Green Goes with Everything – How Time Warner Cable is Working to Make Events More Sustainable

Sustainability has been a hot topic lately – from public policies to private initiatives, Green is everywhere.

As an event professional, my job is to be an experiential storyteller. My team and I connect audiences to the things that matter the most to them - from thought leadership conferences to technologically interactive events to employee volunteer days of service.

Planning a memorable and engaging experience takes time and an eye for the smallest of details.  However, one detail might be missing from the road map: a sustainability plan.

At Time Warner Cable, one of our five guiding corporate social responsibility (CSR) priorities is the environment. Through our green initiatives, we work to positively impact the lives of our customers and employees, as well as our planet.  We examine every opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint, which is one reason why we exceeded our two year “Go Green” goal by reducing our Carbon Intensity by 38%. For the events team, that means that we look at ways to make the events we produce more sustainable.

Events are a window into a corporation’s heart and they have the power to enhance a brand and reputation, demonstrate corporate citizenship and give back to the communities in which the company serves and operates in.

In June, I spoke at the Bizbash Event Innovation Forum about the importance of CSR - in the events industry and beyond - and how any event professional can easily incorporate sustainability into their planning and execution strategies.

Green events are no longer a fad, they are a necessity due to the changing demographics and priorities of society. Millennials are the largest generation in U.S. history. By the year 2020, they will comprise the majority of the workforce. With 73% of millennials thinking that the companies they work for should have a positive impact on society, marketing and events departments across the country will need to take note.

From events and companies to individual citizens, everyone has a part to play when it comes to sustainability. The important things to remember are:

• Small changes can have a big impact. For exmple, click here to learn about TWC’s Carbon Calculator. 
• Each one of us has the power to change for the better. You can look up your carbon footprint, and get tips for saving energy and money by visiting C2ES’ public Carbon Calculator tool.

To watch my recent presentation at the BizBash Event Innovation Forum, click here. 

For additional sustainable event resources, please check out the Green Meeting Industry Council’s website.