Case study event individually , as Destination Canada did , carefully considering the sustainability of things like suppliers , venues , food and beverage , etc .”
As a result , the destination was able to save 120 plastic water bottles , avoid 3,935km of fuel as well as acquire and offset 30t of CO2e after the reduction of emissions during the event – to name a few success stories .
Communicating your strategy Once you have these goals outlined , it ’ s time to communicate them clearly . The collaboration necessary to enact a sustainability roadmap of this scale is almost as vital as the steps themselves .
Firstly , openly talk to your vendors from hotels , restaurants , offsite venues , caterers , AV , gift suppliers , etc . Destination Canada opted for a sustainability questionnaire , to better understand their stakeholder ’ s sustainability efforts and the event ’ s holistic impact . Seven vendors each completed the questionnaires and six virtual meetings were conducted with vendors .
As a Destination Canada spokesperson said : “ by involving everyone in the process , you create a collaborative environment that can lead to innovative thinking .”
It ’ s also important to speak to your delegates , as it helps increase awareness and education around sustainability . Destination Canada achieved this by creating a ‘ delegate journey ’ infographic , sharing a presentation deck on attendee ’ s hotel room televisions and sending out daily sustainable newsletters .
By actively involving the attendees , Destination Canada was able to foster an engaged community who felt a shared sense of responsibility . This also connected the organising team with those on site , thus creating a harmonious sustainable experience for all involved .
When creating your next sustainable event , ensure you have a strategy that places sustainability at the centre – as it will help your stakeholders and delegates get on board , ultimately making your sustainable goals more achievable .
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