Sustainable events
A sustainable event is one that aims to reduce its impact on the environment.
A sustainable event is one that aims to reduce its impact on the environment.
Creating an environmentally sustainable event will minimise its footprint and can:
- reduce costs
- promote social responsibility
- reflect well on the event and its organisers.
When you plan a sustainable event, you need to consider its:
- location
- food services
- energy consumption
- transportation
- waste generation and disposal.
Here are some tips to get you started.
Food
- Choose caterers or food providers who focus on sustainability. Examples include using in-season produce and fairly sourced local food.
- Work with food providers to reduce single-use packaging and packaging in general. Single-use plastics are banned in Victoria.
- Provide incentives for using recycled and recyclable packaging.
Water
- Don't sell or giving out bottled water.
- Encourage participants to bring reusable water bottles.
- Provide water stations and clear directions on how to find them.
Waste
Think about:
- how to avoid waste
- what materials can be reused
- what waste streams will be produced
- whether waste streams can be recycled
- how to reduce the amount of single-use products
- how to reduce the amount of waste generated
- how to maximise the waste that is recycled.
Proudly Plastic Free is our whole-of-community plan to reduce the use of single-use plastic packaging. For more information, visit our Proudly Plastic Free page.
Bins
- Provide general waste and mixed recycling bins and place them next to each other.
- Encourage food providers and stallholders to recycle.
- Arrange compost bins from your collection service.
- Label and colour-code the bins/waste streams to clearly differentiate them.
- Provide images of the types of items appropriate for each bin.
Transport
- Provide public transport information to the event patrons.
- Encourage attendees to walk or cycle to your event.
- Provide suggested travel times and routes.
- Provide clear maps showing public transport options.
Electricity
- Get the right equipment for the number of people and the size of the space.
- Turn all electrical equipment off when not in use.
- Calculate the carbon footprint and offset your event.
- Consider new and emerging technologies such as solar generators.