Oracle Open World goes green in San Francisco

Erwin Oliva INQUIRER.net SAN FRANCISCO, California â Amid the highly technical sessions and talks here a t Oracle Open World, there are sessions, exhibits, and non-event related initia tives dedicated to promoting the global green movement. Talking during the Oracle Open World opening day, San Francisco mayor Gavin New som said the city has been host to this major technology event for several year s. Recently, both the city and Oracle have made strides to implement green init iatives. Newsom stressed San Francisco is one of the cities that have the best recycling programs in the United States. The city currently recovers 69 percent of the m aterials it discards, with the goals of 75 percent landfill diversion by 2010 a nd zero waste by 2020. He also pointed out that the power that lights Moscone Center, the venue of Ora cle Open World, is a result of their solar energy program. In its website, Oracle added that San Francisco's Moscone Center, wh ich has been instituting green programs for years, has replaced all disposable food and beverage products with biodegradable items. It is also evident this year that Oracle has been using less paper, as most of the materials given to attendees, the press and bloggers are now available in e lectronic copy through its website or through electronic kiosks found all over the venue. According to Oracle, it has launched the OpenWorld Green Program this year to f ocus on sustainability and helping customers and partners attending the show to also become more aware of green movement. âOracle is committed to using online methods of communication wherever possible and appropriate in its drive toward paperless meetings and events. This includ es taking advantage of electronic ticketing and reservation systems and using o nline registration, online agendas and exhibitor kits, digital and recyclable s ignage, downloadable speaker presentations and handouts and electronic event ev aluation,â the company said. In 2007, Oracle said that 57 percent of all waste was diverted from landfill, 2 ,000 pounds of food was donated to San Francisco charity, 80 percent of exhibit ors used online kits, print materials used 10 percent post-consumer recycled-co ntent paper and soy-based inks, and shuttles and other transportation focused o n using âgreenerâ vehicles. About 43,000 people are attending this yearâs Oracle OpenWorld in San Francisco . This international event runs from September 21 to September 25 at Moscone Ce nter. This year's conference will feature 1,800-plus educational sessions; 450- plus partner exhibits including the Intel-sponsored Inside Innovation; 300-plus live Oracle product demos in the Oracle DEMOgrounds and 200-plus industry sess ions.