To foster greater sustainability in events, it's crucial to begin with a personal commitment. Before enrolling in the event management program, I had never really considered the sustainability of events or the individual impact on the event industry. However, going deeper into this subject, I came to realize that for the industry to change, one's own mindset must evolve, along with the expectations of other stakeholders involved in event organization.
I resolved to conduct a more in-depth exploration of this topic and formulate a plan to make my contributions to event organization more environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly. Any event planning commences with booking a venue, and I've since learned that many venues have already adopted environmentally friendly practices. Take, for instance, the Beanfield Center. In a presentation I conducted, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that despite its age, it stands as Canada's most environmentally responsible conference facility. It has earned certificates for sustainable design, it operates solely on 100% renewable energy sources, employs CO2 sensors to enhance air quality, and utilizes rainwater harvesting to reduce water consumption. Additionally, they have implemented organic recycling programs. By supporting venues and companies committed to going green, as an event organizer, you can play a pivotal role in promoting environmentally conscious trends in the market.
[Source: Beanfield Center website https://www.explace.on.ca/venue/beanfield-centre/]
Another aspect I considered was "Outgreening" practices. In his book "Hot, Flat, and Crowded," Thomas L. Friedman describes how adopting green initiatives resulted in cost savings and improved the performance of New York City taxicabs, and how solar power conferred a tactical advantage on the U.S. Army in the Iraq War. As Friedman defines it, Outgreening entails surpassing your competition by making the most efficient use of resources (Friedman 2008, p. 322). In essence, sustainable decisions can not only win wars but also help stave off ecological catastrophes by promoting environmentally friendly choices.
In a CVENT article, I came across ten green event ideas that foster sustainability, and most are relatively straightforward to implement. The first idea, as previously mentioned, involves selecting greener, more sustainable venues.
The second idea entails rejecting single-use plastic. I personally witnessed this in action at the Hillside Festival, where all 3,000 attendees utilized reusable plastic tableware that volunteers washed and maintained—a truly impressive initiative.
The third idea involves providing alternative travel options, which is also quite achievable through shuttle buses and carpooling practices.
While there are many more ideas to explore, it's vital to start with a few manageable steps rather than attempting to implement everything simultaneously. Therefore, beginning with our own practices and taking a few feasible steps can lead to a substantial positive impact on the world.
[Source: CVENT article on 10 green event ideas that can make a huge difference
https://www.cvent.com/uk/blog/events/10-green-event-ideas-can-make-huge-difference]
EcoMatcher. (2023). Corporate Sustainability Trends to Watch Out For in 2023. EcoMatcher. [https://www.ecomatcher.com/corporate-sustainability-trends-to-watch-out-for-in-2023/]. Accessed October 20, 2023.
Thank you for sharing your insightful blog post on sustainability. It’s impressive to see how you’ve taken a personal interest in this matter and are actively seeking ways to make your contributions to event organization more environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly. The ten green event ideas you found in the CVENT article sound very practical and easy to implement. I think every small step we take towards sustainability can have a significant impact on our planet. I believe that your effors are truly making a difference. - Sin Yee,Ko(Joann)
ОтветитьУдалитьYour commitment to event management sustainability is commendable and I am gladdened by your approach to adopting environmentally friendly strategies. The aspect of Outgreening is particularly interesting to me as I enjoy the idea of surpassing business competition by making use of resources most efficiently. I believe that Outgreening is indeed an effective way of achieving sustainability in events as making use of environmentally friendly event solutions would improve event performance and at the same time save cost.
ОтветитьУдалитьHello Anastasia,
ОтветитьУдалитьThank you for sharing your perspective on sustainability in the event industry. I am so happy that this has become a topic of conversation within this program, as it makes this generation of event personnel conscious of the environmental impact of events. Highlighting that a facility as large as Beanfield Center is able to implement these sustainable practices is important, it proves that it is possible for venues to become greener, no matter the size. I hope that other venues will start to put similar practices into action.
Hi Anastasia, I appreciate your thoughtful exploration of sustainability in event planning. The emphasis on personal commitment and mindset shift is crucial. Your example of the Beanfield Center's environmentally responsible practices is inspiring. "Outgreening" practices, as mentioned by Friedman, indeed highlight the potential for sustainability to go beyond altruism, impacting efficiency and competitiveness. Your mention of green event ideas, especially the emphasis on rejecting single-use plastic, is a practical step. Starting with manageable changes is a wise approach, fostering a substantial positive impact on the industry.
ОтветитьУдалить--Erika Lee
In today's life, sustainability is considered a very important part. According to the article you mentioned and exactly as you said, I had not paid attention to this important issue before the event management program. Environmentally friendly programs are very important and because we have many participants in the events, we can easily introduce its methods. If this discussion takes place and each of us starts from ourselves, the result will become a chain and help the environment a lot. In my opinion, you have chosen an interesting and different article that is very effective and you can easily and consciously make environmentally friendly methods a part of people's daily lives with proper planning in event management.
ОтветитьУдалитьThank you for sharing it.
Moogeh Tabibzadehhakimi, 30125689
ОтветитьУдалитьWow, I'm really impressed by your blog post on fostering sustainability in events. Your personal commitment to sustainability is truly inspiring! I totally agree with your point that to bring about change in the event industry, we need to start with our own mindset and actions. It's great to see that you've explored the topic in-depth and have a plan to make your contributions to event organization more environmentally friendly.