EVENT GREENING PAGEFORUM STRAP
Easy and effective event greening tips After two years in lockdown, we’re all a little rusty on how to create more-sustainable events. Here are some practices that can have a substantial impact on your event’s carbon footprint, making them a good place to focus your attention as you plan for your next live event.
1.
Go Hybrid Sure, we are all tired of engaging with people on screens. But don’t throw away what we learned over the past two years now. If your event could benefit from going hybrid – and removing attendance obstacles like travel, time and cost constraints – then do it.
we’re not saying go all out vegan (unless that is what your audience wants). Work with your catering team to deliver more plant-based options and reduce the amount of meat and dairy on the menu. Also, opt for local, seasonal and organic ingredients wherever you can (in that order of priority).
2. Use a ‘green’ venue The venue (and accommodation) you choose for your event can make or break your sustainability status. When choosing a venue, ask questions such as do they have: • an environmental policy, • onsite renewable energy, • energy efficient fittings, • water-saving fittings, • a robust waste management system, • any other sustainability practices? If you have already chosen a venue, it is still worth asking these questions.
5. Separate waste at source This basically means setting up a bin system that diverts waste into its separate streams from the get-go. For example, getting food waste into bins specifically headed for the compost heap, while recyclables can be collected all together or separately by material type (such as paper, plastic, glass, etc.). Lastly, you’ll need your landfill waste bins. With clever procurement planning, you should be able to keep these bins almost empty.
3. Commit to eco procurement Get lazy and make your suppliers do the greening for you! Your event and business can reap the benefits of your suppliers’ sustainability efforts. By simply committing to use local suppliers and service providers who demonstrate a clear commitment to uplifting people and protecting the environment, you are supporting and benefiting from these efforts. 4. Serve carbon-lite food Yes, we are talking about plant-based food! Controversial much? Possibly. But www.businesseventsafrica.com
6. Hire a professional We are all cost conscious right now but hiring a sustainability consultant will go a long way to helping you create solid sustainability objectives, stick to them, measure their effectiveness, and gain invaluable insights into what you can do better next time. An independent consultant will also be able to measure your event’s carbon footprint and, if you’re going that route, help you find the right project to offset it through. And if you really want to put your money where your mouth is, you could get your event certified.
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.
Want to know more? Want tolike know more? If you would to know more about
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
Business Events Africa June 2022 49
