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IT DOESN ’ T HAVE TO COST
Danielle Ward , director and founder of Reward , attacks the myth that sustainability is an expensive pursuit , if you build it into your plans properly
hen it comes to driving sustainability into the event industry , there are three main challenges that tend to come up . Firstly , the belief that sustainable events are all potato sacks and hemp ( they ’ re not ). Secondly , it can be overwhelming , and many don ’ t know where or how to start ( call me !). Thirdly , and probably the biggest barrier , is the perception that sustainable events come with a higher price tag .
Myth or reality ? In short , it really does depend . If you are trying to shoehorn sustainability into your event a week before , then yes it will be pricey ( and pointless ). But if you can embed sustainability into your strategy from the outset , it becomes less about cost and more about efficiencies and smarter event planning .
Re-think Re-think your whole event and your purchases . To make sustainability successful , we need to establish what the goals and objectives are for the event . Since Covid , people ’ s expectations have changed , they want experiences and to feel part of something meaningful . Events are a way of connecting people and , as a key marketing tool , should be delivered in a way that communicates your company brand and culture . Establish your priorities , this then informs your decision-making . For every item on your budget sheet , ask yourself : ‘ Do we really need it ?’, ‘ Is it adding any value ?’. From here you can start to re-evaluate what is important and strip out what you don ’ t need at the event , resulting in immediate cost savings .
Review and remove Review and remove anything that doesn ’ t add value . We all need to buy less ‘ stuff ’, and this could not be truer than at an event . Do you really need printed signage when you can use digital screens on site ? Can you run sub-regional events instead of one big international event to cut down on your flights ? Can you cater more responsibly to keep food costs and wastage down ? Can you opt for vegan and vegetarian menus ; already the more sustainable choice , as plant-based food is cheaper than meat . Working with the right venues and suppliers can really help drive cost efficiencies into your sustainable event strategy , too . Where possible use suppliers local to your event to reduce travel and shipping and keep costs and carbon down .
Danielle Ward , director and founder of Reward
Re-invest Unfortunately , unless events are regulated , a part of the industry will always be driven by a ‘ low cost ’ option . But we have a responsibility to drive the demand and economies of scale . The more we request the sustainable options , the cheaper and more readily www . conference-news . co . uk