4 Tips for Planning a Sustainable Event
Did you know that the average event has a carbon footprint of 10,000 pounds and the typical event attendee produces nearly 2kg of waste per day? That’s a lot! Whether planning your company’s annual holiday party or hosting an external client as part of your PR strategy,
sustainability
should be one of your top priorities. The benefits are plentiful: green events increase employee happiness, customer loyalty, and company value. Best of all, implementing sustainable practices for your next event is easier! Read on for some top tips for planning a sustainable event:
Host locally to reduce travel times .
When planning your next event, think about where the best location would be for your Corporate event Venue — both in terms of price and sustainability. Hosting your event locally has many benefits, including reduced travel times. Planning an event in a nearby location cuts down on transportation costs, emissions, and wear-and-tear on the environment. If you’re planning an off-site event, look into carpooling options. Additionally, be sure to factor travel time into your event timeline plan to ensure everything is on time — no one likes a late event!
Rent equipment instead of buying
Hosting an event that requires massive amounts of equipment? Instead of purchasing it, why not consider renting it? Renting equipment is much more sustainable than buying it, even if you plan to use it again. Rental companies must follow strict regulations to ensure that the ability to reuse equipment is not damaged — meaning that renting equipment is much more sustainable than buying it.
While renting equipment costs more than buying it, that cost is often offset by the fact that you don’t have to store it for years. Plus, you can return the equipment at the end of the event so that it can be used by someone else. Renting equipment also gives you options you may not have had if you had purchased the gear. You can pick the specific equipment you need, and you may even be able to choose the model if the rental company has various options.
Use local suppliers
Looking to build a relationship with a supplier? Consider using a local supplier to help reduce the carbon footprint of your event . Using local suppliers means that the supplier can ship products more efficiently, thereby reducing the CO2 emissions produced by transportation. Plus, it also cuts down on the amount of fuel that needs to be used and the amount of time your products are in transit. In addition to being more environmentally friendly, purchasing products from local suppliers also helps strengthen your company’s relationship with the community. You can find suppliers using a search engine like Google — plug in the type of goods you need and your city, and you’ll find lots of results! If you’re hosting an event and need food or drinks, consider choosing a local supplier to help reduce your event’s carbon footprint.
Go digital
While printed materials are essential during event planning, they aren’t as sustainable. Instead of printing materials, consider going digital. Not only is it more bearable, but it also has the added benefit of saving you money. This is particularly important if you have an event with an extensive guest list. Printing materials for a large number of people is not only a time-consuming project, but it’s also an expensive one. By going digital, you can avoid paying to print a large number of materials. With social media, you can communicate event details , manage RSVPs, and create a hashtag for attendees to use. Email marketing is another excellent way to get the word out about your event. Consider making an email series that promotes both your company and the event. Email marketing is also a great way to keep in touch with event attendees after the event is over.
