Sustainability

Since 2013, VERGE events have built 100% renewably powered microgrids using off-the-shelf equipment to support the operations of the event. At VERGE 17, the microgrid will be installed in the Santa Clara Convention Center and be comprised of a combination of components across different technologies from startups and leading providers. Tours will be available throughout the event to learn about the interoperability, resilience and radical efficiency of technology solutions available today. Click here to learn more.

We'll offset VERGE 17's carbon impact with the help of Natural Capital Partners. Attendee travel, energy consumption, waste emissions and other carbon impacts associated with VERGE 17 will be offset in verified carbon reduction projects, reducing the emissions to net zero. At previous GreenBiz Events, we’ve delivered essential finance to the India Solar Water Heating Project, Seneca Meadows Landfill Project, Mississippi Valley Reforestation and Guatemala Water Filtration & Improved Cookstoves.

We'll balance VERGE 17's water footprint with the help of Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Change the Course, restoring approximately 820,000 gallons of freshwater to critically depleted ecosystems across North America. The Change the Course campaign is a national water initiative founded by BEF, National Geographic, and Participant Media. The initiative engages the public and the business community in reducing water footprints and returning water to nature. For every personal pledge to conserve, Change the Course returns 1,000 gallons to rivers and wetlands in need. Change the Course partners with on-the-ground conservation groups to fund innovative restoration projects that restore water and enhance water security.

We're partnering with Copia to redistribute all of our surplus food to nonprofits in the Santa Clara area community. Today in America, 40% of the food we produce goes wasted, while 1 in 6 people are food insecure. What this means: hunger in our country is not a scarcity problem, it's a logistics problem. Copia is the first technology-enabled food recovery solution. They've built industry-leading logistics to solve hunger and food waste at scale, and GreenBiz is proud to be part of the solution.

We strive to use sustainable materials in all aspects of our conference production. Aosa Print & Display provides beautiful, durable, recycled and recyclable signage, designed to look great and stay out of the landfill. We create our banners and backdrops from fabric made of 100% recycled PET printed with no VOC water based inks. Signage boards are 100% recyclable and made from 30% PCW, and wooden boards are made from FSC certified baltic birch. Metal signs are 100% recyclable and made from 100% domestic metal.

By using the VERGE 17 conference app, you are helping to reduce paper use at the conference. Thank you!