How do you reduce the impact of your event on the environment and community?

1 Assess your event's impact

Before you start planning your event, you should assess its potential impact on the environment and the community. This means identifying the sources and types of waste, emissions, energy, water, and other resources that your event will use or produce, as well as the potential social, cultural, and economic impacts on the local area. You can use tools such as environmental impact assessments, carbon footprint calculators, or social impact audits to help you measure and evaluate your event's impact.

2 Choose a green venue

One of the most important decisions you will make for your event is the venue. The venue can influence the environmental and community impact of your event in many ways, such as its location, accessibility, size, design, and amenities. You should look for a venue that has green features and practices, such as energy-efficient lighting, renewable energy sources, recycling and composting facilities, water conservation systems, and eco-friendly catering options. You should also consider the proximity of the venue to public transportation, bike paths, and accommodation options, to reduce the need for car travel and parking.

3 Reduce waste and emissions

Waste and emissions are some of the most visible and harmful impacts of events on the environment and the community. To reduce waste and emissions, you should adopt the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle. This means minimizing the amount of materials and resources that you use for your event, such as paper, plastic, food, and water, and opting for reusable or recyclable alternatives whenever possible. You should also avoid single-use items, such as disposable cups, plates, cutlery, and napkins, and provide bins for sorting waste into recyclable, compostable, and landfill categories. To reduce emissions, you should encourage your attendees, speakers, sponsors, and staff to use low-carbon modes of transportation, such as walking, biking, public transit, or carpooling, and offset any unavoidable emissions by supporting carbon sequestration projects or initiatives.

4 Engage with the community

Another way to reduce the impact of your event on the environment and the community is to engage with the local community and stakeholders. This means consulting and collaborating with the local authorities, residents, businesses, and organizations that may be affected by or benefit from your event, and addressing any concerns or issues that they may have. You should also seek to create positive social and economic outcomes for the community, such as creating employment opportunities, supporting local vendors and suppliers, promoting local culture and heritage, and donating to local causes or charities.

5 Communicate your goals and actions

Finally, you should communicate your goals and actions to reduce the impact of your event on the environment and the community to your audience and partners. This means informing and educating your attendees, speakers, sponsors, and staff about the environmental and community issues that your event aims to address, and the steps that you are taking to minimize and mitigate your event's impact. You should also encourage and inspire them to participate and contribute to your efforts, by providing them with information, tips, incentives, and feedback. By communicating your goals and actions, you can enhance your event's reputation, credibility, and value, and create a positive and lasting impression on your audience and partners.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?