GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK Sustainability in events Hello! My name is - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK

Sustainability in events

Hello!

My name is Suzanne Morrell

I am the founder of the DC Event Food Waste Coalition and the campaign Events2030 CreatingEvents SaveDCFood

Assumptions

▣ Events contribute $1.5 Trillion to the global

• economy. If Global Events were a country we'd be

ranked 14th in the world! ▣ Goal in hospitality is to satisfy clients and guests ▣ Organizers and suppliers share the responsibility to implement and communicate ▣ Triple bottom line: People, Planet, Profit ▣ Fast moving area! Changes every day!

Goals of Presentation

▣ How to Plan Sustainably! What is the menu

• f options available now and what is coming?

What is our best next action? ▣ Practice! What are the steps to organize a sustainability program for my conference/meeting/event? ▣ Promote! Changing minds, consumption patterns, communication. MAKE IT SYSTEMATIC.

What Do Events Have to Do with Sustainability? A Lot, Actually.

if food loss and waste were its

• wn country, it

would be the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gasses

Sustainable Development Goals Adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. Provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet by 2030!

1.

Plan

Taking Action

towards preserving our natural environment

Supporting

a thriving economy

Promoting

a healthy and inclusive society

Social considerations include: Universal human rights, Community impacts, Labor practices, Respect for culture, Safety and security, Health and well-being, Food Allergies, Accessibility

9

Event Organizer Assessment Areas The 7 Standards-EIC Supplier Assessment Areas

Offers guidance and best practice to help you manage your event. Every action counts

Change your approach

First step in developing a Sustainability Plan is to define your motivation.

What story are you trying to tell? Story Board vision Consider the whole life cycle of all consumables! Events just don’t happen and they don’t just end when when its over! Don’t over consume; reduce waste by reducing over abundance!

We can’t do that because of contracts with clients

We may be locked in to some contracts with venues or suppliers, but we can ask what strategies they implement locally. Plus a lot of what we can do is above and beyond.

“We already have too much going

• n to measure

something else.”

OK then let’s make sure we ask the venue what their practices are and make sure they are compliant with local regulations. Some communities have requirements we may not be aware of!

“It’s not worth the cost”

We don’t need to do

• everything. Let’s focus on

some items we can do now that are no cost or can save us

• money. If we don’t invest, our

clients will leave!

“This is the way we’ve always done things”

Evolve or die! Or we can focus on quality over quantity and we can phase it in. Don’t have to do it all at once!

“Clients won’t pay more” Let’s get a sustainability sponsor to

• ffset carbon emissions for the travel!

“I’m tired!”

Let’s consider the whole life cycle of

• ur event up front and the plan will

be in place.

“Our budget is already set”

Many of these approaches won’t cost a thing. We can actually save money by doing x, y, z. And it’s good for

• ur reputation and that is priceless!

“There’s no strategic priority”

Consumers are demanding sustainable practices. We are already doing x, y, z…let’s highlight that!

Clients don’t care I know! For some it’s not a priority. But we can do things behind the scenes. And it may save them money and who doesn’t like that! Plus, we can’t serve a vegan meal to all our clients, but we can get creative! And they will love it!

W h a t t

• s

a y w h e n y

• u

g e t p u s h b a c k

Challenges

Before the event

▣ It’s hard to estimate. ▣ More is better!

Right?

▣ Do I risk not

providing enough?

During the event

▣ Without buying

excessive food ahead of time, it is hard to replenish

▣ Cooked food has

to be dumped if it’s not eaten.

After the event

▣ Not allowed to keep the excess food for private uses. ▣ Logistics, Ugh!

Sample Solutions to add to your event checklist

▣ Adopt a comprehensive life-cycle approach

(Change bad habits-no single use; donate trade show carpet to charity, no plastic wrapped pens!)

▣ Use Technology (Apps instead of printed schedules) ▣ Track and measure (Need to know where you start!) ▣ Focus on quality over abundance (Locally sourced

food, Local giveaways, Fewer options)

▣ Encourage rephrasing…it’s all marketing ▣ Leave it better than when you started (Plant a

garden in honor of event!)

▣ Designate a champion

2.

Practice

Everything New is Weird…

…and potentially socially embarrassing. To achieve change, you simply need to ensure every desirable new behavior no longer looks weird.

…Like Vegan meals or no little plastic shampoo bottles!

How to set up a sustainability program

Considerations:

▣ People- Focus on

priorities, Train staff

▣ Product- Increase

Eco-friendly consumables and practices, local

▣ Placement- Make

it accessible, diverse and inclusive, sense

• f community

▣ Presentation

Determine Financial Objective:

▣ Reduce Budget-

Use less, eliminate, get creative

▣ Budget Neutral-

Track savings, splurge when you can

▣ Investment-

Innovate, develop infrastructure

Prepare Statement:

▣ Publicly Commit ▣ Provide direction to

employees

▣ Identify sustainable

principles

▣ Promote policies to

staff, clients, customers, suppliers so they know our goals, priorities, and where we are with reaching targets

Sample Topics/Commitments:

▣ Venue/Supplier selection : Only LEED certified buildings ▣ Materials Selection: No single use plastic, reduce paper ▣ Food and Beverage Choices: More veg options ▣ Water use reduction: Don’t pre-pour water; Reduce beef

• ptions

‘’

Save Money!

• Cutting waste means cutting costs: lower bottom line, tax

deductions, and reduced disposal costs.

• $1è$7

Good for your Reputation!

• Benefits of taking action.

Attract More Customers!

• Customers, clients, and planners expect their events to be

sustainable and healthy for the environment.

Good for the Earth!

• Use fewer resources, less water to grow food, less shipping,

less organic waste in landfills.

Making your business case

It’s easier than you think!

Donate Food

Meal RSVP To-go containers

Be Well Lounge/Fun Run Use Local Check in Staff Water Refill Stations

Conscious consumption cues

Carbon Offset Sponsor UN SDG EIC Areas

Trends in Organizing Sustainable Events

Emotional Intelligence

Social awareness

Multimodal Design

Look at your user experience from different contexts-inclusion (Food allergies, accessibility)

Bigger Than Oneself

Give back to community

Clear Sense of Space

Use local products to give a sense of knowing where you are! Events are not cookie cutter!

3.

Promote

23

Global Destination Sustainability Index

▣ #1 Gottenberg, Sweden (90%) ▣ #25 Denver (61%) ▣ #39 Washington, DC (51%)

My Event Footprint

Decisions Along the Way Make an impact on your event and the world around you. All your choices add up.

Communicate waste reduction efforts to clients and guests

• Focus on taste and quality
• YES label for allergies and restrictions, but don’t dwell on the restrictions!
• Be inclusive, but don’t single out…that make people feel like they are different!
• Yes list ingredients and supply chain, but focus on making it taste great

regardless!

Words Matter!

28

4.

Deeper Dive

Deeper Dive

▣ Events Industry Council ▣ ISO 12021 ▣ Be a champion! ▣ Commit to 1 (or more!!) sustainable changes ▣ Quality not quantity ▣ Reduce number of courses/offer fewer options ▣ Communicate ▣ Get help!

In your event city

How to locate food pantries

www.foodpantries.org

How to locate food banks

www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/

How to locate homeless shelters

www.homelessshelterdirectory.org

Food donation guidelines in all 50 states

Food Law and Policy Clinic--Harvard Law School

Measuring Carbon Emissions

Greenhouse gas conversions https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies- calculator https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas- reporting-conversion-factors-2019 Online Calculators: www.offsetters.ca Carbon Offsets: Project implemented specifically to reduce the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that offset the GHG emissions created –by an individual, project, event. https://carbonfund.org/

Thanks!

Any questions?

You can find me at: suzanne@creatingenvironments.com www.creatingenvironments.com www.events2030.org CreatingEvents SaveDCFood