Each year, our leader, Ryan Hanson, steps away from the daily routine to immerse himself in the BizBash Leadership Summit. This summit gathers the industry’s most influential voices and visionary minds. It is where thought leadership, innovative strategies, and industry-wide collaboration are born. The highly anticipated Memorandum of Understanding captures the insights drawn from these discussions.
A hot topic from this year’s summit was sustainability. It is no longer just a trend—it is regarded as a vital component in driving our industry forward. But for corporate planners working within a budget, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scope of sustainability.
We’re here to help.
Incorporating sustainable practices doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your budget, or the quality of your experience. It’s an opportunity to innovate. Inspired by insights from the industry’s top leaders, here are some actionable ways to produce more sustainable events:
Rent, Don’t Buy
Events are notoriously wasteful; renting event elements instead of purchasing them reduces waste and promotes a circular economy. You’ll also save valuable space in the garbage bin. In the circumstance you do need to buy, donate event materials to local charities.
Rethink Transportation
Use energy-efficient transportation, like electric buses and vehicles, to transfer attendees to and from the event. Include this ideology for your vendor partners and event crews. When you reduce the amount of vehicles routed to the venue, you will significantly reduce emissions.
Shop Local
On the same note, when you shop and partner with local vendors, you will inevitably reduce carbon emissions by reducing transportation-related fuel consumption.
Carbon Offsetting
Offer attendees the option to offset their carbon footprint by giving them the option to contribute to green initiatives and sustainable foundations. Financial support could reduce the impacts of deforestation, or even save species from endangerment.
Engage a Sustainability Consultant
Don’t know where to start? Bring in an expert to help develop a comprehensive plan tailored to your specific event needs.
Venue + Partner Consideration
Speak upfront with both your venue and vendor partners to evaluate how they align with your sustainability goals. Some good topics to discuss include energy usage and waste management.
Conduct Food Audits
Don’t let food go to waste. Track and analyze consumption during the event. If there is an excess of food at the end of the evening, evaluate what can be taken to food banks, or give the food away to the event crew. Additionally, opt for plant-based menu items, which take up less land, water, and energy to produce versus their animal counterparts.
Go Paperless
Replace printed materials with digital signage to reduce waste.
Reconsider Swag
Challenge the need for traditional giveaways. Consider digital alternatives or eco-friendly options that your guests will actually use, so they won’t end up in a landfill.
Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. By incorporating just a few of these actions in your upcoming event, you can reduce environmental impact while still delivering a high-quality experience.Partner with us for a greener future. At BeEvents, we’re dedicated to helping you elevate your events with forward-thinking solutions. Together, we can lead the way to a more sustainable industry—one event at a time. Get started by reaching out to us today.
