Moving beyond the buzzwords – Sustainability and the events industry
CMW INTERNATIONAL REPORTER OLIVER THOMAS REFLECTS ON THE EVENTS INDUSTRY ’ S SUSTAINABILITY PROGRESS EIGHT MONTHS AFTER COP26
‘ B uild back better ’, ‘ the new normal ’, ‘ Net Zero ’. Just over eight months ago , as COP26 grabbed global headlines , undoubtably most event industry stakeholders would have used at least one of these phrases . Strategies , programmes , and pledges set out changes to the basic principles that define our industry in favour of an environmentally sustainable future .
Eight months later , the dust has settled , and the pistons of the international events industry has fired back up . In this time , has the industry become more focused on the pledges made ? Or has it fallen into the trap of empty rhetoric , baseless buzzwords , and another lost opportunity for change ?
The green consensus Throughout the industry , a growing consensus is being built that sustainability is an unconditional factor in organising events .
Raquel Seiz , marketing and communications manager at the Spanish-based international events agency , 4foreverything , says :
“ Sustainability is no longer a long-term optional policy , but rather a must for all industries .”
“ Sustainability is no longer a long-term optional policy , but rather a must for all industries .”
An understanding is being developed that there is no silver bullet solution . It ’ s not just about creating ‘ a plastic free ’ or ‘ net zero ’ event , but an assessment of how all processes within organisations and supply lines can become more sustainable . This logic extends beyond carbon emissions to looking at the wider meaning of sustainability and the legacy of events .
“ We should think about the UN Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) as a background to understanding what sustainability actually means ,” comments Fiona Pelham , CEO of the non-for-profit event sustainability organisation , Positive Impact . “ The SDGs include everything from gender equality to no food poverty .”
Hurdles to overcome Despite COP26 ’ s momentum , an overhaul of processes takes time , money , and will . A large proportion of the events industry is made up of SMEs , which are often limited in their capacity to effectively adapt to more sustainable processes .
Pelham comments : “ We know that SMEs are often time and budget poor . They ’ ve never had the chance to prioritise sustainability within this environment .”
As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic and enter a global cost-of-living crisis , keeping businesses afloat and re-boating operations back to pre-pandemic levels are often seen as priorities in comparison to implementing sustainable processes .
The events industry is also a mixing pot of sectors . While this creates a vibrant and dynamic exchange of ideas , it nonetheless creates its own challenges in building a coherent sustainability strategy .
12 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 119