Equinix, Redwood City, California, United States: A Future-First Approach to Sustainable Events

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As the world’s digital infrastructure company, at Equinix we recognize our responsibility to operate with environmental consciousness at every level. As Equinix’s Global Events Team, we are proud to say that Connect, our annual sales kickoff held January 12 – 17, reflected our broader sustainability mission.

We worked with SAP Concur to estimate that approximately 2,200 mtCO2e of emissions are generated from airfare bringing our global team together. While we do not offset these emissions directly as part of our decarbonization efforts, Equinix made a large donation to The Nature Conservancy (TNC). This donation goes toward TNC’s Sustainable Aviation Fuels program, a new initiative that aims to advance biofuel technology and develop sustainable alternatives for aviation and other high-impact industries. 

Connect was designed to minimize environmental impact across all touchpoints:

• Plastic-Free Commitment: We eliminated single-use plastics at the MGM Grand, ensuring no plastic bottles, disposable cutlery, or individual condiment packets were used. Instead, attendees had access to reusable branded water bottles and beverage stations throughout the venue.
   
• Eco-Friendly Event Signage: We adopted a reuse-and-recycle strategy, repositioning signs throughout the event space as needed.
   
• Sustainable Dining: The event menus prioritized locally sourced, organic, and sustainable ingredients, reducing the carbon footprint associated with food transportation and production.
   
• Green Event Décor: All stage furniture and event props were either rented, repurposed for future events, or donated to minimize waste.
   
• Digital-First Approach: Printed materials were replaced with the Connect ’25 event app, reducing paper waste and ensuring attendees had real-time access to event information.
   
• Recycling and Donations: Items used in sessions, such as LEGO for team-building activities, were donated to Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada. Leftover food from the MGM Grand was distributed to local food banks and farms to ensure nothing went to waste, and sand from our sculpture was donated to a local school playground. 
   
• Sustainable Event Materials: Event lanyards were made from rPET (recycled plastic), while compostable cups were used for our Final Night Celebration.

In pre-event communications, we provided attendees with eco-friendly travel packing tips, promoting items like bamboo toothbrushes, reusable bags, and plastic-free cosmetics along with well-researched vendors and resources on how to easily purchase these items.

Fostering sustainability includes investing in communities. A cornerstone of every Equinix event is using our time together to make a positive impact in the city or town that hosts us. In partnership with The Pack Shack, all 1,700 Connect attendees packed over 300,000 meals for Three Square Food Bank, directly benefiting individuals experiencing food insecurity in Southern Nevada.

And healthy attendees too! Wellness is woven into each day with yoga and cardio classes, walking and running groups, a nursing mother’s room, a low-sensory screening room, and a reflection room. The Zone, an indoor space transformed into a tranquil park with games, refreshments, a book exchange, and an interactive media wall, provided an abundance of spaces dedicated to relaxing, recharging, and networking.

Through intentional choices, green practices, attendee health and wellbeing, and measurable community impact, we strive to ensure Connect represents the very best of Equinix’s values in action. The impact today's actions can have on tomorrow is front of mind in all we do.

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