Why the sustainability of events matters more than ever

The sustainability of an event may be a conversation that matters more going forward than it did before. theplanner.guru understands why.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, creating sustainable in-person events was an idea that more planners and organisers were warming up to, with ‘greener’ events and more sustainable MICE experiences growing in their popularity.

After having been severely compromised by the pandemic, the overall sustainability of live events hangs finely in the balance, and if we want to see the live events industry survive, ensuring these are as sustainable and as green as possible might be the solution to ensuring the events industry can weather the storm in the long run.

As marketers seek out ways to connect with their audiences, events can be a means to creating these connections at scale. For environmentally-conscious individuals, an event that involves travel may not necessarily be the most ideal – according to EventMB, up to 70% of an event’s carbon footprint is related to travel, which could be a key differentiator in decision-making.

In 2019, the Events Industry Council (EIC) developed four Principles for Sustainable Events. According to the principles, “sustainability for events means taking action towards preserving our natural environment; promoting a healthy, inclusive society; and supporting a thriving economy.” The principles encompass all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Similarly, UFI has created the Sustainable Development Guidelines. It was also involved in the development of ISO 20121, a management system specification standard for sustainability in event management was released in June 2012. 

“These specifications can be used by the entire supply chain of an event, including the venue and service providers,” says UFI on its website.

So why should events go green?

Figures vary from study to study, but the fact is that more people worldwide are understanding their socio-economic impact and trying to make responsible choices as consumers. This ranges from everything fashion to food but ultimately, if events are not choosing to support the triple bottom line, clients and attendees may also choose to not support you.

“Over the last few years, consumers have gravitated towards brands that stand for the same values. This has, in turn, fuelled an increase in value-driven organisations. Ultimately, in order to compete, it’s increasingly important to incorporate values like sustainability in a business,” writes Guidebook Content Hub.

As a dedicated body established to support the sustainability of the events industry, the Event Greening Forum (EGF) aims “to help the South African events industry transform into one that is more environmentally and socially sustainable, while also being economically viable. In fact, we believe all three of these elements must be present to create successful events.” As part of this, they also provide a green supplier database that can be accessed here.

Do your bit!
Share your event greening and sustainability stories with us. Write to us on shanna.jacobsen@3smedia.co.za.

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