Sustainability and environmental consciousness are important touchpoints for today’s event guests. They want to know that their attendance isn’t creating more waste or depleting natural resources. It takes effort and materials to bring people together in a way that is productive and engaging. The following are a few ways to green up your next event:
1- Look for Eco-Friendly Venues.
It doesn’t mean your only option are parks and nature reserves. Plenty of indoor spaces have been considering their carbon footprints and have designed or built accordingly. Start by looking for LEED-certified buildings which may have solar power, gray-water recycling, energy-efficient lighting, or other features.
If you want to go for the ultimate standard in green venues, you could also look into those spaces that have ISO20121 certification (or similar) for sustainable events and/or activities.
2- Purchase Carbon Offset Credits.
Need a way to boost attendance or motivate people to click RSVP? Remind them that every confirmed invitation earns a certain number of points. These points are actually donations made towards existing climate action projects aimed at reducing or avoiding greenhouse gas emissions, protecting ecosystems, conserving wildlife habitats, or building sustainable communities.
The more people who attend, the more offset credits are earned. It also makes a great event follow up to show guests their offset credits in action with project updates.
3- Ditch the Plastic.
The pandemic caused a serious back-track in whatever progress was being made against single-use plastics. Disposable seemed safer at the time. What we know now, is that real cutlery and glasses can be sanitized through normal dishwashing, at already high event safety standards, making them suitable for use as long as proper handling procedures are followed.
If you absolutely cannot avoid disposable utensils and plates – look for biodegradable and compost-friendly versions made from plant starches. They function just like (and sometimes better than) their plastic counterparts and break down easily rather than stacking up in landfills.
4- Rethink Swag.
Who needs another customized plastic pen when they could get a sampling of a local tree or perhaps the state flower? Not only are these more enduring gifts, when planted or potted, they also serve the purpose of all plants – to clean carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into pure oxygen.
In addition to these tactics, leverage the power of technology to minimize paper waste from invitations, menus, event programs, and more. Going digital with these items not only saves the environment, it also saves you money. Ask VIBE about our simple pre-existing platforms for digital event tasks.
About the VIBE Agency: The VIBE Agency is a Miami-based award-winning full-service production agency that specializes in the creation and orchestration of live and virtual experiences for the corporate industry.
The agency is forward-thinking and was recognized as one of the 50 top event companies by Special Events magazine in 2019 and 2020. Most recently, Valerie Bihet, founder of the VIBE was named a Smart Women in Meetings 2021 Hall of Fame honoree by Smartmeetings, for her consistent work advancing the industry. If it can’t be live, make it VIBE!
