PRESS RELEASE • AMERSFOORT, June 26, 2024

Onemeeting and Dopper have joined forces to transform the meeting & event industry with the launch of Plastic-Free Meetings. This new, turnkey concept for locations stems from their shared mission to combat plastic pollution and create a more sustainable future for the meetings industry – without packaged water.

Onemeeting, a leading platform for booking meeting and event venues, has always had a strong commitment to sustainability. Through their collaboration with Dopper, the company behind the sustainable reusable water bottle and water tap, they are now taking an important step to tackle plastic pollution in the industry. In a ready-made concept, they make it possible for every meeting & event location to offer plastic-free meetings.

“As a leader in the meetings & events industry, we believe it is our responsibility to drive positive change. Plastic-free Meetings is an important initiative that enables all types of locations to reduce their impact on the environment and offer our customers a more sustainable option,” explains Kevin van Grondelle, Chief Commercial Officer of Onemeeting. “It has been a hot topic in our industry for years: how do you take concrete, sustainable steps without spending thousands of euros on certifications or advisors. For me, that starts with these types of turnkey initiatives.”

At the heart of this collaboration is the commitment to eliminating packaged water and other single-use plastics within the industry. Through Plastic Free Meetings, meetings and events are organized without plastic packaging, mono packaging or PET bottles. Instead, participants are encouraged to bring or pre-order their reusable Dopper bottles and fill them with tap water, significantly reducing the amount of plastic waste.

Virginia Yanquilevich, CEO of Dopper, adds: “We are excited about this partnership with Onemeeting. By means of Making plastic-free meetings possible, we hope to not only reduce the impact of single-use plastic during meetings and events, but also raise awareness about the huge, unnecessary environmental impact of packaged water. With this initiative we show people that a simple, sustainable alternative already exists: simply refill your reusable water bottle with tap water.”

A crucial element of Plastic-Free Meetings is the combination with the Dopper Water Tap, in which Onemeeting has played a pioneering role as a launching partner since its introduction in September 2022. This innovative solution offers a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic water bottles during meetings & events. The Dopper Water Tap allows organizers to tap tap water easily and hygienically, completely eliminating the need for disposable plastic water bottles.

The Dopper Water Tap is designed to make refilling reusable bottles the norm and change the behavior of both guests and tap owners. Nudging, a motivation technique in which positive rewards stimulate behavioral change, is used via the specially designed drop-shaped LED screen. Each tapping moment gives the user direct insight into their own positive impact via the screen. Making refilling the water bottle a unique and fun experience encourages repetition.

The integration of the Dopper Water Tap within Plastic-Free Meetings enables Onemeeting and Dopper to further strengthen the sustainability mission. Organizers can not only reduce plastic waste, but also provide participants with clean and refreshing drinking water without the environmental impact of packaged water. This helps create a conscious and environmentally friendly environment, where participants are encouraged to actively participate in the pursuit of a future without single-use plastics. With the Dopper Water Tap as an established part of Plastic Free Meetings, Onemeeting and Dopper demonstrate their long-term commitment to providing practical and effective solutions for more sustainable meetings and events.

Saviëlle Roemeling, Head of Operations & Sustainability at Onemeeting, emphasizes the importance of this step: “Sustainability has become an integral part of how we do business at Onemeeting. Plastic-free Meetings are not only good for the environment, but it also offers an opportunity for our customers to distinguish themselves as proponents of sustainability within their own organizations.”

In addition to reducing plastic waste, Plastic Free Meetings also offers educational opportunities for participants to learn more about sustainability and how they can make their own contribution to a greener future. Plastic-free Meetings will be rolled out for all meeting & event locations in the Netherlands, starting with the Connected partners of Onemeeting and then the connected locations. This step-by-step approach allows Onemeeting and Dopper to gather feedback, share best practices and build a community of sustainability advocates within the industry.

The partnership between Onemeeting and Dopper represents an important milestone in the fight against plastic pollution and promoting sustainability within the meeting & event industry. By acting together, they show that a future without packaged water is achievable and that every step towards sustainability can make a difference.