5th September, 2008
HR Expo lays Down Green Challenge
Simon Scott
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The human resources industry laid down the 'green challenge' to the rest of Wellington last week by organising and
running its 2008 HR Expo on green principles.
All of the 45 corporate and local government exhibitors participating at this annual event held at Wellington Town Hall
had to actively work to reduce their ecological footprint.
This was done by giving out a 'Sustainability Skiteboard' to all exhibitors who had to list and display all the steps
they had taken to make their booth environmentally sustainable.
It is a way of making them think hard about what they are doing here and come up with new and interesting ways to be
more environmentally friendly, says event organiser Keri Bloomfield.
“It is a great idea and all the exhibitors have been getting on board.”
Exhibitors came up with sustainable gifts to give out instead of a plastic pen or pile of promotional brochers.
Recruitment advertising exhibitor Haines gave out manuka seed pallet and pot sets to clients.
“We want to encourage people to get out and grow trees,” says Haines representative Nicola Davies.
Exhibitors dreamed up numerous other ways to be more sustainable, including using only recyclable paper, directing
customers to online resources instead of paper, taking public transport and even refusing to take client's business
cards.
Sustainability was chosen as the theme of this years expo because it is one of the key concerns of the human resources
industry, Ms Bloomfield says.
“Sustainability is not just about being green, it is also about companies maintaining a sustainable work force.”
ENDS