Since 2011, the global population has grown by over one billion.
As that number rises, so does the amount of resources we need to live well and comfortably — and our growing needs are taking a toll on the environment.
Sea levels and global temperatures are rising, and increasingly common extreme weather events are causing catastrophic damage. While the causes of these climate changes are debatable, human behavior isn’t helping. It’s time to reduce our environmental impact, both personally and on an industry-wide scale.
For decades, the live events industry has operated with a throwaway mentality. When an event is over, food, decor, and signage are tossed, destined to pile up in landfills and become floating plastic islands in our oceans.
Mitigating our gatherings’ impact is more important than ever. Thankfully, many industry leaders, including those at innoVia, are already prioritizing sustainability in events.
Sustainability in Events: Where Do We Begin?
Early in my event production career, I was steeped in corporate events in many different cities, and I didn’t think much about sustainability.
My perspective changed when I completed my master’s degree in business. My coursework focused on socially responsible and environmentally sustainable business practices. I learned that it’s possible to make a profit and help the planet.
After that, I sought groups focused on social and environmental causes, and I even partnered with an environmental nonprofit for 10 years. Since then, I’ve learned a thing or two about prioritizing sustainability in events.
Many live events I’ve worked on established zero-waste and sustainability committees. These committees set sustainability goals for the event and ensured we met them by implementing strict protocols and measuring our results.
You don’t need to create a formal committee, but having a process for performing assessments, capturing information, and tracking sustainability goals is a great way to start “greening” your events.
Sustainable Practices for Your Events
Waste management is where we as live event producers can make the most immediate and impactful change.
While we can tackle other issues such as energy conservation by encouraging attendees to take public transit or working with venues that use renewable energy sources, we have direct control over what we bring into — and take out of — each venue. How we manage those resources from start to finish is entirely up to us.
Start by making these three simple changes:
1. Eliminate Single-Use Plastics
Single-use plastic use is already declining in the live event industry. It’s time we put the final nail in the coffin.
Plastic water bottles and cups are easy to eliminate. If your hotel or venue hasn’t already retrofitted its water fountains with reusable bottle fillers, you can set up water stations within easy walking distance of every ballroom and breakout room.
Depending on your venue, you can also reduce plastic use by insisting that your catered space be plastic-free.
2. Reduce Food Waste
When we throw away food, we waste the energy used to grow, transport, and prepare it. The wasted food also goes to a landfill, where it rots and releases methane into the atmosphere.
Overproduction is the most significant cause of food waste at events. Reduce food waste by preparing an accurate amount of food and communicating with your caterers ahead of time.
And if you do end up with leftovers, handle them sustainably. Consider composting or donating to local communities, food banks, and soup kitchens.
I’ve been involved in events where event producers collaborated with the venue and the local municipality to set up infrastructure for handling compost. It took some heavy lifting, but it was worth it. If you’re in a bigger city, it may be easy to build a similar solution.
3. Limit Other Event Materials
The signage, decor, and physical programs used at live events could easily fill a couple of dumpsters — but they don’t have to.
To reduce this type of event waste, identify the items you can reuse at other events. If you can’t reuse an item, find out if you can recycle it instead.
You’ll make a big difference if you can fit your materials somewhere in the reduce-reuse-recycle circle. But reduce, reuse, recycle isn’t just a slogan — it’s a series of steps best carried out in that order.
How to Use Technology to Boost Sustainability in Events
One big step forward in event sustainability is the shift away from physical signage toward digital options. Many venues are updating their facilities to have monitors or projectors in every room and larger screens throughout the hallways.
Replacing printed programs with event apps is another great way to leverage technology. Apps put a venue map and event agenda into every attendee’s hands without creating a pile of paper waste.
Some additional benefits of digital signage include:
- The ability to make real-time agenda updates
- Saved printing time and costs
- Enhanced attendee engagement and experience
Looking Ahead: Future Trends for Sustainability in Events
You may have already noticed some sustainability trends in the live events industry. Event producers are using less plastic, donating extra food, and including composting in their waste management plan.
I’m also excited to see venues, event planners, and event technology companies like innoVia collaborating with local communities to produce events. We already rely on local equipment and talent, so we don’t have to transport people and gear as often as other AV companies do.
With some extra infrastructure, I foresee venues, community organizations, and businesses establishing new partnerships that’ll make it easier to produce sustainable events.
Practicing Personal Sustainability
As we embrace more environmentally sustainable practices, let’s not forget about self-sustainability.
The live events industry is a high-stress business. Everyone works hard, especially during peak seasons. It’s important to manage that stress so that you don’t harm your overall health. You won’t be able to tackle issues like climate change, food waste, and sustainability in events if you’re burnt out.
Let innoVia relieve some of your stress. Our event production services can bring your vision to life without sacrificing sustainability or peace of mind. Contact us today to learn more.
