SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTION
Kate Bullard and Michelle Rees , directors , Eventprofslive , outline how they incoproated sustainability into their FAM trip
ustainability has become trendy – the buzz words surrounding it and its connotations . So much has been written about the topic that it can be hard to digest and think about what sustainability means individually and how it fits into the events industry .
We know that we are at a critical point for our planet and need to take urgent action to shift course – future generations depend on it . The crucial question is , what can we do as event professionals to contribute toward this necessary change ? As event professionals within corporate organisations , it is crucial to think about sustainability from the outset of the event to be at the forefront of all decisions and not a last-minute add-on .
This could include identifying a venue with a strong sustainability offering when doing the initial venue find . It could include instructing all your suppliers involved in the event to ensure that sustainable options are provided across all F & B . It could also mean considering different channels to deliver your content ( i . e . limiting hardcopy resources offered on the day ).
When planning an event , emphasising sustainability could also
Michelle Rees and Kate Bullard
mean thinking about how attendees will travel to the event and choosing the method most aligned to your company ’ s ESG principles .
Play your part We all have a part to play individually and within our organisations . For those of us lucky enough to have influence , we need to use that to influence to spark change . We work to do this at Eventprofslive , and for our April FAM , we wanted to incorporate a sustainability focus which we did by : 1 . Partnering with a venue that is a leader in this area . We worked with Wyboston Lakes , which has three accreditations for its sustainability efforts . 2 . We offset our carbon footprint from attending the event by planting trees within the grounds at Wyboston Lakes – a unique networking break format as well . 3 . We worked with a local charity and O3E to give back to the local community by building bikes , which is great for team-building . 4 . All takeaways provided for our
attendees at the FAM were made from recycled materials which could be re-planted to grow wildflowers .
Apply your learnings This FAM opened all our eyes to how we can incorporate elements into every event we manage to make them more sustainable . While on the FAM , we also brainstormed ideas to understand how we are making our events more sustainable individually . We had some great ideas , some of which included : 1 . More plastic-free alternatives at events . 2 . Going paperless , sending materials electronically or using QR codes . 3 . Working with your caterer to ensure the F & B is locally sourced , wastage is limited , with meat-free options etc . 4 . Partnering with a venue that has its own sustainable measurements in place .
We have a long way to go , but we are making progress together by having these conversations and putting these actions in place . www . conference-news . co . uk