According to TreeHugger, there are at least five ways that President Obama’s Inauguration Day festivities are greener than any other in history.
For starters, Obama walked upon an environmentally-friendly carpet runner to deliver his Inauguration Day address, and was sworn in on recycled blue carpet.
Litter Free Inauguration also came forward to encourage Obama Inauguration Day attendees to bring trash bags to the ceremonies and clean up after themselves. The group originally formed after seeing the volume of garbage after Obama’s Election Night speech; you can view their video below. A bevy of brand new recycling cans are also placed at the Mall in strategic locations.
Reducing the amount of waste that litters the D.C. area after the Inauguration Day festivities isn’t just limited to trash pickup. The trash corps will also donate all of the horse manure amassed during the parade to a nearby farm. And if you’re interested in contributing to the cause, there are a number of volunteer opportunities outlined by First Lady Michelle Obama in the video above.
Finally, Obama's Inauguration Day festivities were designed for minimal impact on the environment. There were two green Inaugural Balls in honor of Obama and Biden, one hosted by Planet Green and Wyclef Jean, the other hosted by none other than climate champ Al Gore. Jean’s green Inaugural Ball was located one block from a Metro station, according to TreeHugger, and served food that was primarily organic and local.
Greenaugural Public Festivities
Eco-Friendly Features of President Obama's Inauguration Day
Trend Themes
1. Eco-friendly Festivities - The trend towards eco-friendly public events will encourage the use of sustainable materials and the reduction of waste.
2. Volunteerism and Community Engagement - The trend towards increasing volunteer opportunities at public events will increase community engagement and encourage individuals to be involved in creating positive impact.
3. Sustainable Event Planning - The trend towards sustainable event planning will encourage event planners to consider environmental impact in all aspects of event production.
Industry Implications
1. Event Planning - The event planning industry has an opportunity to embrace sustainable practices and work with vendors to provide eco-friendly options to clients.
2. Waste Management - The waste management industry has an opportunity to develop more efficient methods for minimizing waste and facilitating recycling at public events.
3. Community Engagement - The community engagement industry has an opportunity to promote volunteer opportunities and create initiatives around increasing positive impact at public events.