Sustainability regularly hits the headlines. So what can event professionals do at their level? Sustainability has become a significant factor in event professionals’ checklists. However, they sometimes struggle to balance cost-efficiency and sustainability. It is also said to be expensive, time-consuming and extra paperwork.
Well, the good news is that it is not true! We love sustainability at Friends House, and we even won awards for our environmental policies. In this article, we will help you draft the perfect sustainable event. How? By giving you our top 10 tips to run a sustainable event.
1. Choose a venue that uses green energy
At Friends House, we use 100% renewable electricity made of wind, solar, hydro and Biogen energies. If you consider having a sustainable event, you will have to look for a venue which is using green and renewable energy.
2. Think about transport links
Choosing a venue with excellent transport links, using public transports and organising travelling groups will help reduce your events’ carbon footprint. A well-connected venue, such as Friend House, in Euston, is easy to find. No lost delegates anymore.
3. Support local businesses
Think local for your event. Local sourcing enables to cut down costs in the supply chain and supports local employers and businesses. It also means fewer carbon emissions as transport times are shortened. Organic Lea provides us with fresh salads, delivered by bike and grown in the London Borough of Waltham Forest.
4. Get in the recycling loop
Using recycled materials for your collaterals contributes to a zero waste to landfill objective. Less waste gets the closed loop recycling going. It also helps with saving trees and protecting animals’ habitats. One more reason to go green!
5. Think about the community
Which community are we talking about here? Well, more than a community, your event should take into account the communities. First of all, yours: you want to ensure that delegates have a great experience, in a safe and sustainable place. Second: the community around the venue. A sustainable venue means less pollution for the area and more ties at a local level. Third: the larger community. Sustainable events respect the environment and ensure future generations’ development.
6. Choose transparency
Maintaining transparent relationships with suppliers and stakeholders encourages a more ethical approach to your event. Healthy relationships help prevent any kind of bad surprises in your invoice, for example and ensures a smoother work process.
7. Remember: your delegates are diverse
All your delegates should be able to attend your event. The venue must be accessible to all, and all delegates should be treated equally and as fairly as possible. Consider event dates do not clash with religious holidays as well.
8. Learn from others
You certainly know someone who ran a sustainable event or you have heard about green and ethical venues. Contact them, see what they can tell you about their sustainable policies. What is their carbon footprint? We reduced ours by 29 per cent since 2009. What do they do differently from others? Also, research the best practice in the sustainable event sector.
9. Embrace organic and locally-sourced food
To be sustainable, an event must include fresh, organic, locally-sourced and Fairtrade products. Sustainable food means high-quality products that are traceable and your delegates will undoubtedly appreciate their unique taste, and sometimes their originality. It also contributes to the local economy and on a larger scale helps farmers in developing countries.
10. Contact us!
Friends House has a renowned experience in sustainable events. With us, events don’t cost the earth! To book your sustainable event or learn more about our offer, email our sales and events team at events@quaker.org.uk or call 020 7663 1100. Our friendly team will advise you on packages and find the right space for you.