Organising and attending a conference in Aotearoa New Zealand provides an opportunity to share and enjoy our beautiful land and culture. It also comes with a responsibility – to care for and respect our environment, minimizing the event’s wider impact.
The Local Organising Committee has adopted the following practices to help reduce the event's environmental footprint, respect culture and promote positive change:
- Keeping printed materials to a minimum, with attendees encouraged to use the electronic resources, website and app, provided
- Exploring environmentally friendly catering options
- Following the waste management instructions at all venues
- Ensuring our conference suppliers are locally based and have sustainability plans in place
- Offering accommodation options close to the conference venue, within walking distance
- Encouraging attendees to carbon offset flights, accommodation and local travel when booking.
How can you help?
As participants, you play a crucial role in making this conference’s sustainability aims a success, and we are grateful for your contribution.
In the spirit of our sustainable mission, we would like to encourage all delegates to think consciously about their conference participation choices before, during and after the conference. Here are a few suggestions to help make your experience more sustainable:
Travel to the conference
- Choose greener transportation: if possible try to book direct flights, fly economy , and choose airlines with newer aircraft (new aircraft are more efficient) and higher load factors (ratios are available from airlines).
- You may want to consider offsetting your flights. If you prefer more direct action we encourage you to sign up to our collaborative conference tree planting or use a local tree planting service such as Trees That Count
- Pack light and responsibly: Minimise your luggage and bring reusable items such as water bottle, coffee cup, and lightweight shopping bag to reduce waste during your stay. Pack refillable rather than single-use toiletries. It will be winter in Aotearoa so bring some warm layers and a raincoat.
Travel around Ōtautahi Christchurch
- Opt for the travel that suits you from walking, e-scooters and e-bikes, public transportation, ride-sharing, carpooling, or eco-friendly vehicles whenever possible. Refer to the ‘Getting Around Ōtautahi Christchurch’ page here for some options.
- Keep an eye on our social media for posts about self-organised carpooling.
At your accommodation
- Check if your accommodation has an environmental plan, and if there isn’t one on hand, asking your accommodation where to put your recycling and if you can keep your towels for several days never goes astray.
- Stay close to our venue (walking distances are listed next to each accommodation provider here).
- Think about conserving water and choose short showers and tap off while brushing teeth.
- Turn off lights and devices when you don’t need them.
At the conference
- Use our carefully sorted waste bins – separating your waste into compostable, recyclable, and landfill. Look out for our colour coded bins!
- Consider alternatives to printing your presentation (we also have a list of local green printers below if printing is essential).
- Remember to bring your reusable drink bottle and cup to the conference every day (we will have prizes for delegates spotted with their reusable items!)
- Explore local cuisine and products: Embrace the local flavours and support sustainable businesses by choosing organic, plant-based, and locally sourced food and products during your time in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
- Participate in our tree planting activity while at conference and, for add-on or partner activities, choose from our list of eco-tourism options here.
We believe that small changes can lead to significant impacts, and by collectively adopting sustainable practices, we can create and model a positive difference for our planet. Let's inspire each other at IAMCR 2024 with our ideas, experiences, and passion for a greener future.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or require assistance. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that your experience at IAMCR 2024 is memorable, fulfilling, and contributes positively to the planet.
Shop sustainably
We encourage you to shop sustainably when you arrive in Christchurch. We have put together a list of sustainable shops if you are in need of some warmer clothes while you are here.
Eco Printing companies
8am to 4pm weekdays
103 Wrights Road, Addington (1 hr walk from the conference centre or 40mins by bus)
Standard turnaround on small jobs is 2-3 working days but can do faster if necessary
Full environmental policy taking into account paper, toner and inks, eco products, etc.
8am to 5pm weekdays
430 Colombo St, Sydenham (26min walk from Te Pae or 18mins by bus)
Can do a fast turnaround on small jobs
All paper from FSC sustainable forests
Has some 100% recycled paper available
