Planning a Green Business Event

A business event has the potential to be a major source of carbon emission – namely due to travel and the amount of energy required for the venue/promotional materials. Over 60,000 tons of CO2 was emitted in 2009 from UK conferences and exhibitions alone. However, with some careful thought and planning, such emissions can be significantly cut.

The following does not apply solely to corporate events. Any kind of event, be it a conference or a wedding, can hold an event without negatively impacting the environment.

– Choose a venue close to where a majority of the event’s participants live, ensuring that there is a good public transport network which ensures the greenest possible option to travel.
– Where possible, choose an energy efficient venue. For catering, request organic, locally produced food and drink. Ensure there are no disposable plates or cutlery (particularly harmful to the environment) and that there are plenty of recycling points throughout the venue.
– Try to arrange room blocks for the event’s participants at nearby hotels – preferably within walking distance. Better yet, see if the venue itself offers accommodation.
– Make sure to use sustainable, functional and/or recyclable promotional materials – a notebook made from recycled paper for example. Avoid items such as balloons, as they will be immediately thrown away and end up as landfill.
– If running a business event, try and encourage participants to use more environmentally friendly supplies. Display banners and exhibition stands can be provided by companies with green credentials, ensuring the carbon emissions when creating such products is kept to a minimum.
– At the event, try to get the message out about green living and the numerous ways we can lead a more environmentally responsible way of life. Minor things like switching the light off when leaving a room or recycling their plastics can really make a difference when repeated hundreds of thousands times over the event’s duration.

Dane Cross writes on behalf of Marler Haley, a UK based company who provide environmentally friendly banner and exhibition stands.