EGOS Sustainability Principles

Preamble

EGOS is committed to contributing to the societal-level carbon reduction goals specified in the 2015 Paris Agreement and in the 2019 European Green Deal. The EGOS community is aware of the ecological impact caused by international conference organization and conference-related travel emissions. The EGOS leadership expresses its ambition to reduce such impact proactively, using multiple available means.

At the same time, EGOS shall not compromise its core mission as a scholarly association (as outlined in Article 2 of its statutes) which encompasses, in particular: (i) providing an international network in the field of organizational theory and research; (ii) providing an adequate forum for research presentations and discussions; (iii) supporting the socialization of young researchers into the field of organization studies; and (iv) facilitating high-quality interaction of its members.

As a good citizen of the communities and contexts in which it partakes, EGOS has been promoting responsible and ethical behavior among its members – and the sustainability principles at hand will be part of these efforts. In so doing, the EGOS leadership will work closely with the local organizing teams of future EGOS Colloquia to address issues and concerns of sustainability as related to EGOS activities.

The following principles are organized according to: (i) the level they address; and (ii) whether they will be implemented in the short, medium, or long term (if applicable).


EGOS as an Association

  • The EGOS leadership commits to assisting local organizers in organizing sustainable Colloquia by: (i) continuously assembling and passing on knowledge regarding sustainable conference organizing; (ii) supporting the calculation of the ecological footprint of EGOS Colloquia and pointing to initiatives that can reduce it.

  • The EGOS leadership works closely with local organizers and convenors to enable remote participation at future Colloquia while at the same time monitoring and ensuring high quality delivery of the association’s core mission. Medium to long term, experiments with blended sub-themes are encouraged (also to collect experiences and data). The EGOS leadership will address anticipated issues (for instance, implications for ‘conferencing culture’ or consequences on fee structure) as they arise, and develop solutions/standards.

  • The EGOS leadership firmly discourages any form of ‘academic tourism’. To reduce the ecological footprint of Colloquia, EGOS disincentivizes participation without presenting a paper, without a formal role, or without otherwise actively participating in the Colloquia (for instance, endorsed participation by a convenor, formal invite by EGOS, role as exhibitor, as representative of an institution conducting job interviews, etc.).

  • In selecting future locations for its annual Colloquia (delivering on the association’s core mission), EGOS will put emphasis on the environmental impact of travel to/from the venue and the ecological footprint of the event itself.

  • The EGOS leadership supports the establishment of initiatives on sustainability and sustainable organizing within the EGOS community.

  • EGOS reaches out to the academic community beyond the annual Colloquia by influencing the ways academic institutions approach sustainable academic conferencing and travel.
     

Local Colloquium Organizers

  • EGOS demands that local organizers offer exclusively vegetarian/vegan catering.

  • EGOS requires local organizers to have a strategy on minimizing food waste.

  • EGOS requires local organizers to have a strategy for reducing plastics and paper use.

  • EGOS encourages local organizers to develop and enable remote participation at future Colloquia for participants who prefer to do so. In the short term, all plenaries and sub-plenaries should be streamed. In the medium to long term, experiments with blended sub-themes are encouraged.

  • Given the increasing scientific evidence that carbon offsetting schemes are generally unlikely to help in combatting the climate crisis, and might even be detrimental, EGOS encourages Colloquium organizers and members to engage into better solutions, such as avoiding flying as much as possible. EGOS actively monitors research in this area and collects evidence from previous events. EGOS is committed to provide advice to members on our website, and to local organizers during preparatory meetings. Should no better option be available, and for the inevitable rest in carbon emissions, EGOS can help in selecting impactful offsetting partners.

  • EGOS encourages local organizers to integrate themes broadly related to issues and concerns of sustainability (in the context of organizations and organizing) in the scientific program of each Colloquium.
     

Individual EGOS Members

  • EGOS members will be made aware of the ecological footprint of Colloquium participation. EGOS members are advised to critically revisit their individual need for conference-related travel, and/or to explore alternative, low-emission means of transportation. Minimizing flying is currently by far the most impactful solution.
    (i) In the short term, communication about the ecological footprint of conference travels will be included during the Colloquium registration process.
    (ii) In the medium to long-term, a calculation of the average ecological/CO2 footprint from Colloquium participation plus transportation will become part of every Colloquium, clearly communicated to the participants by the local organizer, and potentially also being reflected in the Colloquium participation fee.

  • EGOS members who cannot travel, or do not wish to travel, are encouraged to explore possibilities for remote/virtual participation in EGOS Colloquia or parts thereof (as offered by local organizers).

 

Revision of this Document

The principles at hand are subject to revision by the EGOS Executive Board.