them. As a result of that pre-conference meeting, Pepsico decided not to hand out free bottled water (Aquafina). That is big! Instead they really promoted their flavored water, LifeWater. That is not good. On a positive note, Pepsico sincerely seems interested in being greener.
The most troublesome aspect of BlogHer was the giveaways by companies at the exhibition hall and at parties. Companies gave away a huge amount of promotional material and attendees were more than glad to have it. It was really kind of sad to see how people behaved. The idea seemed to be “If it is free, then give me three!”. Attendees could not get enough of this free stuff. I saw women hauling three shopping bags of loot from a sponsor’s party. One has to wonder if they really need it and how much of it ends up going to the landfill sooner than later. I would like to see people think twice about accepting this stuff. I would also like to see the companies think of other ways to promote their business - ways that do not generate so much waste.
Another troublesome aspect was the quality of the sponsors. It is a given that BlogHer must have sponsors in order to keep the costs low. I would like to see BlogHer choose sponsors that are more environmentally responsible, sponsors who model good nutrition and practice earth friendly behaviors. Think of the babies who were at the conference and their future world. A lot of the waste, especially plastic waste will be around for centuries. Producing promotional materials that are frivolous is actually trashing the earth.
This is part of the Green Team. They did a great job of greening the conference. Check out their websites and learn a lot. Start top left: Lynn from Organicmania, Micaela from Mindful Momma, Maryanne from The Not Quite Crunchy Parent, Lisa from Condo Blues, Beth from Fake Plastic Fish, Diane from Big Green Purse.