IBRO 2011 is adopting environmentally friendly methods to manage the congress and to help reduce the environmental burdens to achieve a sustainable world economy and liveable planet.

Measures taken by the IBRO 2011 Local Organizing Board and by the PCO towards sustainability are:

• Presentation handouts will be available online and will be sent electronically on request after the meeting or copied onto reused CD’s to distribute. When needed, handout material will be printed on both sides of the paper.

• Reduce paper usage by allowing attendees to register online. All correspondence will be made through e-mail to reduce paper consumption.

• Printed material will be made on recycled-content paper when possible. Goldenrod or bright, fluorescent coloured paper will be avoided because it is difficult to recycle. Only the amount strictly needed to distribute for dissemination and for delegates will be printed.

• Collection boxes will be made available so that after the meeting, attendees can leave their badge-holders for future use.

• Reusable or recyclable signs will be used to direct people to appropriate meeting rooms.

• Unused paper will be removed from meeting rooms each day for reuse at future meetings or in offices or will be deposited in designated recycling bins.

• Should any give away promotional item be produced for the congress, it will be made from recycled material and will not contain toxic material.

• Speakers will be kindly invited to use an overhead projector to present material instead of using flip charts or handouts.

• The Congress's green policy will be mentioned in pre-meeting brochures, meeting updates and in verbal reminders to all attendees during the event. The Congress Board will ask participants for their cooperation and participation. A meeting evaluation at the end of the congress will be conducted, when attendees will be asked for feedback and suggestions on the "green" efforts made.

• Post minutes or other handouts from the Congress will be posted either on the Internet or circulated electronically after the meeting.

• Catering services will be carried out with the aimof reducing water wastage, paper, plastic and other material. Moreover, food not used at the congress will be donated to organizations responsible for social assistance.

• The catering service company will use a separated collection of rubbish.

• When boxed lunches are used, they will be totally biodegradable, both container and content.

• The ground logistics of the event will preclude the need to use transportation – buses, metro, trams – as all facilities like the congress centre, the hotels and the venues for social programme will be located at walking distance from each other. Just once more advantage Florence can offer.

• Air conditioning will be used at reasonable levels and times to prevent waste of electricity and carbon dioxide emission.

The IBRO 2011 Local Organizing Board together with the PCO will be working continuously to improve the green activities within the congress to make it a sustainable one.