How to Make Your Events More Eco-Friendly: Sustainability Tips from the Pros
Green Series: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
As event planners, we feel a responsibility to help our clients create sustainable events and make smart choices for the environment. After 20 years in business, we have quite a few tips to share. In our last post, we covered tips focused on alternatives to plastic packaging and a few benefits of sourcing plant-based menus; check out a few additional tips here.
There are eco-friendly alternatives available for nearly every event need—from the stage to the buffet. Don’t be afraid to get creative and make your event easier on the environment. At an event for NPR, instead of handing out plastic water bottles to the speakers, we provided them with NPR-branded mugs for water. Not only did this remove the need for plastic bottles, but it created another branding opportunity on stage; no plastic and a fantastic speaker gift too.
When considering ways to move your next event toward sustainability, remember: even the smallest steps are steps in the right direction.
Reuse and Repurpose
We’ve been stepping up our game with our clients when it comes to props and decor for corporate events. One thing our team keeps in mind is what happens to those items after the event ends. As we consider ways to repurpose event props and decor, this is where our creativity shines.
When we used a tent from Shelter Co. to create a casual lounge area inside a large indoor event, we dressed up the inside with layered rugs. After the event, we rolled up the rugs to reuse them at a future event. You might also consider donating one-use purchase items to a favorite group like Hamilton Families; not only would you be making eco-conscious choices but it’s a great opportunity to give back to worthy charities.
We’ve found that just about anything can be repurposed, from rugs to stage furniture. When we worked with Sales Machine on their annual conference in New York City, we purchased shelves and furniture from IKEA to create a cozy living room feel for the main stage. In this case, it was cheaper to buy the items than it would have been to rent. After the event, all of the furniture was donated to a local school so they could give their teachers’ lounge a well-deserved refresh. We call that a win-win … win!
Food Waste Warriors
It’s nearly impossible to end an event without leftover food. Fortunately, there are many opportunities available to ensure that this aspect of your event stays green. We always include post-event tasks as part of our pre-planning process and taking care of food donations is definitely a priority. When possible, we like to use a local vendor called Food Runners; they’re a San Francisco-based company that picks up excess food from events and delivers it to neighborhood food programs.
You might also choose to promote sustainability by educating attendees about environmental awareness during your event. Often our clients will set up recycling stations in the venue, installing signage to provide direction to guests for “what goes where.” You can also coordinate composting and recycling pick up after the event. Providing turn-key green services for events all over California, Green Mary offers everything from basic services management to education opportunities that promote environmental awareness.
Provide Eco-friendly Travel for Your Speakers with Carbon Travel Credits
Carbon travel credits offer a way to balance out your pollution by investing in projects that reduce emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. If you’re flying in multiple speakers for your event, carbon travel credits will help reduce your company’s carbon footprint. Each carbon credit purchased is channeled to a company specifically tasked to bring down emissions or provide more sustainable and environmentally-friendly alternatives.
Sustainability is no longer just a trend in the event industry. Corporations are becoming more aware of their carbon footprint and looking for ways to decrease their impact on the environment—and guests take notice too. By taking steps toward sustainability, you add to the positive impact of your event through thoughtful actions that reduce the negative impact on the environment.
Looking for more sustainability ideas for your events? Check out part one and part two of our “green” event series for a few more suggestions on how you can easily bring sustainability to the forefront of your next event—while keeping an eye on your budget and the planet!
How “Green” was Your Last Event?
As attendees become more and more aware of their own impact on the planet, it’s important to incorporate smart choices. We’d love to brainstorm with you on needs specific to your event! Drop us a note and we’ll be in touch right away!
Maggie Kennedy is the co-owner of Kennedy Events; a large-scale event management company based in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City. Our team creates stress-free conferences and events with a positive impact, which allow our clients to resonate with their audience. Kennedy Events specializes in producing flawless product launches, award ceremonies, fundraisers and multi-day conferences while keeping our eye on retention and engagement goals
MAGGIE KENNEDY
