8 Easy Ways to Make Your Events More Sustainable

What if your next corporate event could inspire not just great business connections, but also a commitment to a greener future?

As businesses increasingly recognize their role in combating climate change, the push for sustainability touches every aspect of corporate life. In the early 2000s, just 35% of the world’s top 250 companies (G250) reported on their sustainability efforts. Today, nearly all of them do. The World Economic Forum highlights this shift, noting that many companies have embraced The Stakeholder Metrics—a comprehensive framework that focuses on "people, planet, prosperity, and principles of governance."

Events, in turn, are increasingly measured by their environmental impact. Fortunately, making your corporate events more sustainable doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your planning process. By implementing a few simple, thoughtful changes, businesses can lead the way in hosting events that are positively impactful and eco-friendly.

Here are eight simple ways to make your events more sustainable:

1. Appoint a Sustainability Champion

One of the most common reasons sustainability initiatives fail is because of the absence of a dedicated leader. Without a captain to steer the ship, sustainability efforts can lose their way. Industry leaders know this; in fact, the number of businesses hiring Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) has tripled in recent years. While you may not be ready for a CSO, choosing a team member to spearhead sustainability efforts can help you stay the course. This leader can coordinate various sustainable practices, from using energy-efficient LED lighting to lessen energy impacts, opting for digital signage to mitigate waste, exploring innovative badge ideas (like making them from water-soluble materials), designing eco-friendly giveaways, and more.

Without someone at the helm, sustainability efforts can become scattered and lose momentum.

2. Ditch the Plastic

Plastic bags and water bottles are some of the biggest contributors to global pollution. Over a million plastic bottles are sold every minute, leading to nearly 25 million tons of plastic waste each year. And this number is expected to double by 2030. So, how can you say goodbye to plastic at your events? Try offering reusable stainless steel water bottles in your swag bags and providing water stations for attendees to refill as needed. Instead of plastic, consider reusable canvas bags—adorned with your logo! Not only are these better for the environment, but they offer more ways to promote your brand beyond the event. And don’t forget to create messaging explaining these choices to attendees—this helps them feel like they’re part of the effort.

3. Choose Compostable Utensils and Dishware

Large events with food offerings can generate significant waste—particularly because of disposable plastic utensils and dishware. It’s estimated that 40 billion individual single-use plastic utensils are discarded every year in the United States. Instead, think about biodegradable options. While plastic cutlery takes almost 400 years to decompose, eco-friendly solutions only take a few months to a year to biodegrade in commercial compost. There are various eco-friendly choices available, including cutlery made from bamboo, wood, or non-GMO corn. The same goes for dishware—consider plates made from palm leaves, sugarcane, cornstarch, or wheat straw, as well as paper.

4. Calculate Food Wisely and Donate Leftovers

According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about one-third of all food produced for human consumption—valued at around $1 trillion—is wasted each year. The Professional Convention Management Association estimates that the US meetings industry alone spends nearly $48 billion on food and beverages annually, with roughly $21 billion of that number going to waste. Food waste occurs at the “front of the house” when attendees leave food on their plates, and at the “back of the house” as complete meals get wasted when attendance falls short of expectations. While some food waste is often unavoidable, instead of discarding uneaten meals, consider donating them to local shelters, nonprofits, or food banks where regulations allow. Many cities even have programs that facilitate food pickups from events, making the donation process seamless and hassle-free. Also, conduct a food audit after your event (helmed by your Sustainability Champion) to assess how much food was uneaten, unserved, and other ways to reduce waste at future gatherings.

Many cities even have programs that facilitate food pickups from events, making the donation process seamless and hassle-free.

5. Choose Locations with Strong Public Transit

Before selecting any locations and venues, take the time to ask a few key questions. Does the city offer good public transportation? Is the venue easily accessible by transit, or within walking distance of downtown and nearby hotels? Are there nearby restaurants and other attractions? If you can avoid or reduce the use of shuttles and rental cars, you’ll make a significant stride—literally!—towards attaining your sustainability goals.

6. Promote Your Sustainability Efforts

Don’t be shy about the good work you’re doing. Promoting your sustainability initiatives creates a win-win for you and for your customers: it lets attendees feel good about participating in your event, while also modeling and educating sustainable practices for other businesses. In a marketplace where 84% of consumers consider sustainability when making purchase decisions and 61% want more information to make better sustainable choices, telling them about your efforts is also good business.

Don’t be shy about sharing the good work you’re doing—promoting your sustainability efforts can be a win-win for your brand.

7. Host a Multi-City Roadshow

Opting for a multi-city roadshow offers multiple benefits, but chief among them is that you can reduce your overall carbon footprint. By hosting local events in multiple cities, you reduce the need for long flights and hotel accommodations. Reports estimate that travel and accommodations account for between 70-90% of an event’s total carbon emissions. More local events mean fewer flights and overnight stays, leading to significant energy savings and reduced pollution—all without minimizing attendance. And if you reuse sets and other materials across locations, you’ll reduce excess waste as well.

More local events mean fewer flights and hotel stays, leading to significant energy savings and reduced pollution—without minimizing attendance.

8. Vet Your Vendors

As your team evaluates potential collaborators, make sure your vendors understand your commitment to going green—and ask about their sustainability commitments, too. Inquire about their carbon footprint, eco-reporting, and if they have any ratings from assessors. Vendors with a “clean” track record are more likely to support your event’s sustainability goals. Plus, working with like-minded partners often leads to smoother, more effective collaboration.

Setting a Sustainable Example at STAGEDGE

With over four decades of experience serving diverse industries, Stagedge strives to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our work. Our efforts have earned recognition from industry-leading sustainability assessors, including a Silver rating from Ecovadis, putting us in the top 15% of all evaluated companies across key sustainability criteria. We’re also proud to have joined the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) movement, working towards a low-carbon future with a clearly defined vision for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating the impact of climate change, and future-proofing business growth. With our extensive track record in supporting events with minimal carbon impact—and our own dedication to going green—Stagedge can help you design and produce an event that aligns with your company’s sustainability values.

For even more tips for crafting eco-friendly events, learn how to craft a conference that will meet your organization’s sustainability goals.

--

Stagedge: Creating Immersive Experiences for 50 years is proud to be one of Boston's premier full-service event production companies dedicated to conceiving, creating, and executing immersive brand experiences through live, virtual & hybrid events, domestically, and worldwide.