Event Sustainability Heroes: Jessica Badminton from Quilter

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Introducing some of our favourite sustainability champions

We’re constantly inspired by people we’re lucky enough to work with in the events industry and we’d like to introduce you to them too. In the first of an occasional series we’re chatting to our event sustainability heroes and finding out what motivates them to lead a more sustainable lifestyle. We’re kicking off with Jessica Badminton, Head of Events at Quilter.

Q: How did you first became interested in sustainability?

“The pandemic put a lot into perspective for me. I became acutely aware that even though we were in a rubbish situation, I’d never had to worry about having a roof over my head or food on the table. Going back to physical events I wanted to make sure that, whilst delivering incredible events, we were also putting a focus on those who needed help”.

Q: What sustainable habits are important to you?

“Reducing food waste is the biggest one for me. It’s such a simple concept and has such a direct and immediate impact on those less fortunate. There are so many layers to it from the sustainable angle and project drawdown showing reducing food waste as the number one way to reduce heat trapping gasses, to the societal angle with 14 million people in the UK struggling to feed themselves and their families”.

Q: Have you any tips or tricks for living a more sustainable lifestyle that you’d recommend for others?

“I’d like to think we all already do our bits at home, recycling everything we can, reusing plastic bags, turning appliances off when not in use. The sad reality is that those things only scratch the surface. I implore anyone in events to start looking at food waste, and food donation. The events industry is truly remarkable and we all hold such power to make a real difference”.

Q: Are there any new areas of focus you might have for your sustainable habits looking forward to 2024?

“Continuing food donation and reducing food waste. Having experienced challenges implementing this, I’m working really hard to make this easier for the events industry than it currently is and I look forward to the day when this is the norm”.

Hear hear Jessica! We look forward to that too. Thanks to her for kindly chatting with us for our event sustainability heroes series. if any of you would like to find out more about how we could work with you to achieve all your event ESG goals, get in touch.

 

Adding Social Value and Impact to Events: A Guide for #Eventprofs

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How to make a positive social impact with your event?

Event planning isn’t just about logistics, delegates ROI and profit margins. Every event has the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the community in which it is hosted. But with so much focus on the E in ESG(carbon calculations and sustainability), social elements often get overlooked. Here are some ideas and suggestions on how you could think differently about social value and impact for events

Charity partnerships

Ticket donations: give attendees the option to purchase an extra ticket that will be donated to a local charity.

‘Auction for Good’: hold an auction with items or experiences donated by sponsors, with proceeds going to a local charitable cause such as a hospice or a home for the elderly.

Community engagement

Local artisan marketplaces: partner with local artisans and vendors to create a marketplace at your event. Not only supporting local businesses but also encouraging attendees to shop responsibly.

Civic talks and workshops: offer spaces for public panels or talks on topics of social importance (like mini TED talks) like climate change, mental health, or homelessness – and how delegate contributions can support good work.

Social enterprise collaboration

Fair trade catering: many social enterprises offer catering services with a social mission. Using one for your event amplifies your social impact so make sure you talk to your venue about any local organisations you can connect with.

Skill building: team up with any social enterprises that offer workshops aimed at skill development, like woodworking or cooking and offer to host some sessions at the event.

Some event:decision favourites

We’ve worked with many organisations that continue to have an incredible social impact at events over the years. Here are a few of our favourites:

Connection Crew : a social enterprise providing teams of people to solve production challenges across a range of sectors including events, TV and film, Connection Crew supports those who have experienced, or been at risk, of homelessness to access training, mentoring and jobs.

Event Cycle : can collect any unwanted or left over event materials from your site and arrange for them to be repurposed with charities, community groups, schools and social enterprises, in the UK and abroad. They will then tell you where they went, so you know who you have helped.

Page & Bloom : produce handmade paper flowers for venue and event decoration, supporting survivors of domestic abuse. Flowers and arrangements can be made from your own company’s literature.

Elevate Mentoring : a free mentoring programme and community for the events industry. Their NewGen project supports under-represented young people into the events industry.

Measurement

It’s important when you think about social value and impact for events to also consider about how you could track how your impact has developed and improved over time, luckily event:decision’s coming tool impact can help you do exactly that.

If you’d like to find out more about how we could measure and advise on your event ESG goals, including its social impact get in touch.

 

Redefining Event Sustainability, ESG for Events is here

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Redefining Event Sustainability, ESG for Events is here.

As sustainability principles proliferate through all industry sectors, the events industry is facing a paradigm shift. While everyone knows event sustainability is about more than calculating carbon, that’s the area that has received the most focus so far.

Until now, most ESG conversations — Environmental, Social, and Governance — have revolved around the ‘E’, overlooking the influence of the ‘S’ and ‘G’.

Still think ESG reporting is none of your business, only relevant to large corporations? The Event Industry Forecast 2022 reported that 97% of event planners believe that social responsibility will be an integral part of their future events.

event:decision’s pioneering new product ‘Impact’ is changing that by enabling event owners & managers to check each of E, S & G on an event-by-event basis. This marks a groundbreaking moment for sustainability in our industry.

Impact will enable event planners to;

  • Ensure that you are at least considering the full array of ESG factors for each event within your portfolio.
  • See how you compare in each area with other brands’ events, with direct benchmarking by factor.
  • Certify that an event is assessed by event:decision impact.
  • Download certificates and view your assessed events in dashboard format.

Impact -the ESG for events tool

Elevating Social Responsibility

The ‘S’ in ESG stands for Social Responsibility, an aspect often overshadowed by environmental concerns but critical in creating balanced, equitable events. Impact ensures you are evaluating the socially beneficial elements of your events.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Impact promotes a more inclusive product by ensuring you consider diversity, equity, and inclusion within event operations, ensuring that every individual working on the event feels valued, respected, and equally represented.

Staff Living Wages & Wellbeing

Event teams form the backbone of any event. Impact ensures that you consider their wellbeing,  the provision of living wages, decent working conditions and a supportive environment, reflecting an ethical approach to staff treatment.

Community Engagement

Events can be pivotal in driving social change. Impact ensures you consider the engagement and beneficial contributions to local communities, reinforcing the event’s potential as a catalyst for positive societal transformation.

Strengthening Governance

Impact facilitates and ensures you consider proficient insurance & risk assessment, ensuring events are well administered with relevant insurances,  RAMS and ESMP’s and reducing potential operational risks.

Regulatory Adherence

A cornerstone for any event’s success is adherence to sector regulation. Impact ensures you consider compliance with sector-specific regulations and optimal cancellation terms, instilling confidence in both organisers and participants.

Reducing Environmental Impact

While Impact emphasises the ‘S’ and ‘G’, it also addresses the ‘E’, providing comprehensive insights into an event’s carbon emissions, making use of the features of our carbon footprint measurement sister tool ‘Track‘.

Resource Utilisation

Impact scrutinises the re-purposing of both event materials and distribution of unwanted food, making events more sustainable and reducing wastage.

Carbon Calculation

By offering precise carbon footprint evaluations, Impact aids event managers in implementing effective strategies for carbon mitigation and environmental preservation.

Transformation through Impact

Impact isn’t merely a measurement tool; it’s a catalyst for sustainable transformation in the events industry. By ensuring event managers are comprehensively aware of all ESG elements and benchmarking your events against others in the industry, Impact will propel events towards sustainability, inclusivity, and ethical governance, setting a new industry standard.

Industry Evolution

Impact’s groundbreaking approach marks the onset of an evolved event industry, one where every event contributes to societal well-being, environmental conservation, and ethical conduct.

Impact’s introduction is a huge step towards a balanced approach to event sustainability, emphasising the equal importance of social and governance considerations in event planning, alongside often more visible environmental concerns.

If you’d like to find out more about how we could measure and advise on your event ESG goals, get in touch.