Sustainability

MET cares about sustainability. We strive to be as sustainable as possible, in line with our objectives. Below is an outline of our current efforts to promote sustainability, broken down into MET (association-specific) and METM (conference-specific) initiatives.

If you have any suggestions about how we can further improve MET’s sustainability efforts, please contact our membership chair.

MET

  • We hold only one MET Council in-person meeting per year (in November during low season).
  • Our monthly Council meetings are online.
  • We send a limited number of emails per year (e.g. MET news in the monthly newsletter).
  • MET emails rarely contain attachments, to reduce email size and required storage space.
  • We regularly clean online data storage platforms and spaces to remove unused and outdated data.
  • We do not use AI when writing to members or for website copy.
  • We encourage our members to adopt sustainable approaches by outlining our efforts on this web page.
  • MET serves a social purpose as a community within the language profession for knowledge-sharing among peers.
  • We hold some workshops online – these are simpler to organize than in-person events and cut down on travel.
  • We offer regular online MET Conversations for members.
  • A MET Conversation in January 2024 focused on the topic of sustainability (read the Hive write-up; sign-in required).
  • The MET Book Club is online.
  • We currently organize one in-person workshop day per year.
  • Members working in the area of sustainability are searchable in the MET directory.
  • Our annual General Assembly is held during the conference, to convene as many members as possible without the need for extra journeys.

METM

  • To reach members across the Mediterranean, METM is designed as an itinerant conference, improving access and reducing the travel burden.
  • We aim for smaller cities with good transport links to areas where our members are based.
  • METMs sometimes revisit host cities, thereby reducing organizational workload.
  • METMs are small-scale events (approximately 150 attendees).
  • All METM planning takes place online, except for one in-person meeting of a small group of organizers to compile the programme.
  • MET Council and METM organizers are supported by a local team to lighten the workload and reduce the need to travel for pre-METM preparation.
  • There is no printed programme.
  • We use reusable signage to reduce printing.
  • There are limited printed conference materials (only on request of a speaker or workshop facilitator).
  • There is no swag (bags, stationery, flyers, etc.).
  • We reuse lanyards and badge holders year on year.
  • The METM FAQ web page includes a section on sustainability (“What about sustainability?”).
  • We share updates for METM attendees online only via “My METM” (no printed notice boards).
  • We promote and encourage sustainable and green travel.
  • Travel and accommodation information features on the MET website well in advance (on the “Getting there”, “Getting around” and “Where to stay” pages) to allow time for adequate planning of sustainable options.
  • A private METM LinkedIn group offers a space for attendees to find travel buddies and share sustainable travel ideas.
  • We ask attendees to bring their own refillable water bottles.
  • We do not use single-use cups, plates or cutlery, preferring biodegradable or reusable options.
  • We prioritize local suppliers that embrace sustainability where practical.
  • We provide vegan and vegetarian options for coffee breaks, lunches and dinners where possible.
  • We provide information on where to find vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the host city.
  • METM sponsorship packages do not include booths for representatives to cut down on travel, shipping and printing costs.
  • METMs include an online raffle with no printed tickets.

Thanks to Jason Shilcock and Helen Oclee-Brown for their contributions to this page.

This page was created in September 2025 and will be reviewed annually.

This page was last reviewed in MONTH YEAR.