It’s more acceptable to fart in a lift

(Yes, yes for our US-cousins “lift” = “elevator”…)

Let’s start with an uncomfortable truth. Many event professionals feel anxious about sustainability. So much so that silence is often preferred to asking questions, in case you deliver a professional faux pas.

“Being seen as ignorant of sustainability in events is worse than farting in a lift”, we said in a client meeting last week – and it resonated.

You worry you’ll get it wrong.
You’re anxious someone will ask a question you can’t answer.
You’re convinced everyone else knows more than you do.
You hope nobody notices… and that you’ll be out of the lift soon.

Sound familiar?

If sustainability in events makes you feel like that, you’re not alone – and more importantly, you’re not failing.

‘Sustainability anxiety’ is real (and totally normal)

We see it all the time.

Event teams want to “do the right thing” but feel paralysed by:

• Carbon numbers that feel abstract and intimidating

• ESG acronyms multiplying faster than guest badges

• Fear of being called out for greenwashing

• Pressure to have all the answers, right now

It’s a bit like range anxiety when electric cars first hit the mainstream. You know they’re ‘better’. You want one.
But what if the battery dies? What if you don’t know where the charger is? What if everyone else figured this out already, and you missed the memo?

Spoiler: they didn’t.

You don’t need to know everything

Here’s the good news: event sustainability isn’t about perfection or expertise.
It’s about progress, confidence, and having the right support.

You don’t need to:

• Be a carbon accountant

• Memorise global reporting frameworks

• Know instantly how to double the Social Value associated with your event

• Predict the future of sustainable fuels

• Or explain Scope 3 emissions at dinner parties (unless you really want to)

What you do need is clarity, structure, and someone who’s been there before.

That’s where event:decision comes in.

event:decision: your calm voice

At event:decision, our job isn’t to judge or overwhelm — it’s to take the anxiety out of responsibility.

We help you:

• Measure what actually matters

• Understand your impact without drowning in data

• Make smart, defensible decisions

• Communicate sustainability confidently – even when the journey isn’t finished

Our tools and advisory services are designed for real-world events, real deadlines, and real constraints. Not theoretical perfection.

Think of us as:

• The sat nav that tells you where the next EV charger is 🚗

• The friend who says “it’s fine, everyone does this”

• The reason you can breathe normally in the lift again

Progress Beats Panic Every Time

Responsible & sustainable events aren’t built in a single leap – they’re built step by step:

• Measure first, improve next

• Learn as you go

• Be honest about where you are

• Get better each time

And yes, sometimes that means admitting you don’t have all the answers yet. That’s not weakness – that’s authenticity and credibility.

The most responsible events aren’t the ones claiming to be perfect. They’re the ones willing to start.

Let’s Make This Less Awkward

Talking about responsibility & sustainability shouldn’t feel like holding your breath and staring at the floor.

It should feel:

• Supported

• Practical

• Manageable

• And maybe even a little bit empowering

So if you’re feeling unsure, anxious, or quietly hoping nobody asks about your carbon intensity per-attendee metrics, or whether you’ve measured the local economic-benefit?

Relax. You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know you’re not doing it alone.

The tools are ready for you at event:decision.