SLAS is dedicated to fostering a greener and more sustainable future, exemplified by its commitment to implementing sustainability efforts for the SLAS2024 conference. Recognizing the urgent need for environmental responsibility, the Society aims to reduce its ecological footprint, minimize waste and promote eco-friendly practices, ensuring that the conference advances scientific knowledge and contributes positively to the planet.
Attendee pledge Exhibitor Survey
Sustainability in Action
Here are actions we’re prioritizing this year to make progress toward our goals:
- Donation Programs: Exhibit materials such as furniture and household items will be diverted from the landfill and donated to the local community through the BCEC Conventions C.A.R.E. program. We will work with the Food for Free food rescue program to help the community fight food insecurity.
- Community Impact: This year, we're offering attendees a way to give back to our host city through donations and volunteer engagements that benefit the Boston community.
- Give Back to Boston Bash | Tuesday, February 6: The Tuesday exhibition hall reception will focus on giving back to our host city of Boston. Join us in engaging with these local partners!
- Cold Weather Kit Donations: Attendees can compile Cold Weather Kits to be donated directly to Rosie’s Place. Make a kit and receive a hot chocolate (cordial optional!); look for these marked stations in the exhibition hall.
- Adopt (or just snuggle) a Shelter Dog: Shultz’s Guest House will bring adoptable dogs to SLAS2024 for lots of petting! Stop by one of these two stations at the exhibition hall reception to snuggle or adopt a shelter dog and/or to donate to this shelter. SLAS is covering expenses for Shultz volunteers and making a monetary donation to the shelter.
(Note: adoptions are limited to local participants.)
- Food Drive: SLAS has organized a food drive, with donations going to Food for Free. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Food for Free! If you cannot donate a food item, monetary donations will be accepted at the Food for Free station.
- Speak for the Trees, Boston: SLAS is partnering with Speak for the Trees, Boston, to offset emissions resulting from travel to SLAS2024. Attendees can meet with Speak for the Trees, Boston, at the Give Back to Boston Bash on Tuesday, February 6, or donate directly in advance. SLAS will donate $1.00 for every post-conference event evaluation completed to Speak for the Trees, Boston. Be sure to watch your email and complete the evaluation!
- Support our Diverse Industry: Join us at the SLAS Ignite Theater on Feb 7th to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the Lab.
- Vendor Procurement and Sustainability Guides: We implemented supply vetting systems and provided exhibitors with best practices to reduce the environmental impact of the expo.
- Offsetting Your Footprint: Travel is an integral aspect of SLAS shows and constitutes our events' primary source of carbon emissions. More information about our partnership with Speak for the Trees, Boston and how the SLAS community can contribute is coming soon.
- Signage: We eliminated foam core signage in favor of recyclable and reusable materials like honeycomb substrate long ago. We aim to replace printed signage throughout the convention center with digital signage.
- Reusables: Look for water refill stations throughout the convention center for easy water refill.
- Accessibility – Our team is working to create an accessible environment by considering aisle space in the meeting rooms, a registration counter at an ADA-compliant height and more. See the "accommodations" section below for a detailed list of accessible accommodations.
In Partnership With
We can’t make change without the support of attendees, exhibitors, and key partners like the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC), Freeman and other vendors to make SLAS2024 more environmentally sustainable.
We’ve partnered with Honeycomb Strategies to manage the sustainability of our event.
You won’t need to go out of your way to be sustainable at SLAS2024. Learn about the easy ways you can make an individual impact on the show’s sustainability efforts.
- Sustainability Pledge Join us by pledging to make small acts that have a significant impact.
Take the Pledge
- Sort Your Waste: The BECE has recycling and compost programs to reduce waste in landfills. Make it matter by using the correct bin when discarding items.
- Moderate Consumption and Plant-Based Foods: Take only what you need at food functions and choose to eat vegetarian at least one meal per day. This will help reduce carbon emissions associated with food production.
- Reuse and Reduce: Bring your favorite reusable water bottle or coffee mug to reduce your waste and resource footprint.
- Be Energy Smart: Remember to turn off lights when leaving your hotel room and participate in your hotel’s Linen Reuse Program, which will conserve water.
- Carbon Emissions and Offsets: Travel is an integral aspect of SLAS shows and constitutes our events' primary source of carbon emissions. More information about our partnership with Speak for the Trees, Boston and how the SLAS community can contribute is coming soon.
- Public Transportation: Take the T! The Silver Line is complimentary from Logan Airport and stops at the Seaport/World Trade Center Stop just across the street from the BCEC. Take the Silver Line back to the airport for only $2.75.
- Mobile App: We’ve loaded all the helpful information for the conference, including schedules, maps and emergency information, onto our mobile app. The app increases convenience and access to essential materials and decreases the impact of printed materials on the show floor.
- Create an Inclusive Community: When filling up your schedule with unique activities, consider seeing a speaker whose background differs from yours.
- Exhibitors are encouraged to showcase their sustainability efforts and initiatives through active participation in the SLAS2024 Exhibitor Sustainability Survey.
Take the Exhibitor Survey
- We encourage all exhibitors to limit paper waste. Providing information digitally to collect customer contact information for future follow-up is good for business and the environment. Every 8,300 sheets you don’t print saves one tree!
- Booth and business materials should be reusable at best or at least recyclable. Recycling one aluminum can save enough energy to run a 100-watt light bulb for 20 hours, a computer for three hours and a TV for two hours (Environmental Protection Agency). Talk to Heritage early about options for rental furniture and other sustainable materials for your booth build.
- For those items you can’t reuse, SLAS has partnered with Honeycomb Strategies and the BCEC’s Conventions C.A.R.E. program to offer a donation program to serve the local community. (Learn More)
- Remember to pack in/pack out all materials. You are responsible for disposing of your waste correctly during move-in and move-out and during your time at the event.
- If your exhibit provides samples, encourage attendees to forego packaging or accommodate a reusable bag or cup provided by your patron.
- Follow procurement guidelines from show management – for sustainable, reusable and recyclable items:
- Signage – if you can, use digital signage like a tablet or flatscreen monitor. Print signs on honeycomb substrate or other recycled and recyclable material if this isn't an option. Any flyers or cards should also follow this guidance.
- Swag – consider the gift guide.
Freeman has committed to diminish its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2030, with a further pledge to achieve net-zero carbon operations by 2050. As a pioneer in the events industry, Freeman is at the forefront of innovation, introducing comprehensive solutions that cover every facet of live events. Freeman has attained ISO 14001 and ISO 20121 certifications to uphold these commitments. We encourage you to delve deeper into the diverse elements of Freeman's innovative approaches across their portfolio of shows.
Learn More Freeman sustainability infographic
In 2016, the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) was certified LEED Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council. The state-of-the-art Lutron Lighting Systems installed throughout the facility provide sensor-controlled lighting in all meeting rooms, saving 1,300,000 kwH a year. Lighting and HVAC are reduced during show move-in and move-out to improve building efficiency.
- Accessibility: Our team is working to create an accessible environment by considering aisle space in the meeting rooms and including a registration counter at an ADA-compliant height. Additionally, the exhibit hall floor will not have carpet.
- Wheelchair Access: Should you require a wheelchair, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center provides a limited number of wheelchairs, free of charge, to attendees. For assistance in obtaining a wheelchair, please contact the BCEC Public Safety Department at +1 (617)-954-2222.
- Special Meals: We are working with the catering team to accommodate dietary restrictions as submitted via the registration page. All food items with common allergies will be listed. For guests needing additional dietary accommodations, emails will be sent out before the conference confirming the location and availability of specialty meals for each meal function included for SLAS2024.
- Nursing Parents: The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center provides a Mamava nursing suite for attendees. This private and secure suite can be found at the Southeast Level 1, adjacent to the restrooms. The Mamava suite has two benches, a table, a mirror, a coat hook, occupancy-activated lighting, ceiling vents and exhaust fans. It also includes an interior, dual, high-quality hospital-grade outlets and a USB port. By using the Mamava mobile app, users can adjust lighting and airflow in the suite. The suite is ADA-compliant and has a 60’’ turnaround and dual grab bars.
- Auditory: Closed captioning services will be available in all scientific podium and general session rooms. Instructions for accessing and utilizing the closed captioning services will be provided on-site.
- Quiet Room: SLAS will provide a quiet room (details, hours, and location can be found on the SLAS Event Scheduler and App) to be used by attendees at their discretion should they need to.
In an effort to ensure presentations at SLAS are accessible to the attendees, SLAS is recommending speakers consider the checklist below when creating their presentations:
- Use a sans serif font (e.g. Ariel, Helvetica, Calibiri)
- Minimum font size 28 point
- Limit the amount of text on each slide
- Avoid blinking or flashing lights, images, or graphics
- Use a color contrast checker when using color combinations other than black and white (e.g. https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/)
- Avoid these color combinations for text/background and within figures:
- Green and red
- Green and brown
- Blue and purple
- Green and blue
- Light Green and yellow
- Blue and grey
- Green and grey
- Green and black
- Do not use color alone to distinguish different data sets; use a combination of both different colors and different symbols
- Caption any videos
Thank You to Our Partners
Thank you to the SLAS2024 International Conference and Exhibition Sustainability Partner, who helped us reach our goals!
About Honeycomb Strategies
Honeycomb Strategies provides sustainability expertise for live events and venues. We help trade shows, conferences, convention centers, arenas and organizations identify sustainable solutions, engage stakeholders, develop data management systems and implement programs to measure impact so that events can thrive. From immediate action planning to long-term goals, our work helps clients demonstrate leadership and commitment to environmental and social sustainability. As a women-owned business and accredited B Corporation, Honeycomb Strategies aims to inspire people to see sustainability as both an opportunity and a responsibility.
