Sustainable Events

The Charlotte Convention Center was the first one in North Carolina to “go green.” For about 2 years, the Center has gone the extra mile, according to Mariel Littrell, the green representative for the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. For some time, recycling receptacles have been provided, along with highly visible arrows, to encourage the recycling of bottles and cans. All cardboard is bound and recycled. Now the facility has added environmentally-friendly cleaning products, an expanded recycling program, and energy-saving initiatives.

A group deciding to hold an expo or meeting is connected to an events manager, who coordinates the group's needs with the Center's procedures, including the green initiatives. The Charlotte Green Team won an award in April from the Charlotte Business Journal for their green building meetings. Attendees at meetings may ride to the meeting on the LYNX Blue Line, the only light rail system in the United States that runs through a Convention Center, as shown in the photo at right from LYNX Facts.

The Center's Green Team is especially active behind the scenes. Their Food Service buys local food and bundles purchases to decrease travel time. All cooking oil is recycled. Extra food is donated to the United House of Prayer or local food banks, and the waste food is sent to composting. Paper boxes are used for box lunches; napkins are made from recycled paper or cloth. For large meetings, bulk water and teas are provided; beverage cups and coffee cups are made of biodegradable materials.

Many energy-efficient features of the Center, including the meeting rooms and buildings, can be found at Charlotte Convention Center - Green Initiatives. Congratulations to the Center, for its efforts to ensure sustainability in their events!