Track Archives - event:decision

Ten Tips For Planning a Sustainable Event

January 17, 2023/in Track

Planning a sustainable event not only helps to reduce your event’s carbon footprint – it can benefit your business too.

As an event planner, it’s important to not only create events that are memorable and enjoyable for attendees, but also to consider the impact that the event has on the environment. Planning a sustainable event not only helps to reduce the event’s carbon footprint, but it can also benefit your business by showcasing your commitment to sustainability and potentially attracting environmentally-conscious clients. Here are ten tips from the event:decision team for planning a sustainable event:

Conduct a Sustainability Audit: Conduct a sustainability audit on what you would like to host. This will help you identify areas where you can improve and make more sustainable choices. This includes analysing your travel, accommodation, food & beverage, energy use, waste management – event virtual streaming.
Set Sustainability Goals: Then set clear and achievable sustainability goals based on your starting point. This will help focus efforts and measure progress. Some examples of sustainability goals for events include reducing waste, using renewable energy, and promoting sustainable transportation.
Choose a Sustainable Destination & Venue: Location is key. All the venue sustainability attributes will be overshadowed if you are flying 90% of your guests to attend. However, still look for one that has a strong sustainability policy and is willing to work with you to achieve your sustainability goals. A venue that is LEED certified or has a Green Key rating is a good indication that it is committed to sustainability. Can your chosen venue provide electric-vehicle transfers from the nearest transport hub?
Use eco-friendly materials: When choosing materials for signage, decor, and promotional items, opt for eco-friendly options such as recycled paper and biodegradable materials. Use digital options where possible and already in place.
Promote sustainable transportation: Encourage carpooling or use of public transportation by providing information and incentives. You can also consider partnering with a ride-sharing company or providing a shuttle service from a central location. Be aware that flights will undoubtedly account for the majority of the carbon footprint of your event, help attendees to plan their transport accordingly.
Minimise waste: Minimise waste by using reusable or biodegradable products, recycling, and composting. Encourage attendees to bring their own water bottles. Reduce the use of disposable items such as cups, plates, and cutlery.
Choose renewable energy: Use renewable energy at your event to reduce your carbon footprint. This includes using solar power, wind power, or biofuels. Ask your potential venues at the outset if they use renewable power – the more of us that ask, the quicker venues will adopt.
Consider Carbon Offset: Calculate the carbon emissions of your event and offset them by purchasing carbon offsets. This can be done through organisations that invest in renewable energy projects.
Educate attendees: Inform attendees about the sustainable practices in place at the event and encourage them to adopt sustainable behaviours. This can be done through signage, social media posts, and email communications.
Communicate Your Efforts: Finally, communicate your sustainability goals and achievements to your attendees. This will not only help educate them about sustainable practices but also showcase your organisation’s commitment to sustainability. Be honest and transparent about your sustainability goals and achievements, and encourage attendees to take action and make sustainable choices.

By taking note of these ten tips, you can plan a sustainable event that minimises its impact on the environment. In addition to the environmental benefits, sustainable events can also be cost-effective, as many of the practices that reduce environmental impact also save money. By incorporating sustainability into event planning, you can create an event that is memorable and enjoyable while also making a positive impact. But sustainability is a continuous effort and you should be continually striving to improve year-on-year and to make more sustainable choices.

To find out more about our carbon footprint and sustainability tool track, and how it can help plan and execute fully sustainable events, please get in touch.

The biggest impact on your event’s carbon footprint?

January 10, 2023/in Track

As event organisers, we know it’s important to consider the environmental impact of our events. But, while we may focus on details such as using sustainable materials for stand construction and implementing recyclable plastics, there is often a much larger issue that is overlooked in assessing an event’s carbon footprint: the impact of travel.

According to a study conducted by Eventbrite, transportation is the largest contributor to an event’s carbon footprint, accounting for up to 50% of the total emissions. This includes both air and road travel for attendees, as well as transportation of materials and equipment.

One of the main reasons that transportation is such a significant contributor to an event’s carbon footprint is the distance that attendees often have to travel. With the globalisation of the events industry, it is not uncommon for attendees to travel long distances, often by air, to attend events. In addition, the transportation of materials and equipment also adds to the carbon footprint, as these items must be shipped or transported by truck.

While it may be difficult to completely eliminate the need for travel to events, there are steps that event organisers can take to minimise the impact. Here are our top three tips:

#1 Choose the event location carefully

One way to minimise your event’s carbon footprint is by choosing a location that is easily accessible by public transportation, such as a city with a well-developed public transportation system. This can encourage attendees to use more environmentally friendly modes of transportation and reduce the number of cars on the road.

#2 Offer incentives for sustainable travel

In addition to choosing a convenient location, event planners and organisers can also consider offering incentives for attendees who use sustainable transportation options. For example, offering discounts or rewards for those who arrive by public transportation or carpooling can encourage attendees to consider these options.

#3 Minimise transportation of materials and equipment

Another way to reduce the carbon footprint of an event is by minimising the need for transportation of materials and equipment. Choose a venue that has the necessary facilities and equipment already in place, rather than shipping in additional items. In addition, using digital signage and other digital technologies can reduce the need for printed materials, which can also help to reduce the carbon footprint.

Travel and transportation is often the largest contributor to an event’s carbon footprint, and is frequently overlooked by event organisers in favour of focusing on the smaller (but important) details around choice stand materials and recycling options on-site. To create a truly sustainable event, travel and transportation must be at the heart of event planning.

By choosing a convenient location and encouraging sustainable transportation options, as well as minimising the need for transportation of materials and equipment, event organisers can significantly reduce their event’s carbon footprint. While it may not be possible to completely eliminate the need for travel, taking some simple steps to encourage sustainable options can help to enhance the sustainability of events.

To find out more about our carbon footprint and sustainability tool track, and how it can help plan and execute fully sustainable events, please get in touch.

Santa’s carbon footprint

December 9, 2022/in Track

Santa’s carbon footprint has been calculated by Track for the first time and is less than 10g of carbon per child.

Santa’s carbon footprint has been calculated for the first time by our TRACK carbon footprint calculator. Delivery by sleigh, recycling of toys to younger siblings, and clever carbon offsetting by elves means his footprint comes out at just over 10g of carbon per 2bn global child, equivalent to one scoop of ice cream – considerably less than a gift from Amazon.com.

Santa’s annual outing is no different to any other event, but with children and their parents everywhere thinking about sustainability and their carbon footprint, how does Santa’s delivery schedule measure up? We took a look;

Travel

Santa travels some 160m kilometres* to deliver joy to some 2bn children each year. event:decision assumed Santa’s travel can be equated with a seat on a 747 plane for a similar distance, but not using sustainable aviation fuel. So that’s 18,400 tCO2e**.

Heating

Santa’s cabin is reputed to be only 232sqm.***. Heating that in such a cold place isn’t cheap. We know Santa uses renewable sources for his energy, but we can still add in approximately 10 tCo2e.

Manufacturing

Toys that Santa delivers are made by the elves from recyclable materials wherever possible with no batteries included (we know parents really appreciate this). All toys he delivers are played with for some time and then passed on, we hope, to younger siblings or someone who might appreciate them. Recycling of toys is a very sustainable solution. How the elves make so many toys in such a small space is a mystery, but, we’ve learned that the elves plant one tree for every one that they use in manufacturing, so that’s neutral, in carbon terms.

We finally arrived at 20,000 tCO2e all in. (0.5% of the least-worst projected footprint of the 2022 FIFA World Cup). Put against 2bn children, that’s 10g of carbon per child. 2bn smiles and untold excitement and happiness for the equivalent of manufacturing 1.2m pairs of trainers, 23m washing machine cycles or….one scoop of ice-cream per child.

Matt Grey says; “We wanted to reassure children who are conscious of their impact on the environment, that the gifts they find under the tree this year have been delivered with Santa’s usual care – and that extends to minimising his carbon footprint. If they don’t get the latest toy from Amazon, but something small and thoughtful instead, they need to know they’re really helping the planet. We hope they all enjoy their presents this year!”

Footnotes

*Source Purdue University.

**CO2 emissions from aviation fuel are about 3.15 grams per gram of fuel, which gives CO2 emissions from a Boeing 737-400 of 115 g per passenger per km.