Sustainable Events
CAN EVENTS BE SUSTAINABLE?
We work with every client to minimize their impact on the environment. You’d be shocked to hear the stats on the impact events have on the eco-system. So, we do what we can with our events to lessen the burden - and we try to make it easy on the clients to make the decisions to be sustainable, when sometimes it means an extra step or expense.
How do we do this?
In a number of ways. First, we have invested in member groups like MUSE (Members United for Sustainable Events) so that we can learn, grow, and partner with likeminded vendors and professionals in the industry across the country. This means that our clients get access to this information and this vendor database, which makes it SO much easier when trying to build a sustainable event. The numbers are stark:
A 2-day conference with 1000 guests makes more CO2 emissions than 200 American homes per year.
Trade shows produce 600,000 tons of waste per year.
A 3-day meeting with 1000 attendees can make 12,500 pounds of trash.
1 in 6 people leaves their tent behind at a music festival.
Trade show participants produce an average of 5 pounds of waste per day.
And lets not even talk about the amount of food waste recorded (or unrecorded) at the end of an event.
So what does this mean? How does a company or group create a sustainable event? Below we’ve created a “quick list” of ways you can turn your event into a sustainable event.
Re-useable swag - opt for swag items that are reusable, use recycled materials, and/or have a “give back” option that allows for full-circle sustainability.
Opt for reusable items and/or compostable vessels for food & beverage. (P.S. These can still be branded)
Set up a recycle and compost system in your events for waste. Often, there are local organizations that will set up dual-streams to collect these items and they will come back to pick up and sort for you. It doesn’t get any easier than that!
Donate any items you won’t be keeping but that can be used again by someone else. Linens, candles, décor items, etc. - instead of tossing these in the trash, find a local charity that would love to re-use these pieces for an upcoming event of their own.
Donate food - often we have more food than we need at events. And with a staggering food insecurity rate in America, we would MUCH prefer to see this food go to a hungry belly, than to the trash. There are food rescue operations in almost every state. They will come at the end of each event day and pick up unconsumed food and deliver to food pantries, shelters, and other organizations helping to feed those in need.
Go digital - wherever you can prevent paper use (tickets, packets, information, etc.) you should. Tickets can be sent electronically (and hello, this makes check-in easier), information can be accessed digitally via QR code, and more! We know signage is sometimes hard to avoid - but everything else can be done digitally.
These are a few of the many ways you can turn your event into a sustainable operation. It certainly isn’t exhaustive, and each event is unique in their ability to create a sustainable impact. How have you incorporated sustainable practices in your event or conference?
Want to learn more? Let’s connect!