Events make an impact – that’s the reason we have them. Why don’t you add a bit more to your event’s positive impact through actions that are thoughtful and reduce the negative impact on our environment? Here’s a quick look at a few tips that might help you.
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Supplies
Before buying anything, ask yourself if you really need it. For example, if you hold a lot of events outside, you might really need that custom tent. However, if this is the one and only time you’ll have a BBQ, you might want to just rent or borrow a grill. If it turns out to be more cost-effective to buy what you need rather than renting, buy things that you can use again, like decorations and banners that happen to be just generic enough that they can be used at a variety of events.
If you’re interested in the prevention of global warming, you might buy things that have recycled content or that have reduced packaging. If you’re going to be giving things away, don’t give things that people will just throw away. Give things people will use and/or keep, such as food, tickets, coupons, etc. If you’re going to have event t-shirts, don’t buy your everyday t-shirts, get ones that are sustainable, such as ones that have been made from bottles that were recycled. There are a lot of ways to be more sustainable.
Location, Location, Location
If at all possible, think about holding your event outdoors during the day. Outdoor venues are fun, they don’t use a lot of energy, and it can be a lot more cost-effective than renting a space indoors. Also, when you’re choosing your venue, think about public transportation, like city bike racks or bus stops, and their proximity to the site.
Go Paperless
How many people do you think still look at flyers? Going paperless is easier than ever when it comes to events. Promotion that’s done digitally is often easier on the budget while also being more effective and doesn’t have the same impact on the environment as using paper.
Community
Why don’t you think about adding a sort of service component to the event you’re planning? This might be something like a donation to one of your community organizations or the chance to participate and donate some of your time to a community engagement or service project. This will greatly increase the positive impact your event has.
Food
Often food can be considered the highlight of a lot of events, and when it comes to sustainable food options, they are numerous. When ordering your food here are a few things to keep in mind – while pizza might be a cheap crowd pleaser, there are quite a few healthier options. Consider all of your guests’ dietary preferences, such as vegan and omnivorous. Buy food grown locally to help sustain your local farmers while also shortening the distance the food has to go to get to you. You can save money and reduce waste by purchasing foods in bulk and that are in season.
Once you’ve taken steps to ensure that any events you might be planning are sustainable, make sure that you spread the word about them. Announce any of the sustainable aspects of it so that people know that you’re doing your part to help the environment. You never know when what you do will inspire someone else to do their part. You can even get your guests involved by offering incentives or rewards for actions that are sustainable, such as composting or recycling at the event or biking or walking to the event.
