How to Host an Environmentally Sustainable Event

A sustainable event is any event, gathering, or conference that is planned with environmental consciousness in mind. These events aim to achieve and promote environmental sustainability among the participants. The benefit of holding sustainable events is that you can cut down on costs, enhance your reputation, and show your commitment to a sustainable Earth.

If you are looking to host a sustainable event, the points that we have discussed below might be of help to you.

Arrange Transportation for the Participants

To host a sustainable event, the first thing that you can do is arrange transportation for the participants of the event. It is estimated that vehicles contribute approximately 1.4 billion tons of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere each year and you can play your part in reducing this by organizing the transportation for the event. Although it might be an extra hassle that you will have to deal with, it is well worth it to reduce the carbon emissions.

You can organize a local shuttle bus to pick up the local attendees, communicate public transportation options to all the participants of the event, and suggest attendees carpool with one another to the event. You can also arrange shared Ubers or other such ride services for attendees. The benefit of doing so is that you will demonstrate your commitment to a green world and also lower carbon emissions.

Arrange Environmental-Friendly Event Swag

Arranging environmental-friendly event swag is also a step that you can take to reduce carbon emissions and host a sustainable event. Common event swag includes things like keychains, tote bags, notebooks, water bottles, pens, and t-shirts. If these are not made up of eco-friendly materials, then these can contribute significantly to waste material.

So instead of organizing event swag from non-eco-friendly material, consider using reusable and biodegradable material for event swag items such as tote bags, water bottles, pens, and t-shirts. Doing so can send a good message and also reduce your contribution to waste.

Choose an Environmentally Friendly Venue

Choosing an environmentally friendly venue is also very important to hold a sustainable event. For all in-person events, you should consider choosing a venue that takes sustainability seriously and maintains the standards of sustainable operations and practices. Outdoor events are considerably better than indoor events, as you can take advantage of the natural lighting and other resources, but it all comes down to requirements.

Many venues have embraced eco-friendly practices given the increasing surge in demand for eco-friendly venues, making it easier for people to organize sustainable events.

Aim to Eliminate Waste at the Event

Aiming to eliminate waste at the event is essential for organizing a sustainable event because it is estimated that festivals produce 25,800 tonnes of waste annually. Although completely eliminating waste may not be feasible, you can still implement practices that can help you minimize waste such as embracing sustainable food practices, opting for reusable cutlery, plates, and cups, prioritizing energy efficiency, and eliminating printed material.

Plus, you can also request the attendees to be responsible citizens and try their best to minimize waste as much as they can. The best choice to completely eliminate waste is by holding virtual events or joining random video chats with strangers, which brings us to our next point.

Hold a Virtual Event

The best option available to hold a sustainable event is by ditching in-person events and opting for a virtual event. Instead of doing meet and interact in real life, you can prefer an online meet and greet through video chat, like how people do on platforms like OmeTv and apps like Zoom. The benefit of online events is that you can significantly reduce your carbon emissions, as there will be no travel and commute involved for virtual events.

Many businesses now prefer to hold virtual events and if that is not possible, you can still opt for a hybrid event that contributes significantly less than an in-person event, as it allows attendees to join from anywhere in the world without having to travel anywhere.