Reducing CO? emissions across the event lifecycle

Sustainability is today a top consideration for event organizers, and reducing CO? emissions across the event lifecycle is a priority for them.

There are many simple actions event planners can take, from using a carbon emission calculator to get an accurate view of the environmental impact of an event, to choosing a sustainable event venue, or educating attendees on how they can reduce their impact by choosing green mobility options.

A few ways to make your event more sustainable

?1. Choosing responsible partners

?A successful event relies on numerous partners, from destinations and hotels to production and caterers, so it’s crucial to align yourself with responsible partners. Planners should vet potential partners’ commitments to sustainability and source venues and hotels with strong green initiatives or certification.

At Radisson Hotel Group, we continuously focus on reducing our carbon, energy, water and waste footprint in our operations as well as in our supply chain. In 2021, 238 of our hotels, were awarded an ecolabel.

Through our Carbon Neutral Meetings program, we also automatically offset the carbon footprint of every single meeting and event taking place at any of our hotels worldwide, at no cost to event planners. Since launching this initiative in 2019, Radisson Meetings have offset 37,800 tons of CO?: the equivalent of taking 6,500 fuel driven cars off the road.

2. Embrace multi-site hybrid formats for long-haul meetings

This event format allows participants to connect in person in regional pods, whilst utilizing audio-visual technology solutions to make the experience feel as if everyone is meeting together as one. Such a format mean that your event is inclusive and will benefit from maximum reach, whilst limiting the need for long-distance travel and therefore lowering the environmental impact.

Our hotels provide best-in-class solutions to help you successfully manage your hybrid meetings so that all attendees benefit from a great, consistent experience wherever they are based.

?3. Goal setting

Setting goals is one of the best ways to monitor your progress in reducing carbon emissions and hold yourself accountable to those targets. International frameworks, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provide a good roadmap for insights and considerations to set your own sustainability goals.

As a responsible leader in the industry, our efforts contribute to these important global goals. Radisson Hotel Group embraces the target to reduce our carbon and water footprint by 30% by 2025, committed to net-zero emissions reduction targets in line with the SBTI net-zero standard, removing single use plastics, actively managing food waste, and driving best practices in water stewardship and responsible consumption behaviors.

To set realistic goals, you need to measure results. Work with your partners to analyse post-event data on sustainable initiatives and use those insights to make improvements in your next meeting or event. Only by being aware of each event’s environmental impact, can you strive to reduce it and plan more sustainable events in the future.

Stay tuned for more updates and tips on how you can make your events a success for you and the planet.

If you want to learn more about Radisson Hotel Group’s sustainability initiatives, you can read more here.