Companies are abuzz about the return of corporate holiday events this year. While some companies may continue with a virtual party this season, there will be a surge of in-person parties as well. This is cause for celebration, but we also believe this an opportunity to take a closer look at how we can make these events greener.
Here are a few tips to make your corporate holiday event and future events more sustainable:
Venue Selection
Arguably one of the most important aspects of any event is the venue. For organizers there are several things to consider in venue selection including location, parking, capacity/minimums, contracts, services and amenities, etc. However, if you’re looking to make your event more sustainable, then choosing a venue that aligns to your sustainability goals should be at the top of the list. These are some considerations to assist in choosing a greener venue:
Choose an eco-friendly or energy efficient facility (reduced emissions = reduced carbon footprint for your business). The building certifications to watch out for are: LEED, Zero Carbon Building (ZCB), and Investor Ready Energy Efficiency (IREE).
Find a venue which employs in-house recycling and composting processes. TRUE is a certification for zero-waste buildings.
Choose a venue with a plastics strategy that reduces plastics use, or doesn’t offer single-use plastics at all
Choose a location that is accessible or central for your guests and encourage public transit use by providing incentives
One of our favourite venues in Greater Vancouver is the VanDusen Botanical Garden Centre, a “living building”, which means it generates its own energy with renewable resources, captures and treats all of its water, and uses its resources efficiently. While this venue may not be a fit for your festive party, it’s certainly an aspirational venue from a sustainability standpoint.
In Toronto, the Metro Toronto Convention Center is another inspiring event venue when it comes to sustainability. The MTCC diverts 90% of waste from landfills, is powered by renewable energy supplied by Bullfrog Power, and helps exhibitors reduce CO2 emissions through efficiency processes.
Food & Beverage
The biggest impact from your event comes from food and beverage, the strategies on which will determine if your event is sustainable or not. Purchasing from local food suppliers is not only good for the local economy, but it’s better for the environment too. Local foods don’t have to travel as far, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and improves your events’ carbon footprint. Additional considerations for more sustainable dining include:
Choose to go vegan or meat-free. There are lots of amazing alternatives to meat and your event may be the venue to introduce these many options – it’s all about being creative, which your guests will enjoy!
If planning to serve meat and/or fish, select a producer verified to have responsible and sustainable practices. Ocean Wise certifications for seafood ensure fishing was done responsibly.
Arrange to donate leftover food to local food shelters or Non-Profits
To reduce food waste and improve event hygiene, choose plated options instead of buffet style service
Ensure your catering services do not offer drinks in plastic bottles
Reduce paper usage by providing cloth napkins
Transportation
Your guests will need to get to and from your holiday event, and there are several ways to make your transportation greener:
Ensure the venue is walkable from public transit
A central location to your guests is ideal as it mitigates travel time and creates an opportunity for carpooling. Encourage carpooling amongst your team for an incentive (perhaps a gift card).
Arrange a shared car or taxi service for guests that live near each other
Planning a more sustainable event doesn’t need to be difficult. Find partners that share your sustainability goals, and give your employees an opportunity to contribute ideas and plan responsibilities. This will also strengthen your corporate sustainability values and empower your employees.
ISO 20121 provides a framework for sustainable event management and is an excellent tool with which to begin your sustainability strategy. Looking to organize a more sustainable event? Let’s talk about how we can make that happen!
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