Analysts predict the global event market will more than triple in size in the next 10 years. More growth = more emissions but some event companies are already working on reducing their carbon footprint.

Now that’s something we can get on board with. If there’s one thing the science is clear on, we cannot afford to continue to add more and more emissions to the atmosphere. Don’t get us wrong, we believe in the power and value of events, we just want them to come with a smaller (and smaller) carbon footprint.

Let’s take a look at what companies are already doing to cap their emissions. The hope is that if you’re working for a company that runs or puts on events, you can find inspiration in the actions that actually work.

THE EVENTS THEMSELVES

Reduce travel-related emissions

Travel to events by attendees, exhibitors and speakers accounts for the largest proportion of emissions of any event (70%+). Whilst event companies don’t have direct control over how people travel, there is still plenty they can do to reduce the associated emissions.

1. Reduce the average air miles needed to travel to the event by visitors, exhibitors and speakers. For example, the average distance travelled per delegate might be 1000 kms, can you reduce this to 900 kms? CloserStill Media Group are looking into this.

2, Bundle up event tickets with public transport options like Shambala Festival. They sell tickets which give festival goers a £50 discount if they travel by coach, train or bike. By incentivising low carbon travel, they can reduce their carbon footprint AND collect data and feedback from festival-goers.

3. Prioritise venues that are near major train stations (or accessible by bus/tram) to make it easy for people to travel to the event by public transport. AEO (Association of Event Organisers) has done this with their events.

4. If people need to travel by car, encourage more people to travel in car sharing schemes. Raccoon Media team members car share to their events and Boomtown festival partners with Liftshare to help festival goers find a lift to and from the event.

Cut the carbon footprint of accommodation

Multi-day events require people to stay over, but with many hotel groups targeting Net Zero, some can help you keep a lid on the associated carbon footprint better than others.

5. Partner with hotels close to the venue that are committed to net-zero and/or are run on renewable energy.

6. Organise your event’s agenda to reduce the number of nights people need to stay overnight.

Pick the best venues (and other suppliers)

Emissions associated with the venue itself make up between 5 and 15% of an event’s carbon footprint.

7. Choose a venue that runs on renewable energy. This action can reduce venue-related emissions by 50%.

8. Reduce the amount of carpet used - Raccoon Media Group do this by collecting and reusing carpets at their US events.

9. Reduce event waste by booking venues that use reusable stand structures (AKA shell schemes). Yep, waste has a carbon footprint too and single use stands are a major contributor.

*Shell scheme stands like these are reusable and save waste and emissions*

10. Reuse signage like Hyve who has turned last year’s banners into delegate bags for this year’s event, or switch to digital signage that is projected onto walls.

11. Choose food suppliers that offer more plant-based options (or at least less beef, lamb and dairy options) like the Better Business Summit that provides a delicious sit down plant-based meal for attendees on both days of the conference.

12. Recycle kitchen waste and give away surplus food through partnerships such as OLIO like Tobacco Dock in London.

HEAD OFFICE

Roll out Carbon Literacy training

13. Start by educating your team. A Carbon Literate workforce can lead to a 5-15% reduction in your company’s carbon footprint. We’ve helped a number of businesses including Hyve who worked with us to create a bespoke course for their company. Find out more.

*Carbon Literacy training gets your whole team thinking about opportunities to save emissions*

Change the way your staff travel

14. Introduce a business travel carbon budget like us at ecollective - check out our carbon report here.

15. Encourage employees to take the train with Climate Perks (extra time off when they travel internationally by train to allow for the extra travel time).

16. If travelling by business class is common, incentivise staff book economy by sharing the financial savings with them.

Switch to renewable energy

17. Move to a renewable energy tariff like Raccoon Media Group.

18. Put solar panels on your office roof.

19. Encourage staff who work from home to switch to a renewable energy tariff like Tobacco Dock who are planning to give their team time during work hours to make the switch.

Take action on your digital emissions

20. Reduce the size of your website each year like Closer Still Media

21. Switch to a website host powered by renewable energy like Lemongrass PR

Need help?

If you need help identifying which of these 21 strategies would have the biggest impact on reducing the carbon footprint of your events, and / or company, get in touch.

Contact us

21 Ways Event Companies Are Reducing Emissions