The major criteria for a sustainability plan will include:
- Reducing your Green House Gas emissions and offsetting those that you can't avoid.
- Reducing your use of energy, consumption of water and materials such as printed brochures, applications and sponsorship packages.
- Recycling programs for old posters, banners, signage and bags. Repurpose and reuse.
- Adopt a sustainable purchasing policy, such as local and organic food for meals, safe cleaning products, biodiesel generators for outdoor events.
- Develop a measuring system to track improvements and to report them to your stakeholders.
- Require your suppliers, destination hotels and venues to have sustainable policies and procedures.
- Select your event destinations to be close to transportation hubs, walking distance between multi - venue locations, consider giving free public transportation passes.
- Measure the social impacts of your efforts. Select caterers who donate extra food to charities.
I included a chapter in my book, Successful Secrets of Concert, Festival and Special Event Productions called quite naturally (pardon the pun) Greening Your Event. You may read it for free on our website: www.eventsmanual.com. If you haven't started, begin with one or two of my recommendations, if you are already practicing sustainability policies and procedures, push towards the goal of zero waste events. Your children and grandchildren will thank you, the planet will thank you and you'll save a whole lot of money. Always a good thing.
