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Sustainability Practices at the AASHE 2026 Conference & Expo in Baltimore, Maryland

AASHE is committed to modeling sustainability in our activities, including the conference. We implement a variety of practices to neutralize or minimize the conference’s environmental footprint and maximize our positive impact or “handprint.”

  • Food & Dining
    To support the creation of ecologically sound, fair, humane and resilient food systems and promote healthy, plant-based diets:

    • A vegetarian menu will be served for the entirety of the conference.
    • All meals will include substantive and clearly labeled vegan and gluten-free options.
    • We are working with this year’s in-house catering company to use environmentally and socially preferable food and drink products (i.e., those that are Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified, Certified Humane or sourced from local, community-based producers) to the greatest extent practical.

  • Transportation
    To facilitate and encourage the use of more sustainable transportation options:

    • The conference hotel is also the conference venue.

  • Procurement & Waste
    To minimize resource use and waste generated by the conference:

    • We encourage attendees to download the conference mobile app and Sessionize to access program content and other pertinent details of the conference including schedules, session descriptions, and maps. Limited printed schedules will be available to those without a Smartphone.
    • Conference meals will be served buffet style with reusable or compostable plates and utensils.
    • All materials produced for the meeting (such as banners, posters, signs, place cards) are designed for reuse at future conferences and are recycled at the end of their usable life.
    • Presenters have been asked to minimize physical handouts.
    • Badge holders are reused whenever possible and name badges are printed on recycled content paper.
    • Award recipients receive recognition in a variety of formats as well as a plaque made of Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood from Rivanna Natural Designs, a woman-owned B Corp with a strong commitment to sustainability.

  • Partner Selection
    Many entities are involved in producing a conference. We strive to work with partners that share our commitment to sustainability. 

  • How You Can Help
    All attendees have a role to play in improving the sustainability of the conference. You can help by:

    • Take advantage of public transportation options or request an alternative fuel or hybrid vehicle taxi and share your ride with others.
    • Use your institution or company’s carbon offsetting program to balance your travel to and from the conference, if available. 
    • If you choose to print the schedule of sessions or other materials, print double-sided on 100% post-consumer recycled, agricultural residue and/or FSC certified content paper.
    • Bring/use your own water bottle each day. 
    • Place the materials you wish to discard in the appropriate collection receptacle.
    • Return lanyards to the registration desk after the conference so we can reuse them at future events.
    • Participate in the hotel linen reuse program.
    • Take the stairs instead of the elevator. If using the elevator, travel in groups to minimize energy usage. 
    • Turn off lights in your hotel room and unplug appliances or other equipment when not in use.
    • Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or washing your face and take short showers.
    • Adjust your hotel room temperature or turn off the air conditioning when you are not in the room.
    • Locate and use recycling and compost bins throughout the conference venue.
    • Encourage others to “green” their conference experience, too!