Apologies for the late review but I have been mulling over my experience all week and needed some extra time to digest everything. After last year’s disappointingly corporate Green Living Show in Vancouver, I had higher hopes for EPIC. It seemed younger, hipper, perhaps even more true to what being “green” is all about – before the word was co-opted by every corporation on the block. Globe Foundation must have a great communications and marketing team!

After some digging, it turns out those on the Globe Foundation’s Board of Directors have their hands in quite a mishmash of various activities, some more questionable than others. Overall, my impression is, as usual, that there is an emphasis on economics and business over actual environmental issues and a core discrepancy surrounding the meaning of ”sustainable development” and “progress”. It’s now expected that corporations have something pertaining to social responsibility in their mandate, even if it doesn’t add up to anything more than good PR or greenwashing.

We know the topic of commerce and sustainability can be a slippery slope and EPIC represents the apex of this struggle in many ways. Sustainable business is generally not business as usual; it takes the traditional, unsustainable methods of operation and flips the script to allow new ideas to permeate and take root. Ideas that may produce a more inhabitable world for us and future generations. This particular blog entry does not deal directly with this complex issue but it is inevitably present.

My corporate-sensitivity radar is both a blessing and a curse; I immediately pick up on inconsistencies when it comes to “backing one’s chat”, so to speak. This special gift is either entertaining for those in my presence or absolutely irritating. Without further adieu, I’ll present my suggestions for a greener event next year…

Organizers: Do not leave printing up to sponsors. Programmes were printed on 30% PCR paper and were “100% recyclable”? What about inks? C’mon, we can do better than that. Let’s “be the change we want to see” and ensure all marketing and promotional tools and/or materials are fulfilling the green image you want to reflect at your event. It’s the little things we choose to do or not do every day that add up to major changes, after all.

Exhibitors: Less paper and plastic = more fantastic! We love sampling your wares but all those little plastic sampling cups, spoons and paper napkins add up, even if made from recycled materials. Even though the plastic and paper is mostly being recycled after use as well we are still using up precious resources producing and disposing of it all. Doing away with unnecessary paper and plastic is better all around – kudos to those using reusable or biodegradable materials or no extraneous stuff at all! We love just using our fingers – no double dipping!

Organizers: Please reconsider your main sponsor, Toyota! While they may be pumping out “green” vehicles like Prius and painting itself as a green company, there is plenty of proof that cars, the automobile industry and Toyota are inherently not green. Let’s let a truly innovative and environmentally responsible organization step up to the plate and have a chance to shine.

Exhibitors: Easy on the free promotional schwag! Most people like getting stuff for “free”, myself included, but for the environment there is almost always a hidden cost. We realize marketing is an important way to spread the word about your business but if your “free” promo-ware is being made unethically in a 2/3rd majority country or produces extra waste, benefits start getting cancelled out. Whether it’s free reusable bags, knick knacks, samples in small packets or bottles, please ensure you are giving it to the right people and that it’s being produced ethically. It’s totally cool to use reusable bags but when they’re doled out at record speed to every person that walks by, how environmentally friendly are they? What’s their lifecycle? Being environmentally friendly often takes a less-is-more approach to stuff.

I will be following up these suggestions with a review of some of my top exhibitor picks at the show. Stay tuned!