Sustainability

To maximize, the value of attending in person, ASTC has prioritized the selection and curation of sessions and experiences at conference that take full advantage of the ability to come together physically.

This includes selecting learning sessions that promise interactivity, exchange, and co-creation that benefit from being in the same space.

It also includes thoughtful planning for the networking, informal, and social events that maximize the ability of our community to come together and connect, which is an important goal of the conference.

The San Francisco Bay Area is committed to become a model community in how it manages energy, air, water, and waste.

• San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is one of the 15 largest airports by passenger traffic in the United States. The airport offers more than 3,300 nonstop departures each week on 55 airlines, minimizing the need for connecting flights.
  • SFO is striving to be the first airport in the world to achieve “triple zero”: zero waste going to landfill, zero net energy facilities, and zero net carbon operations. Learn more.
• The San Francisco Bay Area is also served by San Jose International Airport (SJC) and Oakland International Airport (OAK), offering additional nonstop destinations.
• The San Francisco Bay Area has an extensive network of public transportation systems, including Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) subway, Caltrain, and the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni), which operates buses, light rail, and three historic cable car lines.
• Moscone Center and the conference hotels are located adjacent to public transportation.
• Driving your electric car? There are onsite chargers throughout the city, including at the headquarters hotel.
• San Francisco has enacted a Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance that requires everyone to properly separate recyclables, compostables, and trash.
• San Francisco’s Bag Reduction Ordinance minimizes the use of single-use checkout bags, and all bags be either paper with 40% minimum recycled content, certified compostable, or reusable.

These are just some of the steps that ASTC is taking to minimize the environmental footprint of the conference:

• Because many conference events will be held in a small geographic area, participants are able to walk or take public transportation between conference events. In general, conference buses will only be available when traveling to more distant locations.
• Minimize the use of paper, including encouraging use of the conference app instead of a full printed conference program.
• Any printed materials will make use of recycled and sustainable materials where possible. This includes the use of recycled materials for badges, badge holders, and lanyards wherever possible. We will also provide opportunities to deposit these materials on site for reuse or recycling at the conclusion of the conference.
• Vendors will be asked to reuse and recycle materials, as well as upcycle and donate useful materials to schools and other non-profits at the end of conference.
• Minimize the use of carpets in the Exhibit Hall.
• Avoid single-use disposable items to the extent possible (e.g., provide water stations to refill your water bottle rather than single-use bottles).

ASTC is working with Moscone Center to minimize the environmental impact of the ASTC Annual Conference.

Here are just some of the steps that the convention center already takes to promote sustainability:

• Moscone Center has head a LEED Platinum certification for Existing Building Operations and Maintenance, the highest certification offered by the US Green Building Council.
• Moscone Center has had rooftop solar since the early 1990s, and the current array is the largest rooftop solar installation by area in San Francisco. The system’s 2,600 photovoltaic modules across 45,500 sq ft have a capacity of 687 kW.
• The combined solar array and additional electricity provided from 100% greenhouse gas-free sources mean that Moscone Center generates fewer carbon emissions per visitors than any other major convention center in North America.
• Moscone Center collects and treats over 15 million gallons of groundwater for reuse in plumbing, landscape irrigation, and street cleaning, decreasing its impact on the city’s water and sewer system.
• Moscone Center has been diverting material from the waste stream for more than 25 years. Nearly 20% of the 2 million pounds now diverted as redirected as donations to local area non-profits.
• Moscone Center has an ambitious food composting program that captures all food materials as well as compostable serveware and utensils from all concession and catering locations throughout the center.
• All food serveware provided by Moscone Center is certified compostable.
• ASTC will work with the caterers to craft a menu that promotes sustainability, including consideration of the carbon cost of items.

Learn more about Environmental Sustainability at Moscone Center.