Kermit the Frog is not dead!

Green is quickly becoming the color of choice in many of today's industries, not because of the way it looks, but because of what it means. Going green in event planning means selecting supplies and services with a sensitivity toward reducing the threats we face from global warming, species extinction, deforestation, toxic waste and hazardous chemicals in our water and food. The Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-partisan environmental and advocacy organization, has a great website and tons of information about how to go green at home, work, play, etc.

photo by BizBash

The 2007 Academy Awards took the issue very seriously when they re-shaped many of the details of the event. Tissue products in the pre-show trailers, Kodak Theatre, dressing rooms and green rooms were 100% recycled content, non-endangered forest paper. Hybrid vehicles were made available for presenters and staff. Nearly 100% of Wolfgang Puck’s Governor’s Ball menu was organic and environmentally friendly, including seafood, dairy and produce selections. Puck used only organic, locally grown, sustainable ingredients and meat from humanely treated animals when serving the evening’s 1,600 pounds of lobster, 800 pounds of chicken, 400 pounds of Kobe beef, 40 pounds of black truffles, and 40 pounds of salmon. These were just a few of the steps taken by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the huge awards show that stops Hollywood in its tracks every year!

photo by BizBash

On our coast, another notably green event was the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. The night’s earth-friendly elements included email invites, the use of soy-based inks on biodegradable materials Bioflex and Duraplast for signage, generators powered with biodiesel, and organic food for catering.

photo by BizBash

above, the simple but stunning candle wrapped in banana leaves and tied with raffia

photos by BizBash and Jennifer Binder

Green is the word, is the word that they heard, its got groove, its got meaning.

Go green -- it will make you feel better.