A sustainable event is a program that is carried out according to a series of conditions related to respect for the environment where it is organized and executed. These events, also known as events with green seal, provide different benefits, whether social or environmental, to the organizing company, with which they benefit from economic savings or an improvement in the image.
Sustainable events are beneficial and contribute openly to sustainable development. Its positive points go beyond the reduction of CO2 emissions, since they also contribute to equal opportunities for all, promote inclusion and promote the local economy, which represents a benefit, both for the organizing group, and for the social environment.
Of course, a first point to keep in mind is that the companies participating in the event prioritize the minimization of environmental impact and bet on the circular economy: local kilometer 0 or sustainable companies such as Sustain Awards, who through manufacturing with recycled materials bet on the commitment to the environment in all their processes. Know with ecology see these 5 ideas for your event to be sustainable.
What is a sustainable event
According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), a sustainable event is “The one who designs, organizes and implements activities that minimize negative environmental impacts And they leave a legacy for the community that houses it ”, in other words, it is one that brings community benefits simultaneously helping the social and environmental environment.
The organization of sustainable events constitutes an act of responsibility with the social, environmental and personal environment. Those of us who venture to make them are demonstrating the real commitment we have with our society, as well as with the earth.
We are committed to planning and specifying the necessary actions in order to achieve our firm support objectives to collaborate in social inclusion, offer development and work opportunities and take care of our environment.
Measures to reduce carbon footprint
According to a study conducted by researchers from Oxford and Otago universities, measures are proposed to reduce the carbon footprint in congress trips, because it was determined paradoxically, that those same meetings and congresses that are made to support the fight against climate change were causing high greenhouse gas emissions, achieving an opposite effect to the desired one.
Among the measures suggested by experts are, for example, Carefully select the places to meet to avoid the maximum means of transport; hold meetings every two years instead of annually to reduce trips by 50% and create local meeting centers so that the people who attend do not have to make such long trips. Also promote the use of social networks to hold events and thus the assistants virtually socialize with each other.
5 ideas to make your sustainable event
Next, we want to offer you some ideas so that the realization of your event generates the best positive environmental and social impact.
1. Event Headquarters
- Choose a city or a town that is the most accessible For most participants, and thus minimize their displacement.
- Take into account the schedule In order to make the most of sunlight.
2. Establish alternative mobility methods
- Events in general attract a large number of participants. We suggest Promote alternative travel forms such as bicyclespublic transport or share vehicles.
- It is also important to take into account the possibility of Make the event in an accessible place without transport meanswhere attendees can attend walking.
3. Minimize the use of resources
- For the good use of energy and resources, it is suggested reduce paper consumptionpromoting the elaboration of invitations and accreditations in digital presentations or in recycled material, to avoid unnecessary impression.
- As we said in an earlier point, ands Teaching the use of solar energyperforming the event outdoors and diurnal schedule.
- Use renewable energy sources.
- To avoid the largest amount of waste (organic or recyclable), the implementation of the “three RS” is also suggested: reduce, reuse and recycle. For this, the use of resources is reduced, the waste is separated and recycled and materials of previous events can be reused.
- As for food, to lower the impact, we suggest guidelines such as Serve foods that are ecological and local productionfair trade products, use of supplies produced or distributed by suppliers close to the event, and thus reduce transport impacts and support the local economy.
4. Online assistance is suggested
- It has been determined that Virtual meetings have a 94% carbon footprint than face -to -face. This is thanks to the absence of certain factors such as trips and meetings in closed places, among others.
- It is then suggested to carry out meetings or online or mixed events, where the necessary topics can be discussed, thus avoiding excessive energy consumptionuse of paper and the generation of waste.
5. Establish headquarters with adapted access
- Finally, it is very important to highlight the need for Generate a place suitable for all attendeesbecause we must guarantee the free access and participation of people with special needs.
We hope that among these tips you can find new ideas to promote sustainability in all areas of the organization of your event, both social and economic and environmental.
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