Global destination and event management company Pacific World released more information about its #bringchangewithME initiative at IMEX America 2019, which was held in Las Vegas September 10-12.

Developed by Pacific World’s teams around the world, the initiative represents a “ground up” commitment to address social, economic and environmental problems through meaningful, hands-on activities at key destinations.

“There are many issues that we in the business events industry can directly address by modifying our approach to events,” said Selina Sinclair, global managing director, Pacific World. “We see opportunities to make a difference in the areas of climate change, plastic pollution, waste management, and social sustainability. Mitigating or reversing the damage from these areas such as climate change and pollution can seem like an impossibly daunting task. But, we believe that, through the grassroots approach of the #bringchangewithME movement, we start by empowering and inspiring people at an individual level. From there, it ripples out, growing and evolving to where everyone believes in and supports sustainable solutions to move us forward.”

Pacific World has identified key issues facing its destinations and designed activities that make attendees part of the solution. These include:

Climate Change – Reforestation: 1. Spain: In response to the fires, drought, and overdevelopment that have devastated Spain’s forests, Pacific World is co-ordinating with local eco-social businesses and NGOs on local tree planting events and seeding programs as well as the creation of corporate gifts, like seedable paper and seed cookies, that can be planted anywhere. 2. Seoul, Korea: To help the government of Seoul reach its goal of planting 30 million trees by 2022, Pacific World is working with local tree-planting groups on team-building activities to plant trees around the city. In addition, event attendees and corporate clients can adopt trees to be planted.

Waste, especially non-biodegradable plastics: 1. Bali, Indonesia: Bali recently enacted a “no plastics” rule to reduce the use of single-use plastic (shopping bags, water bottles, straws, etc,). Pacific World event attendees in Bali will help clean up discarded plastics and promote the use of recycled and recyclable bottles and bags. 2. France: France is committed to being carbon-neutral by 2050 and to help reach that goal, the country is working to recycle 50 percent of its waste by 2020. Working with local artists, guests at Pacific World events will form teams to create up-cycled art from discarded objects and materials, like plastic, cardboard, glass, metal and more.

Social Sustainability: 1. Singapore: For several years, Singapore has been lifting up its citizens with disabilities through the development of employment opportunities and support and has pledged to invest $400 million over the next five years. Pacific World is supporting local social businesses, like the Enabling Village, a project that celebrates Singapore’s diversity of abilities, and organizes bespoke experiences for meetings and events. 2. United Kingdom: Pacific World is helping to mitigate two problems: food waste and food insecurity. Pacific World has collaborated to develop cooking activities using overlook ingredients to prepare home-cooked meals and distribute them to homeless shelters and soup kitchens.