#GreenLibraries Scotland grow thanks to CILIPS23

Category: Blog, CILIPSGoGreen

‘I love the efforts to lessen the environmental impact. I think that this conference could even be used as an example to other conferences. Everything ran smoothly and was enjoyable even with changes that lessen the impact.’

2023 Annual Conference delegate feedback.

Growing from the CILIPS Carbon Neutrality Plan, our extensive #CILIPSGoGreen resource collection, and the success of our steps in making last year’s conference more environmentally friendly, we wanted to ensure that our 2023 Annual Conference went even further in being as sustainable as it was inspirational. But how did we do?

Exclusively Digital Programme

As we discovered in preparation for last year’s conference, printing x 250 even for a low-weight paper item like the CILIPS23 programme generates 0.02 tCO2e. 2023 therefore saw the introduction of our first-ever exclusively digital programme, inviting delegates and exhibitors to use the virtual version wherever possible (although alternative formats for accessibility were available on request).

We shared the digital programme PDF with delegates prior to their arrival and uploaded a copy to our website, with QR codes for download on the day also posted around the conference space. Why not browse the fantastic full schedule for yourself?

‘Having a digital programme was good,’ noted one CILIPS23 delegate, while another observed that ‘it was nice not having to carry around a lot of paper’. Others also liked ‘less of a focus on paper handouts than in other conferences I’ve been to’ and confirmed that ‘less printing’ was a ‘good step forward’.

And within the programme itself? Delegates were delighted by our much-anticipated parallel session on Going Green at Glasgow Women’s Library through gardening, documenting action, inspiring change, and reducing carbon emissions. Led by Green Creative Cluster member Gabrielle McBeth, our delegates described this session ‘inspiring’ and ‘really useful with so much practical application’: access Gabrielle’s presentation slides here or learn more about GWL’s pioneering new Handbook to Net Zero.

Another especially exciting environmental moment of the conference came when CILIPS President Richard Aird officially opened the inaugural Green Libraries Scotland Grant Fund. Supporting small-scale exploratory programmes, activities and knowledge-sharing within Scottish libraries of all sectors that seek to improve overall understanding and take actions to demonstrate environmental responsibility, stay tuned for announcements about our first Grant recipients soon…

Fully Vegetarian Lunch Menus with Reduced Waste

Our conference venue, the Dundee Apex Hotel, already has a reduced food/water waste strategy in place, and we complemented this in 2023 by choosing locally-produced fully vegetarian lunch menus.

Informed by the World Wildlife Fund Carbon Footprint Calculator, we estimate that the tCO2e impact of vegetarian food is on average only 50% of that for a meat meal. Multiplied by 250 lunches across both days, this means that our delegates once again supported a substantial reduction in our conference carbon footprint, whilst also enjoying some tasty treats:

‘Impressed by the veggie lunch!’

‘The vegetarian lunch was delicious.’

‘Having an all vegetarian, largely vegan, lunch was great too.’

‘Loved seeing the all veggie menu!’

‘Really liked the vegetarian menu and focus on sustainability, continuing this would be great.’

Car Sharing and Electric Car Charging

Another innovation for 2023, inspired by delegate feedback last year, was our car sharing scheme, supported by signposting to electric car charging points via our dedicated padlet page. With 38% of Scotland’s carbon emissions coming from cars (Transport Scotland 2022), making travel to and from the conference more sustainable, without compromising accessibility, was of vital importance to us, as well as corresponding with a key commitment of the CILIPS Carbon Neutrality Plan.

We were delighted to see delegates using the padlet to arrange travel options – as well as getting to know one another in advance of the event, with ‘bring good chat and a travel sweetie’ amongst our favourite invitations! Building on this success, next year’s scheme will be promoted further with help from our brilliant Regional Branches to ensure that even more delegates get the opportunity to take part, connect and contribute to our carbon reduction plans.

‘A useful initiative – I will offer lifts next time!’

‘Swag Bags’ and an Environmentally Friendly Conference Exhibitor Challenge

The eco-friendly cat is out of the bag – here is a list of the sustainable goodies that graced our CILIPS23 delegate totes (affectionately known as our conference ‘swag bags’)!

• Handmade recycled newspaper pencils, supporting women in Nepal to improve their economic and educational situations
• Exclusive #CILIPSGoGreen eco-jotters, inspired by our friends at National Library of Scotland
• The ever-iconic CILIPS conference wildflower library garden seeds!
• Unite Against Book Bans bookmarks printed on carbon captured paper (which includes a tree-planting donation to the Woodland Trust).

Our sustainability steps also inspired us to devise an eco-twist on our much-loved Annual Conference Exhibitor Challenge, in which delegates gather signatures from our fantastic sponsors and exhibitors to be entered into a prize draw. Inviting delegates to collect signatures in the backs of their eco-notebooks rather than on specially printed forms saved us at least 35 sheets (and all the paper that was used for the competition and any additional conference admin was also carbon captured).

‘The seeds from the goodie bag are growing nicely in my balcony box!’ one delegate has already told us. Be sure to share the photos on CILIPS social media using #CILIPSGoGreen and #GreenLibraries…

Next Steps

For more on how library and information professionals can catalyse climate action, please continue to check out our regularly updated CILIPSGoGreen resource collection and remember to join us in the Green Libraries Network: working together for people and planet.

Save the date for our CILIPSGoGreen online mini-conference during Scotland’s Climate Week, get ready for an extra-special Green Libraries Week at the start of October, and stay tuned for announcements coming soon about the pioneering projects that have received Green Libraries Scotland Grant Funding…

Once again inspired by delegate feedback, we are already gathering ideas for how to take our conference environmental commitments to the next level in 2024. Could a game of CILIPSGoGreen bingo be on the cards for Green Champions who bring their own coffee cups, download the digital programme, post their thoughts to the Green Libraries Network and successfully see their library garden seeds take root?

We are also especially proud of the wonderful exhibitors and sponsors who joined us in making the conference more sustainable, with a special shoutout going to our friends at BetterWorldBooks, Green Libraries Network members who have helped with judging the inaugural Green Libraries Scotland Grant Fund. Next year, we will look to introduce new steps that will further strengthen our sustainability credentials, and above all we would like to express our thanks to each and every CILIPS23 delegate for their enthusiasm and engagement this time around.

Let’s conclude with their thoughts on library-led environmental action:

‘I appreciate that this is being considered and the steps taken.’

‘There were a number of great visible efforts made to lessen the environmental impact.’

‘I really support the measures that CILIPS put in place.’

‘I think the lengths to which CILIPS went this year were commendable and truly in line with their sustainability values. Big kudos to the team for all their work in this area.’