Sustainable Events

After over a year of virtual and hybrid events with almost no carbon footprint, what does the return of live events mean for event organisers and sustainable event management? The trend towards sustainable event management has been gathering momentum over recent years but after the COVID-19 pandemic it is firmly at the top of the list for both event organisers and attendees.

If you want to know about what Inconnection does to reduce the impact of our services check out our CSR page.

What is Sustainable Event Management?

According to ISO 20211, sustainable event management is the process of integrating both environmental and social responsibility issues into event planning. It requires event organisers to consider the needs of the different stakeholders impacted by the event, including the local community.

Who Does Event Sustainability Matter To?

According to a recent report published by the IMEX Group, 92% of event professionals said that it is important that sustainability is integrated into the industry’s recovery. It has been suggested that 2021 could be a huge turning point, where we move beyond simple measures and start making a real difference.

Socially and environmentally responsible events also matter greatly to attendees. Using locally sourced produce or engaging in local volunteering projects can make an event feel more rewarding and worthwhile – and ultimately, more memorable.

How Are We Expecting Things to Change in 2021?

Professionals from every area of the events industry have been avidly talking about the sustainable event trends we’re likely to see again and again in 2021 and the years to come. Some of them we’ve seen slowly emerging, others have gathered an avalanche style pace in the past year and others are almost entirely brand new.

We’ll Still Be Hosting Virtual Events

Technology has kept the wheels of the events industry turning over the past year so it’s no surprise to see it at the top of the list. For businesses around the world, virtual events were a saving grace when live events weren’t an option but there are also many other benefits that haven’t gone unnoticed.

Unsurprisingly, attendee travel is the biggest contributor to an event’s carbon footprint making virtual events by far the most sustainable option. Even making every one out of ten business events a virtual or hybrid event could make a huge difference to a business’s carbon footprint so we’re expecting that virtual and hybrid events are here to stay. If you need help creating personalised virtual events, we can offer our services to ensure a truly memorable remote event.

We’ll be recommending local businesses

Second on the list as one of the highest contributors to an event’s carbon footprint is food and beverage. But when the food and drink element of an event adds so much to the overall event experience, it can be hard to know how to reduce it.

One of the most effective ways to make event catering more sustainable is to use local suppliers wherever possible. Not only does it reduce the unnecessary transportation of goods considerably, it also benefits local farmers and suppliers. This is a great way to ensure your event is giving back to the local community at the same time as being more sustainable.

We’ll Be Asking Venues Additional Questions

The venue find is critical to any event planning process but where venue layout, local amenities and transport links were once some of the most important questions, venues should also be clued up on their sustainability credentials.

The ISO 20211 certification is the gold standard but if a venue doesn’t have this yet, they can still show they are prioritising sustainable practices. For example, does it use green energy suppliers? How are they handling waste? Are they open to hosting a hybrid event?

We Can Use Event Technology in New Ways

Wearable Bluetooth technology for networking and exhibitions was becoming popular pre-pandemic but now they’ve been entirely repurposed.

Instead of notifying you when a potential prospect is close by, Bluetooth devices have been used to enforce social distancing at events like the Reconvening for Recovery in Connecticut.

Technology can also be used to monitor foot traffic to keep track of venue capacity and let venue staff know when an area needs cleaning.

We’re here to help you plan your next event in a way that’s cost-effective, sustainable and still unforgettable. To find out more, click the button below to send us an email and one of the team will be in touch.