(Opt in to Billetto's emails. Unsubscribe at any time.). “Sometimes the positive feedback is that you don’t hear about it! ‘Collaborative consumption’ and the shared economy will also have had a big impact. Lisa Jade recommends creating a food rescue plan to donate anything edible to a local food bank or shelter. The power of procurement Ask for delegates’ dietary requirements in advance, get as clear a picture on final numbers as you can, and opt for plated menus instead of buffets. “If you do it well enough, you are going to shift mindsets, whereby people will then take the legacy and awareness of the conference or event out into the world and start making a real difference. Tip: Find sustainable venues on websites like Venue Finder and HeadBox. “Food waste which is sent to landfill contributes to the release of certain greenhouse gases, like methane, due to it decomposing in an oxygen-deprived environment. Sustainability Activity Ideas 1. as the entire net food production of sub-Saharan Africa. Set up an event page and start selling tickets in 5 minutes. Sending these plastics to specialist recycling centres may also add to your onsite spend. Tip: Check out this blog post on the many ways you can organise virtual meetings. In the longer term, this should be the goal you’re working towards. Choose event managers and other contractors that have goals and ethics similar to yours. “For example, you can reduce waste by selecting a more sustainable name badge system. Calendar of Global Environmental Events and Volunteer Opportunities. The environmental cost of travelling to attend conferences is getting pretty hard to ignore. In the longer term, this should be the goal you’re working towards. ‘It’s not easy being green’ said one famous froggy puppet but making your event sustainable might not be as hard as you think. It slows them down and then after lunch they can’t concentrate and engage sufficiently.”  (And cut the, — they’ll sap delegates’ attention spans anyhow. While Earth Day is one event that brings this conversation to the fore, here are 15 fun sustainability activities to use in the classroom at any time of the year. Which is great for. Remember that it’s very important to get everybody on board with your plan. Sustainable events save resources and money while also creating a positive reputation for your organization. But if aiming for full sustainability for your next event isn’t realistic, you can still work to reduce your impact, starting from today. What transportation is available? By partnering up with such venues, you can be certain that much of the work is already done. As Keith Johnston put it all the way back in 2011. But if you’re not able to use porcelain plates and metal cutlery for your event, try to use biodegradable tableware instead. List things to phase out that create waste, for example. Required fields are marked *. 7 Examples of More Sustainable Events Coachella’s energy playground. You probably won’t be able to build a wind turbine in time for your event. Only 10-13% of the plastic items we use are recycled world-wide. 4. Once your conference is done and dusted, they’ll measure your admissions and assess if you meet the criteria. They’re not easily recyclable. Always serve whole grains instead of refined grains (like brown rice in place of white rice). Only 10-13% of the plastic items we use are recycled world-wide. Large International corporations will include sustainability requirements as key criteria for entering into commercial agreements that will serve as an example for the global business community. Relating to events, social sustainability is concerned with the interests of stakeholders (both internal and external) affected by events. Tip: Use this guide to help you successfully host an event outdoors if you haven’t tried it before. What’s digital is measurable, which means you’ll be able to offer your sponsors clear return-on-investment metrics like views and engagements. Develop a thorough waste management plan, , the majority of which (1.16 kg) goes to landfill. Virtual meetings are on the rise for many reasons. (Weather permitting, of course.) • The FEI aims to create a dedicated Sustainability Make an assessment of where and why you need lighting and see whether it’s possible to use an LED alternative. The plastics kickback is coming and not a moment too soon. It may also inspire fans to adopt and follow what was said, thereby multiplying the effect considerably. There’s no point investing in a solid plan for managing waste if bins aren’t clearly marked, and delegates or staff end up dumping uneaten food into black bin bags. Just make sure you’re selecting a trustworthy and effective initiative like the UN Offset programme. Consider what impact the items you use will have not only on the event itself but also on the community and environment in which your event takes place.”. Add a carbon offset fee to your registration process, Just make sure you’re selecting a trustworthy and effective initiative like the. Not only is it good for the environment, but it can be good for business, too. Recoup the cost of digital investments like LED screens or a online conference platform by offering sponsorship opportunities. Which is great for your budget. Can they recycle paper, cardboard, tins, glass, plastic, cooking oil? by Frederik Nielsen on May 18, 2019 Leave a Comment. And pretty soon, it will be. The plastics kickback is coming and not a moment too soon. “This will take the pressure off what you yourself need to do,” says Lisa Jade. You can save a lot on things like lighting and air conditioning by picking a suitable outdoors venue or park. 8. Tip: You can direct your guests to sites like Liftshare where they can find cars to share. Can they compost? Finally, there is always the option to host the event outside. 2. If not, talk to them about what’s possible. We selected the Colorado Convention Center (CCC) as the venue for the Denver training based on its strong commitment to environmental leadership throughout its operations. Sustainable events were one of the biggest event trends of 2018…and it’s not going anywhere in 2019, or 2020 for that matter. And bear in mind that carbon offsetting isn’t a silver bullet – it isn’t going to count for much if you aren’t putting other event greening steps in place. Before we get into our sustainable event ideas list, have a look at five examples of sustainable events for inspiration: As you can see, there are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint and create a sustainable event. Furthermore, the ISO standard for sustainable event man-agement (ISO 20121:2013-4) was published in 2013. “There are plenty of initiatives that will, for a small fee, plant trees, invest in renewables or other low carbon initiatives for you, ” says Guy. . People generally don’t want exceptionally big, heavy meals during the day. (PCMA’s, found only 11 percent of meeting professionals include environmental elements in their RFPs. The typical conference attendee produces almost 2 kilograms of waste every day. But if an accredited venue isn’t available to you, look for one with robust onsite waste management, low-energy bulbs, trained staff and legacy projects in place. Below are some specific examples of how you can make your sustainable event a success: If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, you should try to source as much of the food from local farmers as possible. “Food waste is a massive, massive problem,” says Lisa Jade. with solid credentials like a sustainability accreditation, it’ll make your life much easier. But you make the biggest difference when you consider these choices early, while negotiating with suppliers.“, Comb through your requests for proposals (RFPs) and supplier contracts for conference products and services and ensure they include crystal-clear sustainability requirements. “Under-cater between 10% to 20% depending on the type of event, to further aid in preventing food wastage,” says Lisa Jade. Many types of disposable plastic. For example, green practices for sponsors could help them avoid a wasteful representations of their brand to attendees, which might be critiqued on social media. Tip: You can hire event waste management firms like Grundon and GBN to help you out. A sustainable event conserves and restores resources, honors and supports those involved, adds value to the local economy, and educates participants about the benefits of sustainability. For businesses today, the term ‘sustainable’ has moved from being a buzzword to a genuine requirement, and that has transcended into the events they hold too. Held in the US each year, Coachella offers a series of eco-friendly activities and... Glastonbury. Sustainable events can be less risky from a planner perspective because you're anticipating shortcomings in practice that could be a source of criticism or financial loss. If you feel the need of change and a chance to meet new friends. If this isn’t an option, consider donating leftover food or kitchen scraps to a pig farm in the area as animal feed. Last year we had only one person complain…and he was Finnish.”. Particularly younger generations care more about the environment and will be attracted to businesses who hold these same values. (A quick note on avoiding greenwashing: You can’t correctly label an event “green” or “sustainable” until after your post-event audit.) Partner up with a local charity and donate any leftover food to the needy. : You can’t correctly label an event “green” or “sustainable” until after your post-event audit.) But food waste isn’t just a humanitarian concern—. You’re using their water, their energy and [likely] their catering. Shawna has visited heaps of recycling and composting plants with event organisers. events. Learn how your comment data is processed. You can also take it a step further and reduce the impact of the visitors. If you can source a venue with solid credentials like a sustainability accreditation, it’ll make your life much easier. If your view of your life's purpose is all too hazy, and you feel when … Tip: Read about how you can make your event more sustainable with green transportation. Ask for delegates’ dietary requirements in advance, get as clear a picture on final numbers as you can, and opt for plated menus instead of buffets. Technological solutions, digital services, and mobile apps will eliminate printing and paper … Event sustainability is one of the fastest-growing trends in the meetings industry, and for good reason. Guy Bigwood, founder of the Global Destination Sustainability Index, recommends swapping printed materials for digital to give your event a sustainability boost: “Digital signage, mobile apps, and LED screens reduce the need for printing signage, posters, and event programmes. Filed Under: Event planning Tagged With: guide, ideas, sustainable events, Your email address will not be published. From business meetings, festivals, concerts and sporting events to corporate hospitality, conferences, exhibitions, workshops, promotional launches, open days and village fêtes – all types of event have the potential to be managed more sustainably. The good news is that more sustainable events come with reduced usage, fewer unnecessary purchases and less waste. A single event produces a lot of waste. Find ways you can lessen the energy output and paper waste, improve attendees awareness and their behavior. But when you already have a million things to manage — from. Here are some other ways to make your event more sustainable and environmental friendly: Encourage attendees to carry a reusable water bottle and refill it throughout the day. Methane is a gas which is known to cause global warming.” And that’s on top of the wasted energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport and package the food. Include event sustainability requirements in your RFPs and contracts, Brief your suppliers so they’re on the same page as you as early as possible, says Shawna, McKinley, an event sustainable event consultant and trainer who runs the blog, “For example, you can reduce waste by selecting a more sustainable name badge system. In 2012, the CCC achieved certification with ASTM Stand… Sustainable event planning involves considering the footprint of every component of your event and attempting to reduce it as much as possible. Before you do, check your local by-laws around food donation though. “Under-cater between 10% to 20% depending on the type of event, to further aid in preventing food wastage,” says Lisa Jade. , recommends swapping printed materials for digital to give your event a sustainability boost: “Digital signage, mobile apps, and LED screens reduce the need for printing signage, posters, and event programmes. “Food waste which is sent to landfill contributes to the release of certain greenhouse gases, like methane, due to it decomposing in an oxygen-deprived environment. Tip: Visit companies like Portable Toilets Limited and NatSol to find compost portaloos. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. with event organisers. Leaders will lead. But if aiming for full sustainability for your next event isn’t realistic, you can still work to reduce your impact, starting from today. But food waste isn’t just a humanitarian concern—it’s an environmental one. But it’s an equally bad look to waste food. If your venue and caterers already have good recycling and composting programmes, fantastic.