Sustainability at eResearch NZ 2020

eResearch NZ 2020 hosts Genomics Aotearoa, NeSI, and REANNZ are committed to holding an environmentally responsible event.

We have identified four principles to follow to ensure the conference minimises adverse impacts on the environment:

  • To minimise the energy, water and material resources used
  • To promote the use of sustainable modes of transport
  • To utilise current systems for recovery and disposal correctly
  • To prevent waste at source

We thank you for supporting us with this goal.

Contact

Laura Furse
Event Services
The University of Auckland
(09) 923 5819
[email protected]

Sustainability Initiatives

The Dunedin Centre

  • Recycling bins throughout the venue
  • Eco saver bulbs used
  • Heating and lights turned off where possible
  • Catering – biodegradable service ware, food source locally where possible, reusable products
  • Zero waste policy – Any leftover food is collected by KiwiHarvest and distributed to those organisations who need it the most. Any food waste that can’t be redistributed such as vegetable cuttings are donated to local farms and become feed for livestock.

Larnach Castle

  • Collects their own water, thus eliminating any impact on the town water supply
  • Collects food scraps to use in compost
  • Please click here for many more sustainability initiatives

Transport:

Around Dunedin

Materials

  • BYO lanyard!
  • Handbook will be digital only
  • Plastic pockets for name-badges will be re-used by conference team. We’ll have a return station for these at end of conference.

Accommodation

Wains Hotel

  • All used soaps are given to Soap Aid https://soapaid.org/
  • Participates in the Hotel Weka programme which recycles all single use plastic amenity bottles https://www.thehotelweka.nz/
  • Split out all guest rubbish for recycling
  • Offer linen/ towel changes before automatically doing them

Victoria Hotel

  • Supplementary Solar panel system for hot water heating in our Main Block
  • All hotel lighting is produced with LED bulbs to reduce energy usage
  • Cardboard recycling
  • Used soap recycling for soap aid program
  • Proactively educating multiple night hotel guests to reuse towels for water conservation by use of signs in bathrooms
  • Tesla chargers available to attract EV users
  • Our New block is double glazed and specially designed for maximum heat retention to minimize energy wastage
  • We are currently investigating a suitable replacement for the traditional plastic tube / packaged amenities.