Sustainability is the buzzword of the year, with businesses doing whatever it takes to showcase their eco-credentials. While there are some aspects of a business that lend themselves well to sustainability, such as your choice of packaging and your waste management solutions, there are others that can be a bit more difficult to adapt. If you are trying to organize a conference, there are several obstacles that you are likely to encounter which can hinder your sustainability efforts. Find out how to overcome these and plan the ultimate sustainable conference below!
- Pick a sustainable venue
Arguably the most important aspect of a conference, if you want to create a green experience, then you need to find a sustainable event venue. These types of venues can help you to save on resources such as water and power and help to offset all your event’s carbon emissions. There is a wide range of types of sustainable venues to choose from, with options to suit all budgets and bespoke requirements. For example, you could pick a historic business conference room or a space that is more modern. You can find sustainable venues by looking for an international sustainability certification which should be present on their website.
- Hire a local catering company
When it comes to catering, hiring a nearby company can help support the local community and cut down on your transportation needs. It can also be a good idea to try and choose seasonal menus and foods that are readily available rather than have to have exotic foods shipped from another country, as this can help to reduce the carbon footprint of your event.
- Offer eco-friendly transportation
Have you thought about how your attendees are going to get to your chosen venue? If you have picked a venue that is located in a city or town, then encourage people to take public transport to cut down on their carbon footprint. Alternatively, if you have chosen a rural location, you could suggest that people arrange a carshare, or you could hire a coach or bus to bring everyone to your event.
- Use solar power
If your conference requires sound and staging, then this can use quite a lot of energy. To prevent this, why not consider using solar power instead? Most sound equipment and LED lighting can be powered by solar energy, even in areas that do not get a lot of sunlight. Another option, although it’s a little out there, is to get your guests to generate their own kinetic energy. All you need is a dance floor or walkway and a little bit of powerful persuasion.
- Send digital invites
Do you really need to send out paper invites for your next conference? It is a complete waste of paper and ink, and most people are more than happy to receive digital invites, which they can add straight to their event calendar. Or, for an even more impactful way to invite guests to your event, why not build a custom website with all the conference details and latest information?
