Can an event be fully sustainable?

To what extent can an event be sustainable?

Rightly so, the environment and sustainability have come to the forefront of news and people’s thoughts. For too long the meetings and events industry has not done enough. Things are starting to change however and there seems to be a real desire to make a difference.

We have recently returned from IMEX in Frankfurt where we were lucky enough to catch a Q&A session with Dale Hudson who is the knowledge and events director for the IMEX Group and heads up sustainability for them. The IMEX team hosts two big shows each year based in Europe and North America for the meetings and incentive events industry, and sustainability is high on their agenda.

Dale showed real passion when articulating some of the green initiatives they have taken to make their events more sustainable.

What really impressed us was the length to which they have gone to engage with their suppliers and change the way they do things. Not just changing things for the IMEX shows but for all their operations. The way in which they have interacted with the cities which host their events and local charities is also a great legacy.

Events are traditionally one of the sectors of our industry that is most wasteful. It was amazing to see that the efforts the IMEX team is making, by including green and sustainable practices, have filtered through to the show floor. This passion seems to have hit a chord with all the exhibitors and no longer do you see thousands of brochures and pens being handed out only to end up in a bin before lunchtime. There is still a requirement for print but digital plays a much bigger role these days.

“However we don’t stand still. We’re always looking to evolve our green activities and work closely with our inhouse Green Team (committed individuals from various departments), partners, exhibitors, and delegates to ensure we continually develop sustainability initiatives that lead the way and educate.

“One example of this is our new Sustainability Pledge which we launched at IMEX in Frankfurt this year which encourages exhibitors to commit to environmentally friendly practices such as waste reducing and recycling during the show. Another example is education – at both IMEX in Frankfurt and IMEX America we have a series of free learning sessions where speakers from both inside and outside the events industry share their knowledge on sustainable practices.”

Unfortunately, despite doing such a fantastic job, these events do not come close to being fully sustainable. The carbon footprint surrounding transport (and particularly flights) is particularly hard to offset.

Thanks to sponsorship by Costa Rica, the carbon footprint of all hosted buyer flights is offset with trees being planted in their rainforests Without planting thousands of trees to offset the carbon footprint, being fully sustainable is highly unlikely, however, there are lots of easy changes and considerations that can make a big difference. Helping attendees use public transport, recycling, reducing food waste and sourcing locally are just some of the things which are easy to implement and have an immediate positive impact.

Tips to help you make your events more sustainable

1. Utilise the most passionate members of your team from each department, form a green team, and inspire the rest of your workforce. The ideas they create and the passion they show will help to filter through to everyone and you will soon start to see results.
2. When looking at transport, it is important to pick greener options wherever possible. Use electric or hybrid vehicles to transport VIPs or guests where required. Of course, it isn’t just your attendees that have to travel to your event.
   In addition, work with the catering team to pick seasonal menus with local produce and help reduce your food miles.
3. Utilise your tech. Do you have an event app? Encourage your guests to pre-select the refreshment breaks or meals they will be attending and get them to keep the information updated to get more accurate food numbers and thereby reduce food waste.
4. Aim for the sky but don’t expect things to change overnight.
   Build relationships with your suppliers and venues. Work together to improve things and encourage a continuing dialogue to keep the momentum going.

Event Legacy

The Word on the Street team is a big advocate of Event Legacy. The environment and sustainability are a big part but only one section of this. We act as event partners, working alongside our clients as part of their extended team to help engage and inspire attendees.

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