The Local Organizing Team is committed to sustainability and has taken steps to make the conference as sustainable as possible, even if some choices may feel unusual – here is the thinking behind them.
A lifecycle perspective guided planning, with a centrally located venue and nearby social event chosen to ensure easy access on foot or by public transportation.
We also carefully selected all materials and gifts. Printed handouts have been avoided in favor of digital alternatives. Promotional items were minimized, and chosen gifts are minimalistic, locally made and culturally meaningful.
As a token of appreciation, each participant receives a handmade natural beeswax candle from Saldūs Ūsai, a small Lithuanian apiary actively engaged in educational activities and sustainability projects.
Bees are deeply honored in Baltic cosmology, and honey and wax hold a special place in our cultural traditions. By offering this gift, we also share symbolic wishes with you. Bees perform the vital function of pollination, sustaining ecosystems and symbolizing biodiversity. Culturally, they represent diligence, care, community, mutual support, and resilience – the ability to overcome adversities and create thriving hives together. In Lithuanian, the word for friendship – bičiulystė – literally means “partnership in beekeeping”.
Rootedness in place is one of the core principles of sustainability. To honor Lithuanian traditions and culture, we also collaborated with artists from the region, designed social activities that are meaningful yet low in environmental impact, and invited Nemunas, a university based Lithuanian folk ensemble, to share interactive performances with our participants.
To reduce the environmental impact of catering, we offer only vegetarian and vegan meals. In order to avoid single-use items, our catering partners provide reusable or compostable dishware.
As Lithuania is known for its high-quality drinking water, no bottled water will be offered during the conference. Instead, we encourage participants to bring their own refillable bottles, with refill stations conveniently available throughout the venue.
