Environmental Sustainability
One of the easiest ways to make your event more sustainable is to choose eco-friendly venues and suppliers who share your commitment to environmental preservation. Look for venues with LEED certification or that have committed to reducing their carbon footprint. When it comes to supplier sourcing, prioritize those who source locally grown or organic food and use recycled materials whenever possible. You can also commit to paperless registration, communications and on-site materials. Do your attendees need to travel to a national event, or is it possible to hold your events in local regions? Cutting back on travel emissions is a way to reduce our collective carbon footprint. Another great way to reduce impact would be on water waste; consider instructing your banquet teams to only pour glasses of water upon request rather than pre-setting waters on tables.
Social Sustainability
It’s also important to consider the social impact of your event. This includes things like ensuring gender balance among speakers and attendees, choosing diverse suppliers, and providing accessible facilities for all guests. One easy way to do this is to partner with a local charity or community organization in a teambuilding activity to give back to the host city or town. Plan to donate prepared but unused food after your event, and include relevant language in your contracts. Good Samaritan Laws will protect you if proper food handling is done. Not only will these efforts make your event more sustainable, but it will also help you build positive relationships with the local communities in which you conduct repeat business.
Economic Sustainability
Meeting planners need to think about the economic impact of their event by considering how groups may affect the host city. Your event likely will generate revenue growth for local community businesses; but, it could also negatively affect the community by wreaking havoc in that destination by increasing traffic congestion, for example. One way to boost the local economy is by working with local suppliers as much as possible. Use a local printing vendor instead of your usual supplier and also save shipping costs. Prioritize utilizing small businesses for your tier two needs, as a way to ensure your money will make its way back into the local economy. You should also try to negotiate group discounts on things like airfare and hotel rooms to make attendance more affordable for everyone involved.
Sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have” – it’s a necessity. By taking a holistic approach that considers the environmental, social, and economic impact of every aspect of your event, you can not only help preserve our planet but also improve your competitive advantage, mitigate risk, and capitalize on opportunities. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your sustainable meeting or event today!
