Welcome to the home of the WordPress Sustainability Team!
We seek to embed sustainable practices into WordPress to ensure the longevity of the project.
To do so, we focus our efforts on the 3 pillars of sustainability:
Social: Finding ways to increase the diversity and wellbeing of the WordPress community.
Environmental: Reducing energy and waste consumption in the development and usage of the WordPress software and its community activities.
Economical: Finding ways to economically support contributions to the WordPress Project, for those who need it.
Get involved
We’re a new team, founded at WCEU 2023, and we are eager to welcome new members who are willing to help us make the WordPress Project into a leader in sustainability. Get started here!
WordCamps in Bordeaux, Brighton, Rotterdam, London, and other locations have implemented several sustainable measures, including picking a venue close to public transportation, offering vegan-only menus, and more.
Here are our favorites:
WordCampWordCampWordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more. Brighton 2016 swag included reusable bottles and coffee cups; they served vegetarian and vegan catering in biodegradable plates and cutlery.
WordCamp London 2019 recycled WordCamp Brighton’s sustainability measures.
The organizers of WordCamp Netherlands 2022 chose Burgers’ Zoo as their venue thanks to their involvement in protecting a nature reserve in Belize; they hosted several speakers who explored reducing footprints from WordPress sites; and donated the leftovers from the vegetarian catering to a local food bank.
WordCamp Switzerland 2023 included a “Do you want a T-shirt, Yes (size) or No” question in the ticket purchase process; closed the ticket sale early to order the correct amount of food; and served lunch in the in-house restaurant (complete with plates and cutlery). They published a comprehensive venue and access page that also covered accessibilityAccessibilityAccessibility (commonly shortened to a11y) refers to the design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. The concept of accessible design ensures both “direct access” (i.e. unassisted) and “indirect access” meaning compatibility with a person’s assistive technology (for example, computer screen readers). (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accessibility) topics.
WordCamp Kochi 2019 used cloth banners instead of vinyl banners and installed screens across the venue so sponsors could ditch banners altogether.
In WordCamp Europe, banners are repurposed as reusable bags or aprons for future events gifts. Small-medium business sponsors aren’t allowed to bring any marketing material that doesn’t fit on their table.
SWAG & SUPPLIES
Sustainable swag and gift ideas:
Donation to a social or environmental charity/NGO
Scannable discount codes for sponsors’ services.
Edible swag1
Soy crayons
Seed pencils
Beebombs (backup plan: donating the seeds/plants when exporting is impossible)
