Author: Camille Gallardo
Did you know that one of Camille’s passions is sustainability? …Maybe that was obvious… Did you know that Camille focused on sustainability with the events team to reduce our environmental footprint? You might not know that she evaluated vendors, collaborated with them on diverse menus, as well as how to minimize waste. Creating a sustainable event is all about planning and collaboration with eco-conscious vendors and attendees.
Whether it’s selecting a green venue, minimizing waste, or reducing energy usage, every small step contributes to a larger environmental impact. You can use these quick tips to host your own sustainable event this year. If you can hit at least ten, great job!
Items to Consider:
If a venue has sustainability certifications like LEED, it might check many of these items.
Waste Management and Diversion
- Ask about food composting
- Ask about recycling procedures for any bottles, cans, paper, etc.
- Do they provide Leftover Takeaway and can they provide sustainable or reusable packaging
- Do they participate in Food Donation from the event, and if they don’t, how can they help your firm do so?
Water Conservation
- Ask about use of bottled water and its minimization
- Water-efficiency for dishwashing
- Water saving devices like low-flow faucets
Energy-Efficiency
- Energy-efficient lighting and heating/cooling
- Use of renewable energy sources like solar, wind (especially if the firm has emissions goals)
- Any energy-saving technologies or practices
Catering
- Locally sourced menu items
- Inclusion of plant-based items
- Organic/pesticide-free/certified humane
Transportation
- the venue easily accessible by public transportation or walking
- Consider shuttle services, carpool, etc.
Materials & Décor
- Ask venue if décor is reusable or sustainable
- Reduce paper materials or make them available digitally
- Retrieve and reuse nametags
- Use of QR codes or event app
- Digital signage
Carbon Offsetting
- For events, especially large ones, consider carbon offsetting the event