Tips on organising an event, that is truly sustainable
We can no longer shrug our shoulders and look away from the giant pile of waste corporate events left behind and say “everybody does it.” Not only because we are all responsible for our planet, or because guests, millennial and gen Z buyers and workers demand us to stand up straight.
But also, it’s just not true. Not all corporate events are harmful to the environment.
More than half of event creators don’t want to work that way either. And you wouldn’t read this article if you would.
We love events
When people come together, they become influential and more open-minded. At events, we get into a more receptive, heightened emotional state and with positive experiences, bits of information are incorporated. It’s easier to learn together.
But we love Planet Earth too.
There is another side of the industry: pollution. According to studies, there are more than 32.000 exhibitions worldwide annually, with 303 million guests. That can create a lot of waste.
Convincing clients?
There is no need. Save your resources and focus on those who have already adopted the mindset close to yours, even if they still fear some of the changes (they definitely do).
Show results
We work with experts from every field of event organisation who can help us quantify results. We also use a calculator to realise the carbon footprint of an event. Based on these data, WWF helps us to neutralise emissions.
Be transparent
About your green solutions, network, working process, and prices. Especially your prices. A lot of your clients’ fears are based on financial terms. How is a sustainable event going to show a return? Reducing waste can’t be wasteful, right?
Talk long-term
Less production, lasting products, local supply – it all pays off. Your second zero-waste event will definitely be cheaper than the last traditional one. Talk about how going green will benefit your client’s brand image and how it can be built into their strategy!
5 steps towards a green event (like this one)
Plan ahead
If you know how many used carpets you will have at the end, you can start to find out whether there is a kindergarten or animal shelter nearby where they can use it.
If you don’t need it, don’t waste it.
Neither you nor your guests need another branded pen or power bank. Trust us. Same with plastic cups, single-use straws or balloons for decoration.
If you do need it, make it sustainable.
Digitalised instead of printed, long-lasting instead of single-use and hired instead of manufactured!
Don’t go down on the bamboo straw-road
Or get caught up in the meatless hype. Actually, a local meat-based plate can be more sustainable than an asparagus that comes with a plane to your country. Dig deeper! Understand the root of your problem and use logic when eliminating your events’ footprint.
Aim for net zero!
But don’t give up if you can’t reach it alone. Sustainability is a journey, and there are lots of outstanding organisations that can help carbon-neutralise your event.
For more tips, download our green guide!