6 Ways to Be a Sustainable Event Organiser: A Guide

Every single person and business has a small part to play in doing all they can to minimise their impact on the environment, and the events industry is no exception. Every event adds up.

So, in light of Earth Day, we’d like to share our top tips on how you can become a sustainable event organiser.

1.?Determine the environmental impact of your event(s)

As a starting point, you should consider the impact your event will have. Think about the areas of your event that are eco-friendly and the areas that could do with some improvement.

You want to consider factors like transportation links at your desired event venue. What about the amount of plastic you’ll be using, is there any way to reduce that? Or, what event contractors should you use?

As an event supplier, we minimalise our plastic use, from our plastic-free badge holders, right through to our furniture, where it’ll go on to be reused, over and over again and so much more...

2. Use a sustainable venue

There are plenty of sustainable venues that can help you create an eco-friendly hub during your event. Keep an eye out for venues that hold relevant accreditations, like ISO 20121. Certified sustainable venues have all of the correct systems and processes in place to help you save power and water, reduce waste, provide sustainable catering, and offset your carbon emissions.

3. Tasty, yet sustainable catering

Keeping it local, and choosing organic catering for your event, is a fantastic way to play your part in making events more sustainable. Buying locally sourced catering helps you have a positive social and economic impact on the surrounding area of the event. It also cuts down on the number of carbon emissions used as the produce doesn't need to be transported a long distance if locally sourced.

For your catering choices, you could also consider including meat-free and plant-based options, which are always greener?for the event as they're less resource-intensive than meat.

If you choose to provide catering for your event, it can be tricky to plan how much to order, and this alone can increase waste in the industry. So don’t over-order, and if there are any leftovers, why not donate these to the local food shelter, or get in touch with the local heroes at?FareShare?to see what you can do to help?

4. Great transport links

It’s important to look into the transportation near your event. You could host the most sustainable event, but if it’s in the middle of nowhere, your visitors will rack up the miles driving to and from the event, and this will skyrocket the event's carbon footprint.

You should look into the area, and try to choose a venue that is local to most of your attendees/target audience. Ideally, a venue within walking distance of a train station would work best as more people will feel inclined to jump on a train?instead of driving.

If your event can be reached by car, you could organise a shuttle bus that runs throughout the day for visitors to use to reduce the number of vehicles traveling to and from the venue.

5. Effective waste management strategies

Effective waste management and recycling strategies are key for minimising the environmental impact of your event. There should be a comprehensive waste management plan that includes recycling, reusing, and waste reduction measures to ensure that waste is properly disposed of and resources are conserved.

The event venue should have strategically placed recycling stations with clearly labeled bins for the different recyclable materials for visitors to make use of.

To enhance waste reduction efforts, consider implementing practices like phasing out single-use plastics, offering reusable water bottles or cups, and urging attendees to bring their own reusable items.

Additionally, partnering with a waste management partner who upholds similar sustainable principles, like recycling initiatives or converting waste into energy can ensure your event waste management endeavors make a meaningful, long-term environmental difference.

6. Choose your event partners wisely

Having an event contractor that aligns with your sustainability values is key, so choose your event partners wisely. Check for suppliers' sustainability practices and products when you're deciding on which supplier to work with. This is key, as it's super important for them to align with your company's sustainability efforts.

From non-toxic material alternatives, reduction, as well as reuse/recycling of resources, and waste minimisation, it's a must to keep these factors in mind when choosing your supplier.

When choosing a supplier that holds different sustainability accreditations, it highlights their efforts in being a sustainable supplier for events, and this is the type of team you'd want to partner with to achieve an eco-friendly event!

There are also certain memberships that suppliers can be a part of to reflect their sustainability efforts, such as FESPA.

FESPA UK?provides guidance, training, and networking opportunities to its members, but it's also behind several shared learning initiatives that encourage better products and working practices, from sustainable printing to material and textile design, right down to waste management.

Are you looking to organise a sustainable event? With years of industry experience, our team can expertly guide you on how to reduce waste and focus on the overall result of being sustainable, all whilst still having a successful show.?

If you would like more information, get in contact with our friendly team today.