Event Management With Focus on Sustainability Offers Wide Opportunities for Prosperity

Event Management With Focus on Sustainability Offers Wide Opportunities for Prosperity

Freshened Up: Green Events and Sustainability in the Conference World

In today's bustling meeting and conference scene, sustainable events are more than just a trend - they're the ticket to success. As planners' criteria evolve, venues increasingly find themselves asked to implement green initiatives during bids. But a sustainable event is about more than just the environment -social aspects and future-oriented financing must also be considered.

Embracing Ecology

Venues that adopt sustainability programs not only protect the planet, but also enjoy three significant benefits: environmental, social, and economic.

Environmental gains run the gamut from reduced carbon footprints to improved onsite and local air and water quality.

Social advantages include boosting employee health and well-being, enhancing local community image, contributing positively to the planet's future, and improving life quality for future generations.

Moreover, sustainability helps attract quality staff, particularly those under 40, and increases staff retention.

Economic perks include increased productivity, lower costs on energy, water, and utilities, the attraction of new clients, and higher retention from planners seeking venues with certifications or sustainable programs. All this, coupled with enhanced risk management and security, and the opportunity to collaborate with other innovative businesses.

Sustainability Meets Social Responsibility

Sustainable practices are more accessible than ever, with various ways for venues to enhance their uniqueness, character, and social responsibility. The German Federal Environment Agency offers valuable guidance in its Sustainable Events Guide (in German). This resource provides objectives, explanations, tips, and recommended measures for sustainable event management in various areas, from mobility and venue choice to energy, catering, procurement, waste management, water, communication, guest gifts, and social aspects.

For practical application, the Agency has also compiled a checklist (in German) that highlights key aspects for easy reference.

Green Events in Practice

Here are some tips for sustainable events:

1. Local and Seasonal Products: Use regional and seasonal items to reduce delivery routes and storage costs. Higher costs can be offset by sponsoring contracts or long-term partnerships, benefiting both the environment and local economy.
2. Customer Preferences: Surveys show that a significant number of people are willing to spend more on sustainable products. Embrace this goodwill and promote greener events by also pursuing alternative funding channels such as crowdfunding.
3. Supplier Collaboration: Ask suppliers to offer low- or no-packaging products or to buy in bulk to minimize packaging. Encourage them to participate in recycling or reuse programs.
4. Reusable/Recyclable Products: Use reusable or recyclable items in catering to reduce waste per participant.
5. Energy Efficiency: Use the most energy-efficient equipment available or LED lamps. Consider alternative energy sources (such as solar, wind, geothermal, or hydroelectric), and hybrid, biofuel, or electric vehicles for company transportation.
6. Accessibility and Information: Show your social responsibility by ensuring easy access to information about your sustainability efforts.
7. Digital Alternatives: Replace traditional paper flipcharts with digital alternatives, and use recyclable or reusable signage and name tags for conference groups.
8. Water Conservation: Use water-efficient practices for cleaning and sanitation.
9. Education and Engagement: Educate attendees about your sustainability efforts and encourage them to participate by using public transport, carpooling, or biking to the event.

Sustaining the Spotlight

This spring, Prolight + Sound focuses on green events, hosting its first Green Event Day on 27 April. The day will highlight the responsible use of natural resources and showcase companies and associations committed to sustainability on the "Main Stage" in Hall 11.1. The industry's dedication to sustainability, even under economic constraints, is commendable, as ecological solutions and the concept of green events continue to play a significant role at Prolight + Sound 2022.

Green events are not only showcased in new highlights at the fair but run through the entire program. During Guided Tours, manufacturers showcasing energy-efficient and eco-friendly solutions will present their products. The Future Hub combines the event industry's personnel future with ecological aspects, featuring a resource-saving and recyclable special showroom powered entirely by green electricity.

Images: anncapictures / Pixabay (2 images), Alexas_Fotos / Pixabay

Additional Insights:

• Event organizers can further reduce their carbon footprint by choosing transportation options with lower emissions, such as using bikes or electric vehicles for transportation between venues and hotels.
• Organizers can promote local businesses by sourcing goods and services from the area, which can help stimulate the local economy and reduce transportation emissions.
• At the event, providing educational materials and workshops on sustainability can help attendees make more informed choices and promote continuous learning and improvement.

Venues embracing sustainability not only gain social advantages such as improved employee health and local community image, but also economic perks like increased productivity and lower costs on energy, water, and utilities. The German Federal Environment Agency's Sustainable Events Guide provides valuable guidance on various areas of sustainable event management.

To make events greener, implementing strategies like using local and seasonal products, promoting customer preferences for sustainable products, collaborating with suppliers to minimize packaging, and using reusable or recyclable items in catering can reduce waste and carbon footprint.

The commitment to sustainability is evident in events like Prolight + Sound's Green Event Day, where companies and associations committed to sustainability are showcased. Green events are a significant focus at Prolight + Sound 2022, with guided tours showcasing energy-efficient and eco-friendly solutions.

Furthermore, event organizers can reduce their carbon footprint by using transportation options with lower emissions like bikes or electric vehicles, sourcing goods and services locally, and providing educational materials and workshops on sustainability. By adopting these practices, the event industry demonstrates its dedication to sustainability and promoting a greener lifestyle.

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