Tips to cut back on plastic, pollution and waste for eco-friendly events
According to the United Nations, half of all plastic produced
is designed to be used once and then thrown away, taking centuries to
degrade. In fact, experts are warning that if we don’t act, the amount
of plastic in our oceans will outweigh the fish by 2050.
And it’s
not just plastic that’s the problem. Deforestation, fossil fuels and
farming are all contributing to an increase in greenhouse gases, and
we’re seeing global warming, extreme weather and rising sea levels as a
result.
It’s time we all made a few changes – and there are plenty of steps you can take to help make a difference.
Here are a few ways you can cut the carbon footprint of your next event…
1.
Pledge to cut back on plastics. And definitely ban plastic straws.
They’re one of the most common items that end up littering the
environment, and due to their size and shape, they’re often tricky for
the machines at recycling plants to pick up. At CCT Venues we’re
replacing all our branded plastic pens with ones made renewable natural
fibres. They’re every bit as good as plastic pens. The only difference
is they’ll degrade naturally when they’ve run out of ink, rather than
adding to landfill.
2. Provide delegates with refillable glass water bottles or jugs of fresh water (UK tap water is fine to drink), rather than a water cooler with plastic cups. At CCT Venues, we provide filtered water in
refillable glass bottles for all events.
3. Push public transport. Choose venues close to transport links so that your guests can leave the car at home and cut back on pollution. All our venues are within a five-minute walk from a Tube station, so your delegates can have an easy journey with no petrol required.
4. Reuse wherever you can. Hang on to name badge-holders. Create signs and poster that will work for more than one occasion. Take care of your display items so you can use them again and again. You’ll soon find that cutting back on consumption helps cut back costs too. CCT Venues-Docklands has digital
room signs which clients can use, avoiding waste completely.
5. Be as paperless as possible. Make sure you share the agenda and any important materials for your conference or meeting online, so delegates can view it onscreen rather than needing to print out lengthy documents.
6. Work with suppliers who have stringent sustainable sourcing
credentials. Our own Head Chef Jamian Lewis is passionate about choosing
seasonal ingredients from farmers or suppliers with humane, ethical and
environmentally sound practices in place. And we’re constantly learning
more about how to make our business kinder to the planet. Recently our
Operations Director James Russ joined fellow members of the IACC
(International Association of Conference Centres) to visit Sweden where
they learned about the fascinating sustainable sourcing practices in
place at venues across the country. Read his diary from the trip here.
7.
Go virtual. Consider the use of technology in your event to reduce air
miles. For example your overseas participants can come together
virtually, through video conferencing, telephone conferencing or Skype.
Our venues are equipped with the high-speed Wi-Fi and state-of-the-art
equipment you need to make it happen. We’ll even provide technical
support to get you up and running.
So there you have it, a few
ways you can make small changes that will add up to a positive impact on
our planet. Spread the word and why not pledge to make 2019 the year
your events get a lot more environmentally friendly? We’d love to help
you do things differently. Call our Sales Team on 0808 168 1168 or complete an enquiry form here to find out more.