Dresden: Green by nature.

In this case, first impressions are not deceptive: with its parks and gardens, tree-lined boulevards, woods, meadows and grassy embankments, green is most definitely the prevalent colour in Dresden. Around 62 percent of the surface area within the city boundaries consists of woodland and open spaces, making Dresden one of the greenest cities in Europe. The impression is further enhanced by its valley location, nestling between vineyards to the southwest and a high plateau towards the northeast. Extensive meadowland on either side of the Elbe river snakes its way through the city. Dresden clearly benefits from its favourable location. And from centuries of forward-looking town planning.

Fair in principle – fair in practice.

Fair trade, organic, locally sourced produce, sustainability – these principles also apply to the organisation of congresses and conferences in Dresden. The Saxon state capital has been supporting fair trade since May 2017 and has been accorded the status of ‘Fair Trade City’ for its efforts in this regard. More than 30 restaurants, cafes and caterers already source their produce from fair trade suppliers. There are well over 100 shops in Dresden selling products bearing the fair trade label. This is a development which is also having an impact on the congress and conference industry. In the everyday life of the city too, many small projects are contributing to the implementation of a fair trade policy. Fair trade cocoa is served in three schools, five church communities and many clubs. Every little bit helps. For a list of those who have signed up to the scheme, visit www.dresden-fairwandeln.de

Better networking.

Dresden is successful, attractive – and growing. As a consequence, the city has set out to make sustainability an overarching, high-profile issue for all stakeholders: residents, politicians and local administrators, the business community, academics and researchers, transport planners and urban developers. One tool for accomplishing this is ‘Local Agenda 21 for Dresden’, a close-knit and growing network of more than 80 individual initiatives. At the same time, the researchers behind the REGKLAM project are developing strategies to enable the city and region to adapt to climate change.

City with a future.

Dresden is today thinking about urban living tomorrow. For example, by participation in ‘Zukunftsstadt’, a nationwide project aimed at developing ideas and visions for urban living in the year 2030 and beyond and at trialling them under realistic conditions. However, Dresden is working not only on its own future but also on the great global challenges in areas such as life science and new materials. In line with clearly defined areas of expertise, Dresden as a scientific hub and economic powerhouse is playing a key role in Industry 4.0, in areas of health care such as dementia research and cancer therapy, and in theoretical and applied research on sustainable materials. Mobility in the future is also a key issue in Dresden: the Volkswagen ‘Transparent Factory’ is retooling for the e-Golf in readiness for the post-combustion engine era, and it is not the only major employer switching production in this way. Revolutionary inventions affecting the future of urban construction are being developed in Dresden, one such being Carbonbeton, a carbon concrete composite that has won an award for innovation and is about to change the way that we build and live tomorrow.

Best practice.

The Maritim Hotel & Internationales Congress Center Dresden is setting an example in terms of corporate responsibility to the rest of the conference sector in Dresden, having committed itself to abide by the stringent guidelines of fairpflichtet.de, the Sustainability Code of the German-speaking Events Industry. It is following up words with deeds by using energy-saving LED bulbs, by reducing its annual waste output in compliance with DIN EN ISO 14040, by purchasing seasonal and regional as well as fair trade produce, and by offering a special ‘Green Meeting’ conference package and climate-neutral travel arrangements in association with the national rail network, Deutsche Bahn.

• Delegates are encouraged to travel to and from the event by train, thereby drastically reducing the amount of individual journeys made
• All Deutsche Bahn rail trips with the Umwelt Plus event ticket are carbon neutral
• Most GTM hotels are conveniently situated with good public transport connections
• Volunteers from the local area will be waiting at key locations (hotels, train station, airport, etc.) to provide visitors with public transport information and directions
• Coordinated transfers (intelligent logistics)

• The invitation process is completely electronic
• All information and services related to the GTM Germany Travel Mart™ can be accessed online and are now only provided electronically
• Use of paper is discouraged as far as possible
• Delegates are made more aware of sustainable behaviour

• The paper used for name badges is sourced from FSC-certified forests
• All printed materials (brochures, pocket guides, etc.) are printed double-sided on FSC-certified paper and they are produced print compensated
• GTM delegates are given a conference bag made from renewable resources

Give-aways

• Lunchbag
  • Made from renewable sources (cotton)

• Contractors are selected based on a list of criteria for sustainable exhibition-stand construction
• Materials and components are re-used multiple times
• Eco-friendly building materials are used wherever possible
• Preference is given to water-based colours and paints
• Considerable resources are conserved by hiring exhibition furniture
• Packaging and freight are minimised (intelligent logistics)

In this case, first impressions are not deceptive: with its parks and gardens, tree-lined boulevards, woods, meadows and grassy embankments, green is most definitely the prevalent colour in Dresden. Around 62 percent of the surface area within the city boundaries consists of woodland and open spaces, making Dresden one of the greenest cities in Europe. The impression is further enhanced by its valley location, nestling between vineyards to the southwest and a high plateau towards the northeast. Extensive meadowland on either side of the Elbe river snakes its way through the city. Dresden clearly benefits from its favourable location. And from centuries of forward-looking town planning.

Fair trade, organic, locally sourced produce, sustainability – these principles also apply to the organisation of congresses and conferences in Dresden. The Saxon state capital has been supporting fair trade since May 2017 and has been accorded the status of ‘Fair Trade City’ for its efforts in this regard. More than 30 restaurants, cafes and caterers already source their produce from fair trade suppliers. There are well over 100 shops in Dresden selling products bearing the fair trade label. This is a development which is also having an impact on the congress and conference industry. In the everyday life of the city too, many small projects are contributing to the implementation of a fair trade policy. Fair trade cocoa is served in three schools, five church communities and many clubs. Every little bit helps. For a list of those who have signed up to the scheme, visit www.dresden-fairwandeln.de

The Maritim Hotel Dresden and the adjoining International Congress Center currently employ the following sustainability measures:

• Increased implementation of energy-saving LED lighting.
• Usage-based illumination concept implemented within the conference and seminar rooms in particular.
• Ongoing, centralised energy controlling.
• Water usage monitoring.
• Reduced flush option on the toilets.
• Strict refuse sorting.
• Annual refuse audit through the Fraunhofer Institute’s internationally recognised sustainability certificate in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14040.

• The product range includes foods that are certified organic and fair trade (organic bakeries and organic vegetable stand)
• Preference is given to regional and seasonal products
• Exotic products from overseas are actively avoided
• Food is served with re-usable rather than disposable tableware in order to avoid waste
• Seafood products carry the Marine Stewardship Council label
• The coffee is obtained from sustainable sources and the soft drinks are from the local area

• All facilities have disabled access – delegates are asked when registering if they have any special requirements that need to be accommodated
• There is a series of seminars for buyers on the subject of sustainability and Green Germany
• All sustainability measures are clearly communicated (through press releases, the website, etc.)