Elle Roberts-Nissen, Head of Events:

• Sustainable event practices and suppliers 
• Creating a more circular event 
• Top tips to create a sustainable event

Sustainability is at the forefront of everyone’s mind in this day and age. It is important that we all are more aware and play our part in creating more sustainable, eco-friendly and circular ways of living and working. Within the events industry, we have seen a rise in sustainability practices through careful selection of green certified suppliers, decreasing the consumption of unnecessary materials, zero food waste and much more. 

Sustainable practices and suppliers

Eliminate as much paper waste as possible: your delegate pack, agenda for the day and feedback surveys do not need to be printed for every single delegate. Email out this pack electronically to your guests ahead of your event. This is also a great way to stay in contact with your guests in the lead up to the day. 

Remember the days that every single delegate was given their own notepad and pen at a conference that was used to “take notes” then disposed of at the end of the day? Well, today we are seeing this less and less. Conference facilities are setting up stations for delegates to help themselves to stationery like this if they really need or want it but delegates are coming more prepared by bringing electronic devices for note taking. 

Ensure your chosen venue provides correct waste management, this simply needs to be through providing a separate recycling bin to regular rubbish in the meeting room/conference area. It is our social responsibility to ensure these simple practices are being utilised effectively. 

When deciding on your event suppliers, it is all about those quick wins. Create a quick questionnaire to ensure you are ticking these off:

• Is the supplier local?
• Is the supplier green certified?
• Does the supplier have similar sustainability goals to you?

If the answer to all three is ‘yes’ then you are on your way to a greener event. 

Creating a more circular event

Creating a more circular event when referring to production and consumption can be through three main pillars – reduce, reuse and regeneration. There are a number of organisations and initiatives that are contributing to the ever growing awareness of the ‘circular concept’. To make your event more circular you can simply start by donating your pull up banners (if not reusing) to organisations that upcycle these items to create something new. Right on our doorstep in Cambridge, we have Qhere, a company and local designer that upcycles no-longer in use materials into fashionable bags and accessories. You could also work with your chosen caterer to ensure drinks are served in re-fillable containers to reduce the use of plastic bottles. 

Top tips

• Catering – your catering should always be locally sourced, seasonal and aim for zero food waste. You cannot always guarantee there will be zero food waste at the end of an event, so get in touch with a local shelter and arrange for any surplus food to be donated after the event. To help prevent food wastage, ensure your final delegate numbers are accurate and confirmed at least seven days prior to the event, plated meals are also a good way to ensure less food waste as caterers are then cooking the exact amount rather than sharing buffet style options which tend to have more waste. 
• Transport – encourage your delegates to use public transport, car share or cycle to your event. 
• Looking to have a giveaway? Opt for a more eco-friendly selection of swag items. Forget the single use plastic pens that no one ever uses again and think about other ways to get your branding across with items that are environmentally friendly and something that people would use. Maybe upcycled tote bags, bamboo to-go cutlery or a metal straw? 

If you’re looking for new and innovative ways to create a more sustainable event and need help thinking about where to start, get in touch with CC Live, Conscious Communications’ in-house events department to discuss ideas in more detail: .