The MakeMeSustainable SXSW Green Initiative

MakeMeSustainable is launching a novel program to engage SXSW conference attendees in an effort to reduce our collective environmental impact. The intitiative represents the next generation of event sustainability by focusing on the potential of attendees to implement and broadcast environmental efforts to audiences far beyond the event alone. The tool seeks to translate the interest sparked by sustainable initiatives into long-term community engagement. To encourage greater participation, carbon offset provider Evolution Sage has generously agreed to match 50% of all SXSW attendees' carbon reductions! This means by taking responsibility for their own footprint, each SXSW participant is actually helping us all!

The Interactive Carbon Tree

The Interactive Carbon Tree leverages MMS' underlying platform to track the real-time carbon reductions of all event participants, as well as the networks they mobilize. Essentially, it exhibits the ‘environmental ripple effect' of the competition by tracking all of the actions stimulated by continued user engagement.

The tool utilizes three dynamic elements:

1. Carbon Tree - includes a rotating display of participants, real-time ticker of their aggregate carbon reductions and a contextualization of their impact
2. Community Timeline - acts as a news feed to display the personal element behind the numbers and connect the actions of fans with the larger collective effort
3. Leader Board - highlights the most active participants, by not just displaying their individual carbon reductions, but those of their personal carbon trees and the environmental networks they have constructed through referring friends and so on.

The SXSW Group at MakeMeSustainable

Attendees and their invites will be able to join the he SXSW carbon competition through the SXSW group page. The competition will start March 4 and we encourage everyone who receives an early invitation to sign up, take action and mobilize their communities. The group provides real time updates of carbon reductions, SXSW participants and user commentary.

Say No to Paper

In an effort to minimize the environmental footprint of the initiative MMS has no printed materials or pamphlets regarding the program. The ICT relies on word of mouth, viral and online dissemination. We strongly encourage online periodicals, blogs, vlogs and other sources to encourage user participation by placing the html carbon tree badges (discussed below) on their sites. MMS will be projecting the SXSW ICT in various locations throughout SXSW Interactive to provide the most updated statistics and serve as a reminder for festival attendees to sign up for the program.

Carbon Badges

Two versions of the SXSW Carbon Tree Badge will be made available for use throughout the carbon competition and beyond:

1. Individual Badge - will display the carbon reductions of the host for the badge as well as the networks formed through their invites and subsequent referrals. The use of the badge will spur viral dissemination of the competition and empower users who wish to top the leader board.
2. SXSW Badge - will display the aggregate carbon reductions of the entire event and will mirror the results exhibited on the ICT.

An example of an active carbon tree badge can be found on the following band page for Jose Gonzalez. A link to create badges will be sent upon request by sending us an email.