Sustainable events

Even though most events are inherently one-off occasions or at least infrequent, there are numerous ways event organisers can improve their event’s sustainability.  Here are just some easy ways you can start reducing the overall environmental impact of your event.

Transport

Most events will require patrons to travel to the event but you can reduce the environmental impact of travel by choosing to hold your event in a location that is easy to reach by public transport. Additionally, you can offer incentives for patrons to travel by public transport by offering them a reduced entry fee if proof of public transport is provided.  If your event is not able to be reached by public transport then you can provide transport which more efficiently services your event. A good example of this is the shuttle buses that are available to the concerts in the wineries that are now so popular. Here are some more ideas on ways to offset emissions from travel.

Waste Management

Many events already try to reduce waste to landfill by providing recycling bins for paper, glass and plastic bottles.  However, you can go further and encourage exhibitors and/or vendors to only provide consumables with a minimal amount of packaging.

For large events, it is possible to engage a a waste management coordinator who can identify where potential waste can be reduced or recovered. The coordinator can work with the event staff and contractors to coordinate various waste management strategies for the event. The waste management coordinator can also work closely with the venue operators as this will make the task of implementing effective waste management plans a much easier task.

Resource Consumption

Energy (electricity and gas) and water usage can also be minimised by establishing ‘switch it off’ policies for areas or equipment that is not is use.  You can also seek venues or energy suppliers which use/provide green power.  There are more hints on how to achieve this at Origin Energy.

Communications

This includes promotion, ticketing, signage and any other communications involved in organising and running an event.  Many event organisers already rely heavily on e-mail, SMS and other online communications channels for promoting their events and even supplying the tickets which saves on printing, postage and other transportation costs.  When considering how to promote your event, consider channels that don’t require printed material such as radio, online directories and social networks (eg Facebook).

Catering

This is an area where a lot of waste can be generated both in terms of excess food and excess packaging.  Ensuring your caterers have accurate numbers of patrons is  a start to ensuring that food wastage is reduced. Similarly, you can insist that certain food items are supplied in larger containers (eg. salt, sauce and other condiments in large containers not in single serve sizes).

There are also many other ways to reduce wastage and improve sustainability in the food & beverage area.

It may seem daunting when starting to think how to make your event environmentally sustainable but even starting with one the above ideas  can make a difference.

Bad practices

I attended an outdoor event on the weekend with my wife and young daughter and being in the business of marquee hire took the time to check out how the event was set up. I was shocked by how the marquees had been erected.

This kind of erection breaches all building codes and regulations which require marquees to be pegged (pegs must be driven all the way in) or, if pegs cannot be used due to site restrictions, weighted in line with Industry Guidelines.

Marquee pegged and tied incorrectly

Please be assured that we would never install a marquee in this way.  By not complying with buidling codes for temporary structures (marquees) the marquee supplier is exposing the event organisers to public injury and other claims should marquees shift or even completely blow over.

In fact, at this particular event, one marquee was doing just that as winds were blowing in just the right direction to tip it back and over a fence

Don’t let this happen at your next event. Make sure your event supplier follows all the regulations for erecting marquees, stages and other structures or equipment.  To better educate customers we are compiling a rogue’s gallery of all the kinds of bad practices within the event hire industry. Watch this space!