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One of the greatest things I get out of participating in the Event Camp conferences is the opportunity to talk with event pros on what issues are bugging them. So at lunch the one day during the 2011 Event Camp National Conference, I was chatting with Adrian Segar, Mitchell Beer, Jill Drury, Andrea Sullivan, and Brandt Krueger about greener meetings. I mentioned the idea of collecting and recycling lanyards at future events. Jill responded that one of her challenges, even though that idea in theory sounds good, is that people might be uncomfortable with reusing someone else’s lanyard. Makeup, oils, personal products and more can accumulate on them making some give pause to using a recycled lanyard. Also, washing them is either not possible or practical. Truly a dark side to going green for this particular item at meetings.
Guess that scenario really never crossed my mind, probably because I’m not too much of a germaphobe (I have two big always-a-mess dogs). But I have to realize that there are others not so inclined.
So now what? Are we going to have to continue to buy new lanyards for every event, only to have them pitched into the garbage after maybe 10-20 hours of wear? Hmm… what to do?
Here are some thoughts…
- Still Collect and Recycle, But Offer New – I’m going to guess that some people are like me and using a recycled lanyard doesn’t phase them. What event and tradeshow planners can do is still collect the lanyards and offer a recycled one to attendees, but also have a stash of brand new ones for those who are more sensitive on this issue or those who collect them as souvenirs (see my other post on tradeshow lanyard recycling for that discussion).
- B.Y.O.B.L. – No, not Bring Your Own Booze & Liquor (although some might). How about Bring Your Own Badge/Lanyard? No doubt, if you have a gathering of regular conference goers, they have quite a stockpile of these little-used gizmos. Many may also use them every day on the job. Give them a bit of a discount or a freebie (like a free cookie as my pal Judy Kucharuk from Footprint Management Systems suggests) if they agree to bring and use their own badge and lanyard. Less cost for you and the planet.
At our Event Camp lunch discussion, we also mentioned the use of electronic badges that one would have on a smartphone. Great for use on the tradeshow floor for gathering leads. Not so great for networking since it would be awkward and ineffective in a reception or other social setting.
You got any better suggestions for the yucky green lanyard situation? Share them in comments.
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Tags: ECNC 2011, Event Camp National Conference, green events, green meetings, green tradeshow strategies, lanyards for events, organic cotton lanyards, tradeshow lanyards, USA Made Lanyards
Leave A Reply (15 comments So Far)
Judy Kucharuk
449 days ago
We were just talking about this during lunch at our table during the GMIC Conference.
We each had different thoughts about it. One lunch partner mentioned that she knew of individuals who were turned off at wearing a pre-worn lanyard, i.e. lice, etc. We determined that if you were really concerned, you could tie them together, throw them in a delicates bag and wash them on gentle or if you only wanted to kill germs, you could slip them into a ziplock bag and freeze them. This isn’t terribly convenient if you have 5000 lanyards though.
I love the B.Y.O.B.L. idea and offering an incentive such as a express registration line or another discount/service.
Heidi Thorne
446 days ago
I knew you’d have some input on this issue, Judy! Wow, washing sounds like a lot of work. And, yes, I think putting in a delicates bag would be a necessity since many lanyards aren’t manufactured to handle the punishment of a washing machine. Plus, there’s always the possibility of them getting wound around the washer’s components and causing damage.
Never thought of freezing them to kill whatever organisms may collect on them. Still doesn’t handle the build up of personal care products and oils issue, but definitely easier than washing.
Oooo, express registration for B.Y.O.B.L. That’s incentive enough.
Always appreciate your insight!
Tahira
449 days ago
Lanyards are useful, and they are an easily sponsorable or brandable item which makes them attractive for that reason. They are useful for sticking other things in to, but they do make your badge hang in a place awkward to read it. (maybe that is just me as I am short-ish)
We have been using corn based name badge holders and where it makes sense recycling those to more than one event. They do decompose though. Badges on recycled stock. Of course some clients want other types of badges but when we can…
Heidi Thorne
446 days ago
I think you may a good point, Tahira. Lanyards are an inexpensive, brandable “wearable.” And, yes, I wish they had the ability to be resized so that badges don’t end up being in, shall we say, socially awkward viewing positions.
The corn-based badge holders are definitely a good idea. Recycled paper badges, and recycling them afterwards, is definitely an easy way to green up this meetings aspect.
Thanks for chiming in on the conversation!
Anne Carey, CMP
449 days ago
I worked in the office for the 2010 Census and I was the keeper of the badges. When a project was finished, everyone working in the field returned their badges, usually with the lanyard attached.
Personally, I have a severe allergy to scent. I collected them for a little while, but then I started to throw them out.
We need a manufacturer to create something that will make it impossible for anything to stick to the lanyard. But of course, that would add to the footprint.
I do love the B.Y.O.B.L. idea. There is one association where I attend meetings a lot. They usually have sticky badges but one day they had regular ones. I try to remember to bring it with me when I go to meetings, but probably forget it half the time.
I do recycle badges I get at meetings in my own way. I bring them to my Toastmasters club, that never seems to have enough.
Carey
(Anne) Carey, CMP
Heidi Thorne
446 days ago
Love the idea of creating a lanyard which nothing sticks to! Agreed it would add to the footprint. But I’m hoping for a one-time use lanyard of the future that’s biodegradable. I can appreciate the not wanting to reuse due to scent. Gives me a headache!
Can totally appreciate forgetting to bring the lanyard. I keep about a half dozen on my rearview mirror in the car, just in case. Glad to see that you’ve found a home at the Toastmasters for your orphaned badge supplies.
Thanks, Anne, for taking the time to comment and share your ideas!
Yi Shun
443 days ago
What about donating them to NFPs that may not be able to purchase their own lanyards? Just a random thought. We’ve donated pre-printed canvas bags before, and that’s worked just fine!
Heidi Thorne
442 days ago
I like the idea of donating to non-profits. Usually with tight budgets, sometimes sensitivities to reuse are not as much of an issue. Thanks for adding this idea to the conversation!
Judy Kucharuk
446 days ago
There is also the school of thought that says, “The time we spend on figuring out how to reconfigure, redesign something, could be better spent coming up with an alternative product completely”. Do we need lanyards? Can we redesign a product that will still serve the purpose?
The task of the lanyard is to attach to the badgeholder. It is efficient because it doesn’t stick to anything, one size fits all and can be branded. The down side is that it normally it hangs too low and no one adjusts them, it can get dirty, it can retain the smell of perfumes, etc. and we struggle with ways to make it better, compostable, recyclable, etc. Why not come up with an alternative to the lanyard? Any thoughts of what could be developed?
Heidi Thorne
442 days ago
I have thought about that, too, Judy. What is an alternative? I was thinking biodegradable something or other. But, agreed, it’s time to come up with a totally new product. I’ll keep you posted, of course, on anything that I come up with!
Yi Shun Lai
444 days ago
I’d like to encourage everyone to pursue the “BYO” idea. We tried something like that for a totally unrelated gig, and it worked like gangbusters. You’d be surprised at how many people will bring in something that’s already lying around their office for a cookie. Plus, don’t underestimate how good people feel reducing and reusing! Reward them for it!
Heidi Thorne
442 days ago
I definitely think the BYO idea is one we should seriously consider. And, yes, never underestimate the power of cookies!
Anne Carey
442 days ago
One group that I work with (onsite only) saves all their badges and reuses them. And I think, “so much work!” You have to organize them and see who’s missing and re-print their badges. But such dedication to the environment!
Another group where I did work in the office did it with the board. It wasn’t so bad to organize because there weren’t as many.
I usually don’t use the lanyard. I prefer a clip, but I’ll use a pin if I have to.
Carey
Jill drury
438 days ago
Perfume=headache, lice=panic, BYOB=forgetfulness….but Cookies! That just might get a lot of people on the bandwagon:D
Wouldn’t it be exceptional if there was a way to use our driver’s licenses as our meeting badges?
Hmmmmm… food for thought.
Heidi Thorne
435 days ago
As I’ve said elsewhere, I never met a cookie I didn’t like. So the strategy trips my trigger.
And, yes, I think there should be some universal I.D. item that can be used anywhere and everywhere. Licenses are legit, even though it’s a little awkward at events and people get a little concerned about privacy.
I hope, as an industry, we can all come to some agreement about what should be used. Putting thinking cap on now…