Other Ways to Make Your Event More Sustainable

As well as the low-carbon strategy for your event, there are many other practices that you can incorporate to reduce the environmental impacts of the event as well as maximize its social and economic benefits.

Examples of event greening practices that can be integrated into various aspects of the event planning process to address environmental, social and economic impacts include:

Registration and Accreditation

Electronic event registration.
Lanyards made from recycled materials. Asking participants to return them after the event.
Post-consumer recycled paper and vegetable-based inks for badges.

Transportation

Providing shuttle service drivers with training in environmentally responsible driving practices.
No idling at the venue and major transportation hubs, such as airports.

Venue Selection

Ensure the venue is able to provide you with required data for the monitoring and evaluation of greening practices.
If you negotiate environmental practices not currently in place at the venue, ensure them by including them in contracts.

Food and Beverage

Organic, fairly traded coffee and tea.
Leftover food donated to local charities.
Seafood served is harvested responsibly.
Vegetarian meals or vegetarian meal options.

Exhibition Production

Provide exhibitors with guidance on sustainable design and construct of exhibit booths.
End-of-show take-back and recycling program.

Marketing and Communications

Electronic or paperless communication.
Sustainable printing guidelines.

Procurement

Consider the environmental, social and economic impacts of a good or service throughout its lifecycle. Favor goods and services that result in minimal environmental impacts and foster positive social and economic development.
Use environmental criteria as well as quality and price.
Develop contract riders to hold suppliers accountable to sustainability commitments.

Offices

A sustainable procurement strategy for kitchen, office and cleaning supplies, furniture, office equipment and gifts.
A recycling program for glass, metals, plastic and paper.
Minimize paper use; encourage double-sided printing.
Develop an environmental awareness program.

Further information on how to integrate event greening practices into the event management and planning process can be found in the Resources section below.

Resources

Event Greening Resources

Environment Canada Green Meeting Guide (PDF)

US EPA Green Meeting Resources

Blue Green Meetings

World Resources Institute Working 9 to 5 on Climate Change

Green Seal

Convention Industry Council’s Green Meetings Report

Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Conventions (CERC)

The CERC Green Event Planning Guide

Green Meeting Industry Council

IUCN Responsible Tourism Handbook