How do we start making the change?

Green approaches to doing business are becoming increasingly popular.

Holding each other responsible is ensuring that we have sustainable business practices.

Customers care about sustainability and they are the most important part of your business. Customers want to partner with businesses that show social responsibility. They want to work with businesses who share their values. Regardless of how small or large the organisation, there is something we can all do to participate in being sustainable.

One way of starting is to take a look at these 8 Sustainable Business Practices and incorporate them into your business environment.

1 – Be intentional

Incorporate being sustainable into your business strategies and reflect them in your business goals. Make it a priority in every aspect of your business by not just making a plan of action, but by assigning accountability as well. Hold everyone responsible and it will increase momentum in your sustainability efforts.

2 – Partner with employees

Awareness-training is key on the path to increase responsibility within the working culture.

We can attach value to training standards, specifically with designed training programmes relating to the environment and environmental issues. Awareness can be raised in areas such as:

• RRR waste management mindset (reducing, reusing, recycling)
• road safety,
• energy saving,
• safe and fuel-efficient driving techniques,
• eco driver operation

Train your employees on how important sustaining the environment is, and share what the organisation is doing to help conserve resources.

Get ideas from employees and share them!

3 – Boost Water and Energy Conservation

This is something everyone can do in assisting in the reduction of this valuable resource. Convert to energy-efficient light bulbs and water reducing faucets – small changes will make a big difference.

4 – Build a better Supply Chain

Consumers prefer working with sustainable companies. Maintain a list of sustainable vendors and make it a goal to use them alone.

5 – Start of recycling programme

Involve your waste management vendor and create a process of recycling items in your workplace.

6 – Tackle Chemical management

Chemicals have an impact on our environment. We can strive to use only green and non-toxic cleaning products. Use your chemical vendors to also help train employees on the proper use of chemicals.

7 – Use Energy-Efficient Products only

Steer clear of products that are not energy efficient and make an effort to only choose ones that are.

8 – Develop Sustainable Policies At Work

Reinforce your efforts with policies and procedures for your staff to follow. Things like turning down electronics at the end of the workday. Don’t let the fear of being sustainable overwhelm you. When we all do our part, we can contribute together to conserving the only planet we have.

As an initiative to support sustainable behaviour in the Exhibition Logistics industry and in order to leverage new conduct patterns, methods and technologies, IELA published the IELA Sustainability Guidelines on October 2019.

The digital guidelines are available for free download on the website under the IELA Organiser and Exhibitor Portal.

Download the IELA Sustainability Guidelines and join us on the path to a more sustainable exhibition industry!

About the IELA Sustainability Guidelines:

The IELA Sustainability Guidelines is a publication that addresses a number of primary ? golden rules ? in order to achieve sustainable goals when working over the globe in the exhibition and event logistics field.

They have been presented in October 2019 during IELA Connect 2019 in Marrakech, Morocco, and are available for free download on the website under the IELA Organiser and Exhibitor Portal.

About IELA:

IELA, the International Exhibition Logistics Association, is the only worldwide trade association dedicated to enhancing the professionalism of the transportation logistics and freight handling segments of the exhibition and event logistics industry.

The organisation’s strict entry requirements focusing on exhibition & event expertise ensure the highest level of quality in its services. Our members are recognised as industry leaders and niche providers in their regions as well as around the globe. Currently, IELA has 175 members and 31 affiliates in 56 countries.

Find an IELA Member