What do you do if your event production company is unprepared for the rising demand for sustainable events?

Evaluate existing waste management techniques, such as trash generation, recycling, and composting programmes. Determine where waste reduction initiatives may be enhanced, such as eliminating single-use plastics, creating recycling programmes, and reducing food waste via better planning and management.Examine energy consumption patterns for events, including power demand for lighting, heating, and audio-visual equipment. Identify possibilities to cut energy usage by installing energy-efficient lighting, HVAC systems, and equipment, as well as incorporating renewable energy sources like solar or wind power.Evaluate event-related transportation procedures, such as participant travel, vendor logistics, and material and equipment transportation

Establish clear goals for integrating sustainability into your event production processes. Define specific targets such as reducing waste by a certain percentage, increasing energy efficiency, or sourcing a certain percentage of materials from sustainable sources. Setting measurable goals provides a roadmap for your sustainability efforts and allows you to track progress over time. It also helps prioritize actions and allocate resources effectively to address the most pressing sustainability challenges.

Antes que nada, es crucial hacer un listado completo de nuestras operaciones actuales. Es como llevar tu coche al mecánico pero en este caso revisamos cómo estamos manejando todo... desde la basura que producimos hasta la energía que consumimos!!! Identificar dónde estamos fallando en sostenibilidad nos da un mapa claro de lo que tenemos que mejorar.

Begin by emphasising the significance of sustainability in event production and its larger environmental and social ramifications. Help your staff realise the importance of decreasing environmental impact, preserving resources, and encouraging social responsibility via sustainable practices. Provide training sessions and seminars to educate your staff on essential sustainability principles, practices, and methods that are applicable to event development. Discuss subjects such as environmentally friendly products, waste reduction measures, energy conservation, and sustainable buying procedures. Encourage interactive involvement and conversation to improve learning and engagement.

Sustainability initiatives are most effective when all stakeholders are actively involved and committed to the cause. Engage clients, vendors, and employees in discussions about sustainability goals and strategies. Solicit their input and ideas for how to make events more sustainable. By involving stakeholders in the decision-making process, you foster a sense of ownership and accountability, increasing buy-in and collaboration towards shared sustainability objectives.

La sostenibilidad empieza desde dentro. Así que...el siguiente paso es asegurarnos de que todo nuestro equipo esté en la misma página!!!

Aquí es donde la magia realmente sucede...al elegir trabajar con proveedores que también valoran la sostenibilidad, estamos duplicando el impacto de nuestros esfuerzos.

I often think this is one of the hardest, as our suppliers work so hard for us to keep costs down and build relationship with us, asking them to fill in extra forms or extra admin can be tough. However, it is just habit, we need to be responsible for the impact our events have on the environment, but we don't know if we are being effective unless we measure. We need to measure our suppliers CO2 output, their travel, staff team and resources, and so on. Not so we can use other suppliers that have less impact, but so that we can encourage all suppliers to reduce their impact on the planet. We can definitely influence their choices. Measuring enables us to see change and improvement and reporting enables us to demonstrate impact.

Consider pursuing certifications and adhering to industry standards for sustainable event production. Certifications such as ISO 20121 for event sustainability management provide a framework for implementing sustainable practices and demonstrate your company's commitment to environmental responsibility. Adhering to recognized standards not only ensures credibility but also provides guidance on best practices and benchmarks for measuring performance.

It’s crucial to start making changes now. Consider implementing eco-friendly practices like reducing waste, using renewable energy sources, and partnering with sustainable vendors.

Implement systems to measure the environmental impact of your events and track progress towards sustainability goals. Collect data on metrics such as carbon footprint, waste diversion rates, water usage, and energy consumption. Use this data to evaluate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions. Regular monitoring and reporting of environmental performance demonstrate transparency and accountability to clients, stakeholders, and the wider community.

Educating your team and clients about importance of sustainability can also help pave the way for a smoother transition. Exploring those green technology that could be used and how it can be implemented is of upmost importance.

Collaboration with industry partners, associations, and sustainability experts can provide valuable support and resources for your sustainability initiatives. Join industry networks and working groups focused on sustainable event production to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and access tools and resources. Collaborating with peers and experts allows you to learn from others' experiences, leverage collective expertise, and drive collective action towards advancing sustainability in the event industry.

Showcase your company's sustainability efforts and success stories to clients, stakeholders, and the public. Highlight case studies, testimonials, and impact metrics that demonstrate the positive outcomes of your sustainable event practices. Use your website, social media channels, and marketing materials to communicate your commitment to sustainability and the tangible benefits it brings. Publicizing success stories not only builds credibility and trust but also inspires others to adopt sustainable practices in their own event production activities.

It is important to keep innovating and exploring new ways to merge sustainability with your event production efforts. Using sustainable themes in events and adapting to individual companies is a great approach. I have incorporated props and structures creatively while minimizing waste. Not only does it save money but showcases the company’s commitment to sustainability in a tailored and impactful way.