Written by Paul Richards, founder of Herbfarmacy
With green living becoming increasingly popular in society as a whole, it’s no surprise to see this growing trend moving into the events sphere, too. Adding an eco-friendly angle to your event offers a fantastic way to stand out from the masses – appealing to Earth-loving exhibitors and attendees.
Whether you’re hosting a one-off product launch or a multi-day exhibition, it pays to ensure your ‘green’ event practices what it preaches. From attracting eco-friendly exhibitors to sustainable decor and energy-efficient venues, our ultimate guide to eco-friendly events will take you through the essential elements needed to pull off a truly ‘green’ event your attendees will love.
Find the right venue
If you want to communicate your Earth-friendly message to exhibitors or attendees, it’s vital to find a venue that mirrors these values. In most cases, newer buildings are often constructed with energy-efficiency and sustainability in mind, as they typically use low-energy lighting and environmentally-friendly heating systems to reduce their carbon footprint – but be sure to check this before committing.
You should also consider the location of your venue, ensuring it has nearby access to regular public transport links – as this will minimize the number of private, petrol-consuming vehicles used by attendees. Where possible, encourage attendees to opt for public transport or carpooling schemes for those who intend to drive, further reducing fuel emissions levels.
Offer eco-friendly products
If you’re looking to lure in eco-conscious attendees with your ‘green’ event, offer them plenty of variety when it comes to vendors. Whether eco-friendly is your sole focus or you’re inviting a range of different brands across the spectrum, booking plenty of environmentally friendly vendors for the big day will echo your green ethos. From all-natural beauty products and organic tinctures to compostable packaging, offering attendees the chance to bag some fantastic planet-loving goodies will ensure it’s a memorable event.
Go green with your decor
There are numerous ways you can dress your venue to impress without having to compromise on your eco credentials. From using decor made from recyclable materials to renting exhibition furniture and tableware rather than buying new, planet-friendly decor choices will help to reduce waste and environmental impact – bringing you closer to achieving a successful Earth-loving event.
Go local with catering
When it comes to eco-friendly event catering, it can be tough to find the right balance between serving up great-tasting food and minimizing your event’s carbon footprint. However, you can tantalize the taste buds of attendees and still meet your eco-friendly objectives by choosing local suppliers – as, by opting for locally sourced caterers, you can make a drastic reduction in transportation pollution. And, if you source a caterer who also uses organic produce, you can ensure all aspects of the catering are green – including the crockery if you hire reusable tableware.
It also pays to be mindful of waste with catering – think carefully about how much food you order to minimize wasted food. You might even want to consider donating any leftovers to charity.
Champion paperless promotion
As deforestation remains a worrying global issue, with billions of trees felled each year for urbanization, timber and paper products and more, you can do your bit to battle this issue by championing paperless promotion.
From e-invites and e-newsletters to event organization software platforms like CadmiumCD, advances in technology have made paperless promotion and execution entirely possible. However, if you do feel the need for printed promotional materials, you should find a printing supplier who uses recycled paper to reduce any environmental impact.
Set a good example
With an eco-friendly event, you want your attendees to see that you’re serious about making a positive impact across all aspects. One way to do this effectively and set a good example is to provide recycling stations throughout your venue. It’s inevitable that events will generate waste, but encouraging visitors to recycle items will positively promote waste reduction and demonstrate your commitment to preserving the planet.
Whether you’re specifically targeting the sustainably minded market or you simply want to up your eco credentials, we hope this guide has helped you take steps in the right direction for achieving a greener, more environmentally aware event.
About Paul
Paul Richards is a long-time botanist and founder of Herbfarmacy.com, an online retailer selling organic skin care and beauty products for all skin types that are packed with herbs grown on their farm in Herefordshire, England.