Go green

Hosting a sustainable event is achievable with planning and foresight.

The aim is to have minimal environmental impact, while still delivering the core functions of your event.

Start with a plan to account for emissions, be intentional and considerate with your location and event space, and find ways to reduce waste and offset unavoidable impacts.

A good conference plan and aligned stakeholders will help you accomplish your sustainability goals and minimise your event’s carbon footprint. Consider a central location for your attendees, which will reduce carbon emissions associated with air travel. Once you’ve found the perfect city, look for a venue such as Christchurch’s Te Pae Convention Centre that champions sustainability.

Experts in this field encourage individuals to reduce, reuse, and recycle and the principles apply to conferences, too. The first step to a more sustainable event is to reduce overall waste. Consider a paperless event, where all information is in an app, emails, or a community dashboard. Ditch bottled water and single-use plastic and paper cups for reusable cutlery, metal water bottles, glasses, and reusable coffee mugs.

Tips to make your event eco-friendly
• Pick a green location and venue
• Reduce paper usage
• Plan for proper waste disposal
• Give away eco-friendly swag
• Partner with the local community
• Use eco-friendly event decor
• Make food-service sustainable
• Reduce your event’s carbon footprint