EVENT GREENING PAGEFORUM STRAP
What sustainability on a shoestring looks like A persistent perception is that making an event more sustainable is an expensive exercise. And yet the cost may be compared to the length of a piece of string — ranging from almost nothing to a small fortune. (In this way it’s much like most event planning decisions.)
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o prove this point, the Event Greening Forum non-profit has put together a list of event greening steps you are able to take that are both effective strategies at minimising your carbon footprint and which carry no – or very limited – additional costs to what you are already spending. Here they are: 1. Write your own sustainability statement Also referred to as an environmental policy, this document outlines what is important to your business in terms of environmental sustainability and social responsibility, and how you will support these values. Writing a sustainability statement has no cost, and is a critical first step to getting clear on what sustainability challenges you are willing to take on, and how. 2. Choose wisely When choosing a venue, suppliers and service providers, don’t only look at their price and offering. Ask them if they have their own sustainability statement and what they are doing to live up to it. If you already have a preferred option in mind, you may still ask this question, as well as what they are able to do to support your greening goals. 3. Plug into a good waste management system If you want to minimise your event’s waste-tolandfill, find a venue that has a waste management system that separates waste onsite and diverts all recyclables to a recycling depot. You may then back into this with relative ease and strong results. 4. Ask your caterers to green their menu From your first conversation, ask your caterers or food vendors how they may help to serve up a www.businesseventsafrica.com
carbon-lite menu. This includes using ingredients that are: • Locally grown (less food miles) • Seasonal (limited storage) • Plant-based (low carbon footprint) • Organic (no harmful pesticides) Of course, not everything served will meet all these requirements. Some ingredients must be imported, and some meat and dairy will (likely) be needed on the menu, for example. But if you maximise these types of ingredients and minimise the alternatives where possible, your event’s carbon footprint will be noticeably reduced. 5. Print reusable banners This tip will save you money. However, it sounds deceptively simple, but it may be tricky to print branding that you will reuse year-on-year. For example, sponsor logos and your look-and-feel may change. Try to be smart about it and, for example, have separate banners for the sponsors or other elements that could change, don’t print any dates and keep most of the branding very simple and generic. Remember that old banners are able to be upcycled when they are no longer needed. 6. Communicate your greening efforts Lastly, remember to tell (and keep telling) your attendees, sponsors and partners about your greening efforts. This helps to raise awareness about the need to go green, while also promoting your event in a positive way. Important note: Don’t exaggerate your achievements. Greenwashing may hurt your brand. For more on greenwashing and how to avoid it, check out our article in the May issue of Business Events Africa.
Save the date! The Event Greening Forum will be holding a ‘Back to Basics of Event Greening’ training webinar on 21 July. It will serve as both an introduction to event greening as well as a refresher for those who are feeling rusty. Sign up to our newsletter for more details about this and other events we are hosting. Simply go to eventgreening.co.za, click on ‘Contact us’ and follow the link to subscribe.
About About the the EGF EGF
The Event Greening Forum (EGF) is a The Event Greening Forum is a non-profit organisation that(EGF) promotes non-profit organisation promotes sustainability within the that business events sustainability business events sector. It doeswithin this bythe hosting educational sector. does this byand hosting educational sessionsItfor industry lobbying sessions for industry and to lobbying government in an effort implement government in an effort to sustainability principles intoimplement the daily sustainability the daily operations of principles the eventsinto industry. operations of the events industry. The EGF was established through The EGF was established through dedication and support of eight industry dedication support of eight industry associationsand who are recognised as associations who areThe recognised as founding members. founding founding members. The founding members are key industry associations members are key industry associations working together to promote South working together to promote South Africa as a destination for various types Africa as a destination for various types of events. of events.
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If you greening, would likevisit to know more about event event greening, visit wwweventgreening.co.za where you can www.eventgreening.co.za where browse the free resources, sign upyou to the can browse the free resources, monthly newsletter, or contact sign themup to the monthly directly with newsletter, any queries.or contact them directly with any queries. Contact: Contact: Lynn Mcleod Lynn T: 082Mcleod 891 5883 T: 891 5883 E: 082 lynn@eventgreening.co.za E: lynn@eventgreening.co.za
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