With the UN recently announcing that 1 million species are threatened with extinction, being environmentally sustainable has quickly become a topic of interest amongst many. But how do you create a sustainable event? There are so many things you need to have printed, manufactured, bought, and shipped— where do you start?
Here’s our handy list to get you started:
1. Use Rental Equipment
Rental equipment is more sustainable than purchasing items for each event. You cut down on the environmental impact of manufacturing items, things get recycled, and if you rent locally, you drastically cut down on shipping and freight carbon emissions. Everyone wins!
2. Ditch The Paper
Digital signage isn’t just a great, eye-catching way of promoting your event — it’s always a great way to be sustainable. Replacing printed banners and posters with digital signage (displayed on rental screens, even!) is an easy way to boost the attractiveness of your display while cutting down on waste materials.
3. Purchase Carbon Offsets
Did you know you can buy a carbon offset? Companies like Terrapass allow companies and individuals to offset their emissions. When purchasing an offset, you actually contribute money to projects that combat carbon emissions — such as planting trees, or developing renewable energy resources.
4. Carpool
If you’ve got multiple people leaving from one hotel to an event location, don’t all go separately — carpool. Even if your participants are spread over different locations, arrange a carpool route that can pick people up along the way.
5. Compost Your Scraps
Events produce a lot of waste. Most of it are things like paper towels, coffee grains and filters, and food scraps and leftovers. All of this stuff can be composted. Across America there are many services, such as Urban Canopy in Chicago, which will gladly take your compostable items and use them. Not only are you cutting down on waste, you’re also participating in community outreach programs.
6. Set Up Water Stations
Refillable water stations help cut down on waste by reducing the number of plastic water bottles needed during an event. People can bring reusable water containers, rather than purchasing plastic bottles, and freely refill as they need. You can even try to find a sponsor who supplies reusable water bottles to hand out to visitors.
7. Do Business With Sustainable Companies
The people you do business with play just as important a role in your impact on the environment as your own practices. Identify those partners, products and services which also strive to have minimal environmental impact. Together, you’ll present a strong network of businesses committed to efficient and environmentally friendly practice.
